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Family-Owned Minuteman Press Franchise in East Indianapolis Shows Print Is Essential

Minuteman Press International Inc

Diana Renollet bought her Minuteman Press franchise located at 9105 E. 56th St., Suite E, in May 2020. Minuteman Press East Indianapolis is an essential business, so Diana and her team have spent their first nine months supporting local businesses and community groups with critical printing, marketing, and communication services during the COVID-19 pandemic. She says, “ Owning our own family business is a dream come true. I had done my research, and when the opportunity came I was ready.” After 33 years of working for others, Diana further explains, “With my own business, I feel like I am no longer wasting away years of my life on conference calls working for someone else. I am not answering to someone before making my own decisions. It makes me feel free being my own boss.” Supporting Local Businesses During COVID-19 Under Diana’s leadership, it is no surprise that Minuteman Press in East Indianapolis has been working hard on proactive community outreach and providing personalized local customer service. She says, “Being an essential business means we can support other local businesses and organizations who are also essential and operating as well as those who are reopening. We design and print custom orders for items they are using right now such as face masks, banners, menus, and more. It’s great that they know we are here for them as their trusted local business partner.” She continues, “For example, we are members of the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce and fulfilled an order for 200 face masks. We have also donated to their Toy Drive as well as to the Lawrence Police Dept. Explorers program. We love what we do and it’s gratifying to be involved and give back to our local community who supports our essential business.” Even before becoming a business owner, community involvement was important to Diana. She says, “For the past five years, I have been the Vice President of the non-profit organization Indy Blue Star Mothers, which supports parents of children who are actively serving in the military or who are Veterans. I have also become a member of the Sertoma Club of East Indianapolis. Now that I own this business, I feel even more connected to my neighbors.” “At Minuteman Press, we print everything while providing outstanding local customer service. I love getting engaged in client projects and bringing them to life. Our mindset is to provide a positive experience from beginning to end.” -Diana Renollet, Minuteman Press franchise owner, East Indianapolis Print is Essential Diana’s passion for the printing industry and her business is readily apparent to her clients and anyone she speaks to. She says, “Everywhere I look I see print opportunities and I know I can help my clients promote their businesses. From billboards to street signs, whether indoors or outdoors, every letter or image you see is created digitally and printed. I cannot help but get excited when I talk about this industry and the many ways we are able to promote your business through print.” Diana enjoys being the face of her business and has fully embraced the Minuteman Press franchise system including their marketing programs. The fact that she is a printing and marketing services provider herself allows her to implement effective strategies. She says, “The key is to market, market, market. I have made countless phone calls simply letting our customers know that we are open and ready to help. I have sent out several hundred letters to customers making them aware of special discounts and promotions. We send back goodies of some sort with every order that is delivered to our customers. Sometimes we make goodie bags for our customers or send donuts from the shop next door.” Diana continues, “On every box that goes out of our center and back to a customer, we put a note that says, ‘Your business is greatly appreciated and we look forward to working with you.’ This is really important to me. If we deliver four boxes back to a customer, when they open that second, third or fourth box, I want them to be reminded again and again that their business is appreciated and valued.” Minuteman Press also uses proprietary FLEX software that helps Diana keep track of her marketing efforts. “I am staying 4 to 6 weeks ahead on sending out reminder emails and USPS mailers reminding the customer it is time to work on their project. Every day, I look at the different marketing opportunities available in FLEX and act on them. I also look ahead to future opportunities. For example, I am in the process of sending out mail with offers for relevant businesses looking to promote themselves during the upcoming tax season.” What keeps customers coming back to Diana and her team at Minuteman Press in East Indianapolis is their complete positive customer experience. “Every time a client comes to our center, we want them to feel comfortable and appreciated. We offer them coffee or water bottles and a free donut coupon for the donut shop next door to us.” The little things add up to make a big difference, and Diana sees that clearly. “Many years ago, I was the inspiration behind a national campaign. It was called the Celebrate Every Day Campaign. I find something to celebrate about every single day. Sometimes it’s grand, and sometimes it’s small. It is a mindset and just a real nice way to live. It has helped me tremendously as I manage my business during this global pandemic.” From Employee to Minuteman Press Franchisee Prior to franchising with Minuteman Press, Diana worked in various business and management roles around the printing industry for 33 years. “I worked for several companies and wore many hats. I’ve done everything from graphic design and printing to on site management. Most recently, I worked as On Site Manager at the Kroger Central Division Office in Indianapolis where I tripled my team and made the Division cost-efficient. I did hundreds of thousands of printing per month, along with producing anything else that was requested.” Why Minuteman Press? Diana answers, “I liked the idea that Minuteman Press had already created a plan for success and I liked their plan. I also liked knowing that the FLEX software that Minuteman Press created and used would do everything from bringing me new potential customers daily to predicting reorders, quoting, creating work orders, invoices, and exporting accounting data directly into QuickBooks.” She continues, “Minuteman Press has done exactly what they said they would do as far as support. Someone is only a call, text or email away when I have had any questions. I have all of the freedoms of running my own business but I when I need support they are right there for me every time.” “Diana Renollet is a tremendous asset to her business community and to the Minuteman Press family. She truly cares about her clients and I am proud of her hard work in building her business in East Indianapolis. Diana follows the Minuteman Press franchise system and communicates effectively. I look forward to continuing to work with her and provide local support to her business.” -Steve Szymanski, Minuteman Press International Regional Vice President, Midwest Meet the Family Behind the Business When Diana made the decision to follow her dream, she knew she could count on her family to support her. She says, “My husband Brian is my best friend and my rock. He supported my decision to become part of the Minuteman Press franchise family from the first day I mentioned it until the day we signed the papers. Although he has maintained his current career path, he is a huge part of helping me run this business. Our wedding song was ‘You’re My Best Friend’ by Queen and I am so happy to take this new journey in my career with him.” She also credits her father as being instrumental in giving her the confidence to transition from her career to entrepreneurship. “My dad has been my go-to person and was really instrumental in making me realize this dream. Other than my husband, my dad was the only person who knew I was looking to take this leap. We talk every single day after work and he loves hearing what orders we received and how everything is going. He is so excited I am doing this and he is the one who taught me the value of hard work. My dad is truly a wonderful man.” It is clearly evident that family means everything to Diana. “My husband and I have 4 children from our previous marriages. Our oldest daughter is 30 and she has been in the medical field for the past 7 years. She has currently reenrolled in college to pursue a teaching degree and she is a wonderful mother to 3 of our grandchildren. Our twin daughters are 27, one is a Staff Sergeant in the US Air Force. She is finishing her commitment soon and enrolled in college to pursue a degree in Nursing. Twin #2 works alongside her mother in a medical environment and she is a loving mother to our youngest grandchild. Our son is the youngest at 25. He is a Marine Veteran and Active Guardsman. He also works full-time and is also enrolled in college pursuing a cybersecurity degree. My parents also celebrated 62 years of marriage this past November.” She adds, “My husband and I look forward to weekend mornings where we try to get the kids and grandkids to come over for long breakfasts around the family kitchen table. We also enjoy spending time together laughing and enjoying life.” Advice for Others Diana has a fascinating perspective to share as someone who is realizing her dream of owning her own business at such a unique time. When asked for advice she would give to others who are looking to own a business, she says, “Prepare yourself for the opportunity and be ready. Don’t limit your thinking and allow yourself to dream, then do your research. Owning this center was my dream, and because I had done my homework, I was ready when the opportunity came.” She adds, “Stay accountable to your goals and your dream can come true. I am living proof of that.” For more information on Minuteman Press in East Indianapolis, visit https://indyeast.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

February 16, 2021 10:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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NVISNx Selected to Join Ernst & Young Entrepreneurs Access Network Among Elite Black and Latinx Business Leaders

NVISNx

NVISNx [n-vision-x], the leading PaaS information governance, risk and compliance (iGRC) company committed to helping businesses effectively identify and protect all critical data, announces today that it has been hand-selected as a curated member of Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneurs Access Network (EAN) 2021 inaugural cohort. EY’s EAN is a business accelerator and comprehensive executive program designed to help Black- and Latinx-owned companies transcend barriers and scale their businesses. By joining this elite network, NVISNx will gain access to key decision makers and companies that need to protect all critical data and maximize their current security controls to finally stop data breaches. Their membership also grants them access to the EY ecosystem of incubators, alliances, subject-matter resources, industry insights and capital connections. “We’re excited to be in the company of other Black and Latinx business leaders working to grow our companies during this difficult time and to benefit from the expertise EY’s network can provide,” said Glen Day, CEO of NVISNx. “As a prior EY Cybersecurity Partner, I know companies struggle to prevent data breaches that hurt their reputation and diminish their trust. The recent SolarWinds hack requires cyber leaders to shift their approach to “assume that you have already been hacked and they’re still in… now what”? To prevent the next breach, they need a more reliable and automated way to visibly identify and prioritize all critical data- from privacy, intellectual property, sensitive financials or board sensitive communications. Breaches are the digital pandemic to businesses and the problem is simply getting worst.” The NVISNx platform enables complete data inventories and also identifies data that no longer has business value and could be disposed of to reduce risk, decrease the attack surface and save millions in storage costs. As a result of covid’s economic impact, companies are also faced with major budget cuts and must make hard decisions on where to cut. Armed with the resources provided by the EY community, NVISNx will be better positioned to serve our customers risk reduction initiatives by providing data-driven insights as to what to protect and what data could be purged. “EY recognized that NVISNx and the other organizations asked to join the EAN are headed by entrepreneurs who are driving innovation and creating market opportunities with small to mid-sized organizations,” said Lee Henderson, EY America’s Private Leader. “This immersive program will expose Black- and Latinx-owned companies to the firm’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and resources, as well as investors. The program is modeled after EY’s Entrepreneur of the Year™ and Entrepreneurial Winning Women™ programs.” ABOUT NVISNx NVISNx is a powerful PaaS information governance, risk and compliance (iGRC) company committed to helping businesses effectively identify and protect all critical data. Our first-to-market iGRC platform provides an automated, visible and prioritization of data protection and junk file elimination, ensuring your crown jewels are secure while redundant, outdated, trivial, and abandoned files are purged. Our platform increases operational efficiencies and profit margins while helping Business, Cybersecurity and IT professionals better understand their massive data assets to make more informed decisions about their data. NVISNx’s visual analytics engine offers rich and meaningful intelligence insights to prioritize and protect all critical data and help defensibly purge files that have no business value, incur business risks and/or impair compliance, providing massive cost savings across the enterprise in just a few weeks. Our team of experts have built an intelligent, easy-to-use solution that enables business users to become their own data analyst. NVISNx is here to help you protect your prize data, while saving you millions in unnecessary storage costs. To learn more, please visit www.NVISNx.com Contact Details NRPR Group Nicole Rodrigues +1 424-421-9610 Nicole@nrprgroup.com Company Website https://www.NVISNx.com/

February 16, 2021 09:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

Knowledgehook to boost maths attainment across Australia

Stockwood Strategy

Knowledgehook, the world’s most comprehensive mathematics learning platform, has launched in Australia as the nation’s teachers turn a corner in addressing low maths attainment levels for young people. It is now available to schools across the country for children in Year 3 to Year 10 classes, through The Learner First, a consultancy working with schools across Australia. The latest TIMSS (Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study) found that Australia’s achievement in mathematics has improved since 2015. However, Year 4 mathematics achievement has not changed since 2007. One of the biggest challenges facing educators is to find better ways to meet the learning needs of the many students who fall behind in schools, failing to meet year-level expectations (often year after year) and, as a consequence, become increasingly disengaged. Knowledgehook’s proprietary technology harnesses the power of data to track where students are on their math journey. Their programmes connect a child’s at-home learning with in-school education, providing real-time insights to teachers on learning gaps. This empowers teachers to develop an understanding of the maths concepts related to their students’ challenges, enabling them to adjust instruction and monitor student progress. As Knowledgehook launches across Australia, former Australian Mathematics Curriculum leader, Margaret Bigelow, commented: " Australia's results in international testing are improving. The impact of a national approach to teaching and learning Mathematics has impacted on this improved outcome. Teachers need to be supported to maintain this trajectory of improvement by having the ideas and tools to enhance the engagement of their students to develop critical and creative thinking and further mathematical skills. This will enable students to adjust to the ever-changing demands and challenges of life in the future." “Knowledgehook was inspired by my own struggle with maths as a child,'' explained Co-Founder and CEO of Knowledgehook, Travis Ratnam. “Having the right, personalised guidance makes all the difference and every student deserves to have a teacher who has access to the best pedagogical tools, and parents who have insights into their learning. Our platform is not a game, it pulls together a 360 view on a child’s learning journey enabling people around them to improve the child’s math experience and outcomes. In launching Knowledgehook across Australia, Joanne McEachen, Founder and CEO of The Learner First commented: “I love the fact maths support is available 24/7 so when a learner struggles with a math’s concept, the teacher can access professional learning and development to help support both the learner and the teacher on the spot. Moreover, it helps teachers retrace their approach and identifies what may have been missed allowing them to recover and embed essential skills and concepts. Quite simply, it is what we have been missing for years and it will certainly complement the current trajectory of further improving math’s performance and disposition in Australian students.” Knowledgehook’s AI-enabled platform has grown to support schools across the US, Mexico, and the UK. It is designed to scale across multiple countries and languages developing teacher capacity while engaging students and providing actionable insights for parents. Over the years, Knowledgehook’s research-based solution has garnered industry-leading partnerships and investments from the most recognised global education bodies, notably from the University College of London (UCL), the global leader in education research. Knowledgehook actively collaborates with governments around the world while also working directly with schools and their suppliers, to offer curriculum-aligned solutions. The company currently empowers teachers in more than 100,000 schools. In 2021, it is anticipated the solution will reach 50,000,000 students globally. “We have received growing interest for our technology and expertise to be applied to other subjects and we look forward to expanding our solution to empower more educators and support the learning of students to become the problem-solvers of tomorrow,” Qamar Qureshi, President and Chief Business Officer added. Ends About Knowledgehook Knowledgehook, a leading educational technology company, empowers hundreds of thousands of teachers and parents to collaboratively support the mathematics learning journey of millions of students worldwide. Winner of Google’s Game Changer Award and named Top Disruptor by BNN, its platform analyses student understanding through engaging assessments, providing real-time personalised solutions to close learning gaps between classroom teaching and at-home learning. Designed by leading numeracy and research experts, Knowledgehook’s Instructional Guidance System is known for reinventing how online technology supports education and educators, while inspiring the problem solvers of tomorrow. Contact Details Knowledgehook Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com Company Website https://www.knowledgehook.com/

February 15, 2021 04:00 PM Eastern Standard Time

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Senior Finance Executive Joins Science4Data Advisory Team

Science4Data

Science4Data, the emerging leader in AI-driven media intelligence, today announced Chris Dhanraj will be joining the company’s esteemed list of advisors. Dhanraj brings over 20 years of leadership and operating expertise in the Financial Services industry. Science4Data has signed up a first round of customers that are using the company’s advanced AI engine to distill intelligence and monitor publicly available online media. The company has turned its focus to target the PR, IR and communications industries with advanced media intelligence. In addition, the analysis engine will serve specific use cases in the financial services, media, and marketing industries through specialized partners. Recently garnering the interest of several institutional investors, Science4Data is poised for significant expansion in 2021. “We are pleased to welcome Chris as a strategic advisor to our team,” said Charles Gerth, CEO of Science4Data. “We see tremendous opportunity in offering our MediaSignal product to buy side investment professionals, either directly or through partnership.” Dhanraj currently serves as the managing principal of investments for CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen) and helps oversee the firm’s investment platform. Prior to CLA, he was BlackRock’s head of U.S. investment strategy for iShares, leading a team that analyzed markets and macro trends to provide actionable market insights across asset classes using exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Before BlackRock, Dhanraj worked at Citigroup as the head of investment strategy for Citi Private Bank North America and was a member of the global investment committee. In this role, he helped implement asset allocation across public and private markets for private clients and family offices. Dhanraj is a board member of the Student Conservation Association (SCA), a nonprofit organization whose mission is to build the next generation of conservation leaders. He also serves as an adjunct professor of finance at Fairfield University. About Science4Data Science4Data provides advanced AI-driven analysis technology to monitor any online media, including news, social, and other public sources, alongside private document repositories. Developed by AI experts from world leading academic institutions, the Science4Data engine provides the most complete automated insights on trends, topics, coverage, sentiment, risk, density, bias and customizable indices. Analyses are curated for relevance and provided effortlessly, at scale. Customers include leading organizations in financial services, media, PR and marketing services. For more information, please visit www.science4data.com. Contact Details Science4Data Lev Lesokhin +1 917-734-0479 analyst@science4data.com Company Website https://science4data.com/

February 11, 2021 09:06 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Jack Panzer and Minuteman Press International Help Independent Printers Sell Their Printing Business

Minuteman Press International Inc

Minuteman Press International, the world’s leading design, marketing, and printing franchise, is continuing to expand its Minuteman Press Franchise Conversion Program. The program assists independent printers with selling their printing business at no cost and no broker fees to them. “We don’t charge anything to sellers. We take on the advertising costs and we provide 45 years of printing industry experience in evaluating their business as well as helping them prepare for the sale. What we get in return is simply another Minuteman Press or International Minute Press location that we’ll help the buyer build and grow,” says Jack Panzer, Minuteman Press International Regional Vice President, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and Wyoming Region (Minuteman Press International operates as International Minute Press in Arizona). There is high demand for printing today, as Jack says, “Local businesses are vital to the American economy. Every business needs and uses the products and services that we offer. My job is to help evaluate and sell businesses where both the seller and the buyer are happy with their decision.” When is it a good time to sell a printing business? Jack answers, “The second you think about selling is the right time because there’s no guarantee as to how long it will take. I have sold printing businesses in 30 days, in six months, in one year, in two years. It really has to do with the buyer, the timing, and making sure the groundwork is laid to execute the sale.” How does it work and what does the owner need to sell? In his experience, Jack says the biggest thing is to keep it simple. “Let’s have a face to face meeting and get to know each other. We can talk and see if we are comfortable with each other, then make sure the business fits our model. We want this to be mutually beneficial. Let’s see what you’re looking for and what we’re looking for and find out if it matches up.” Jack adds, “There is no pressure and we are simply here to help. I will work with you to assess the business. If we can agree to work together, all I need is three years of financials. Through due diligence on our end, we are able to evaluate the business and suggest a fair market price.” He continues, “We are experts in the printing industry for 45 years. It’s not just about the P&Ls. It’s about the value of the business, the ties to the community, and the staff involvement. When we sell your printing business, we are able to train the buyer and offer more products and services. You don’t have to worry about long-term training or a prolonged transition because we train and support the buyer.” “When sellers sign up with us, there are no surprises, there are no fees, and it’s a very transparent process. They can also see the track record that Minuteman Press has as printing industry leaders for 45 years. We are not going anywhere.” – Jack Panzer What issues and concerns do independent printers run into when selling? According to Jack, “One of the biggest issues printers run into when selling is when they deal with a business broker who doesn’t follow through or have the printing industry experience needed to sell the business properly.” He adds, “Where we differ is that we have the printing experience and we want to sell the business in a timely manner. We are experts at selling print or print-like businesses and we know what it takes to evaluate and sell the business.” Another big difference is that Minuteman Press is able to attract a wider pool of buyers. Jack explains, “We build personal relationships with our owners, we support the buyer throughout the life of their business, and we have a vested interest in their success. We don’t just make the sale, shake their hands, and say good luck.” The sellers also raise concerns about their customers and what will happen to them. “They want to know their legacy is going to continue. We make sure there is a smooth transition so that the clients know they are in good hands with the new owner.” Another issue that comes up is financing the sale. “Minuteman Press has financing options available for buyers that may help facilitate the sale, which is another burden lifted from the seller.” Keeping it Simple Ultimately, Jack Panzer and the team at Minuteman Press International offer an effective and transparent way for independent printers to sell their printing business at no cost and no broker fees to them. Jack’s approach is to keep it simple, stay proactive, and keep in touch. “One thing I always promise is that I will communicate with you throughout this process and I’m confident I will sell your printing business.” For more information on the Minuteman Press Franchise Conversion Program, visit https://bit.ly/minutemanpressconversions or call 1-800-645-3006. Learn more about #1 rated Minuteman Press franchise opportunities at https://minutemanpressfranchise.com. Contact Details Minuteman Press International Chris Biscuiti +1 631-249-1370 cbiscuiti@mpihq.com Company Website https://minutemanpressfranchise.com

February 08, 2021 11:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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CMMC Center of Excellence Announces Engagement Agreement with Ignyte Assurance Platform

Interoperability Clearinghouse

The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification Center of Excellence ( CMMC COE ), hosted by the Information Technology Acquisition Advisory Council (IT-AAC), a public-private partnership serving the public and private sectors for more than 15 years, is excited to announce a partnership with Ignyte Assurance Platform, a leading provider of software and consulting expertise for cyber risk, cyber compliance, and cybersecurity standards mapping and assurance. This unique partnership will extend efforts to identify and include proven capabilities within the CMMC COE Marketplace to improve cybersecurity protection and resilience for the global defense industrial base network of contractors, vendors, and suppliers. Ignyte Assurance Platform delivers a software product to assist with data collection, analysis, and to help streamline processes across multiple security frameworks at once. The capability developed by Ignyte Assurance Platform supports an organization’s efforts around security, governance, risk management, and compliance and provides a tested and proven range of solutions to improve overall cybersecurity protection and resilience while meeting requirements of standards such as CMMC. The executed Engagement Agreement establishes a collaborative engagement between Ignyte Assurance Platform and the CMMC COE to partner in the furthering of their respective and complementary missions and objectives regarding the adoption, use, and expansion of CMMC based cybersecurity practices, risk management, and compliance for the DIB contractor, vendor, and supplier community of providers creating a broader CMMC ecosystem globally to improve security and resilience. “This is exciting opportunity for us”, said Mr. John Weiler, Chairman of the Board at CMMC Center of Excellence, “This new partnership will further help advance the goals and objectives for improving the supply chain security and resilience of the US Department of Defense (DoD)”. “While CMMC seems like a brand-new framework for someone outside the industry, we’ve been working on automation of its predecessor legislative and industry requirements such as DFARS 252.204-7012, NIST 800-171 and FedRAMP since 2012, eliminating manual components and automating governance processes” said Mr. Max Aulakh, Founder and CEO of Ignyte Assurance Platform. “We recommend implementing NIST 800-171 for now, because it’s the first logical step in CMMC adaptation. NIST domains cover 110 controls out of 130 required for Level 3 of CMMC. Joining IT-AAC / COE in this initiative, we are not just bringing educational resources to the table, but have the means to utilize our technology to speed up and simplify CMMC adoption for the DoD Supply Chain” Specific actions will include: The co-development of CMMC advisory services, cyber training and education programs to accelerate CMMC certification, increase cyber adoption and improve cyber protection & resilience. Co-sponsor symposiums, training programs and podcasts leveraging their combined cyber and IT expertise. Host regular working groups, with other partners, to enable collaboration and communications. Source qualified CMMC/ cyber professionals to serve as advocates. Establish an independent Industry Cyber Security Advisory Council with peer organizations to advise and educate leaders across government and industry on the continued evolution and effectiveness of CMMC. The CMMC-COE ( http://cmmc-coe.org ) and Ignyte Assurance Platform partnership will focus on bringing together the many disparate cyber and national security communities of interest to reduce complexity, improve awareness, and accelerate industry effort to become more cyber resilient against the growing threats from nation states and criminal enterprises. The CMMC-COE establishes both a Market Place and Knowledge Clearinghouse that will include resources that support the overall effort, including white papers; tutorials; recorded webcasts; presentations; and more that will help reduce the cost and burden on small and medium size contractors already struggling from the impact of COVID. For more information on the CMMC COE, please visit http://cmmc-coe.org email info@cmmc-coe.org or call 703-863-3766 For more information on Ignyte Assurance Platform, please visit https://ignyteplatform.com/ About Us ---------- CMMC-COE.ORG is a unique non-profit public-private partnership, with a vision to accelerate Cybersecurity Maturity Model (CMM) adoption, and reduce time & cost for security compliance for our partners by leveraging commercial best practices, CMMC standards, and innovative solutions for a measurable success. Our mission, focused on DOD mission objectives, cost containment and expeditious CMMC compliance, is to help the DIB improve cyber posture and resilience, and simplify its acquisition. The CMMC-COE is hosted by the Information Technology Acquisition Advisory Council (IT-AAC), a public/private partnership (P3) chartered in 2007 as an honest broker to reach outside the confines of the Federal IT advisories that lack dynamic reach into the Global IT Market, and dedicated to the adoption of commercial IT management standards of practice and innovations emanating from the Global IT market. Team IT-AAC has already demonstrated the value of its decade long investment, and provides a unique value to agencies seeking to achieve accelerate the transformation of legacy processes and systems. Our Just-in-Time SMEs apply an innovative suite of Technology Business Management and Agile Acquisition Processes needed to assure the business value of commercial IT. The Interoperability Clearinghouse (ICH), is the managing partner that make up the 24 NGO/SDO organizations that make up the IT-AAC. ICH provides the contract vehicles, clearances, and critical resources proven to guide sustainable, measurable and repeatable processes needed to drive better investment decisions as the speed of mission need, while aligning existing processes, methods and workforce with IT reform mandates contained in Clinger Cohen Act, FITARA, IT MGT Act, EO13838. Contact Details Bob Dix +1 703-975-6633 bob.dix@it-aac.org Company Website https://cmmc-coe.org

February 08, 2021 08:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

2021 Will Be the Year of Meaningful Travel

YourUpdateTV

Airbnb released a new report and highlighted how 2021 will see a shift toward more meaningful travel as the pandemic continues to limit mass tourism and afflict the industry overall. When travel returns in 2021, it will be about connecting with loved ones through more personal trips, with mass tourism unlikely to return at any scale this year. Recently, Director of International Communications at Airbnb, Cassidy Blackwell, teamed with YourUpdateTV on a satellite media tour to discuss this trend and much more. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/f00q-568WXw In the report, US consumers say their near-term travel priority is to spend time with family and friends in comfortable, familiar and secure settings. Here are some additional findings from the report: Travel for pleasure is the out-of-home activity Americans have missed the most—over going to restaurants and bars, and attending sporting and other live events. A majority is ready to travel again: 54% have either already booked, are currently planning to travel, or expect to travel in 2021. This includes 57% of 18- to 29-year-olds, and 60% of 30- to 49-year-olds. The type of travel people have missed the most is visiting with family and friends. Business travel is the type of travel they have missed the least. Connecting with family and friends is also the type of travel that has grown most in importance as people look to travel after the pandemic: 41% say such travel has become “much more” important to them, almost twice the percentage who cite travel to accomplish personal goals (22%). Affordability is the top priority overall when it comes to choosing accommodation not just for the first trip but for future travel indefinitely (54%), beating health and safety protocols by 10 points. Nearly three in five Americans (58%) earning less than $50,000 per year say they are booked, planning or expecting to travel in 2021. Based on ongoing Airbnb guest survey data, a majority of guests—including 53% of all homes guests in 2019—tell us they choose Airbnb to save money while traveling. 56% of those under age 50 say they would be “much” or “somewhat more likely” to use an online platform which offers the ability to search for alternate energy and green accommodations. Only 28% of those aged 50+ say the same. For more information on these trends and much more, visit Airbnb.com About Cassidy Blackwell: Cassidy Blackwell is the Director of International Communications at Airbnb. In her role she is responsible for leading the teams across EMEA, APAC, LATAM and China to drive initiatives that help to advance business objectives, policy priorities and brand reputation. In her tenure as a marketing and communications professional, Cassidy has experience in working in both tech, CPG, retail and philanthropy, with specialized experience in empowering women, people of color and other underserved communities around the world. Cassidy has been named one of Fast Company's Most Creative People in Business, Brand Innovator's 40 Under 40 and a finalist for the Sage Group's Marketers Who Matter. About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

February 05, 2021 10:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Scents of Space: Citizen Helps to Create a Relaxing Environment at Home

YourUpdateTV

A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/izrNOXrEqMI In a time where working remotely, virtual school and stay-in date nights have taken on a whole new meaning, your home environment has never become more important. Leading watchmaker, Citizen, launches a new innovative scent diffusing wellness clock – Sensory Time™ for home and offices. This multi-functional sensory clock is fully integrated, time saving and a life enhancing product. Our homes are our sanctuary; it is one of the few places where we feel comfortable, safe, and at peace. However, with the current events, many of us need to try to transform our homes into a more relaxing place, helping us to cope with all the stress that we might feel. Caroline Fabrigas, CEO of Scent Marketing Inc. and Co-founder of Scent Invent Technology partnered with Citizen, D S Simon Media, and YourUpdate TV on a nationwide media tour to discuss the ways the scents can be used to create a relaxing home environment and discuss the launch of the new scent-diffusing wellness clock from Citizen called Sensory Time™. The use of scent has become a vital part of everyday life as the pursuit for health and wellness increases. Created in partnership with IFF (International Flavors & Fragrances), one of the largest fragrance houses globally, the end result was an innovative, scent diffusion system that provides high quality aromas. Sensory Time is available with two essential oil blends: Lavender Escape and Citrus Boost. Lavender Escape is a calming, uplifting blend of aromatic and woody noted for a sense of calm and a feeling of comfort and balance. Citrus Boost is an uplifting surge of stimulating botanicals for a sense of rejuvenation. This noiseless aroma machine can use essential oil directly without any water. Water based evaporators or fans destroy all the properties of the essential oil which are important for well-being. By using solid state diffusion technology the scent machine preserves all the good properties of the essential oil while providing a subtle diffusion Sensory Time also uses 100% essential oil, leaving nothing to waste. Nano particles leave no residue and allow you to scent a 500 cubic square feet house or office space subtly and efficiently. Replenishment oil supply will be sold to separately. Sensory Time is offered in three modern designs: White on Expresso Wood (CC1038), White on White (CC1036), and White on Dark Grey (CC1037). All clocks retail at $99.00. Sensory Time’s other unique features include precision timekeeping with a 24-hour digital clock and alarm for the scent diffusing mode, a Bluetooth wireless speaker that delivers pitch perfect sound, USB power source for extra charging capabilities and a modulating wellness light that adjusts to suit your mood. Sensory Time is the perfect gift for this holiday season. It is available at www.citizenwatch.com/sensorytime. About Citizen Watch: Citizen, a pioneer in watchmaking and innovation since 1918, promotes excellence and creativity with a deep-rooted respect for craftsmanship. Citizen advocates “Better Starts Now,” searching for and accomplishing goals that cultivate positive change. Driven to create timepieces enjoyed by citizens all over the world, Citizen formed an alliance partnership with Disney in 2018, another powerhouse brand with similar values. With a long-term partnership in place, Citizen participates in activations surrounding the Disney Parks, Marvel, Star Wars and more. Citizen is the Official Timepiece of both Walt Disney World and Disneyland with branded clocks in both theme parks. In addition, in 2020 Citizen joined 1% for the Planet, pledging to donate 1% of its website sales in the U.S. to support global nonprofit organizations focused on the environment. At Citizen, our purpose started with a simple yet revolutionary challenge to ourselves: to think about power differently. For over 40 years, CITIZEN’s proprietary Eco-Drive® technology has harnessed the power of light from any natural or artificial light source to convert it to energy, eliminating the need for any battery replacement, using a renewable energy to keep batteries from landfills. All watches require power, but very few consider the source that power comes from, and what impact it may have on not just the wearer, but the world at large. Eco-Drive isn’t an ordinary power source — it’s one with purpose built in. About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

February 05, 2021 10:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

Video

New Suzy Research Shows Shift in Valentine’s Day Date Plans This Year

Suzy

Suzy, a real-time market research platform, today announced its new research report, “State of the Consumer: Valentine’s Day 2021,” shows that nearly 70% of consumers are planning to celebrate Valentine’s Day at home this year. The report found that while many Americans and their significant others will change their romantic dinner plans compared to last year, heart-shaped boxes of chocolates still have the hearts of those planning to give candy to the people they love. According to Suzy research, top Valentine’s Day gifts include: Candy (66%); Flowers (60%); Jewelry (54%); Greeting Cards (52%); Wine/Alcohol (42%); and Perfume/Cosmetics (45%). A night in and dinner at home for most Likely due to COVID-19 restrictions or concerns, more than one-third of respondents (38%) who went out for Valentine’s Day last year are staying home this year. Suzy’s research also revealed that 31% who stayed home in 2020 are sticking to the same plan this time around, while nearly a quarter (24%) plan to go out for Valentine’s Day – just as they did last year. Most respondents are cooking dinner at home this year (36%), followed by ordering takeout from a restaurant (28%). Only 23% are planning to dine at a restaurant this year. Candy remains Cupid’s arrow Despite the shift in Valentine’s Day plans, candy remains a Cupid’s arrow for consumers who are planning to give gifts this year. In fact, 86% of those surveyed plan to buy Valentine’s Day candy this year, most often for a significant other (69%), their children (49%) or themselves (41%). The most popular candy purchases are the timeless heart-shaped box of chocolates (29%), followed by Hershey’s Kisses and chocolate-covered cherries (tied at 22%), M&M’s and conversation hearts (also tied at 11%). Most Americans will spend between $10 and $30 on candy (36%). A smaller percentage will spend between $33-50 (18%), $50-100 (15%), and more than $100 (12%) on candy. More than half of consumers are planning to buy greeting cards for Valentine’s Day (53%), with 41% of cards going to a significant other, and 11% to their children. “Research shows that Valentine’s Day this year means a candlelight dinner in the kitchen instead of a night out on the town, and brands will have to adjust accordingly,” said Suzy President Avi Savar. “While spending is still expected to be on par with previous years, sales strategies will need to be adjusted to meet consumer’s ever-changing needs during the pandemic.” Suzy’s State of the Consumer: Valentine’s Day 2021 survey was conducted on Jan. 14, 2021, and included 538 respondents. A full report is available upon request. About State of the Consumer: Valentine’s Day 2021 Suzy’s State of the Consumer: Valentine’s Day 2021 study surveyed 538 U.S. consumers in January 2021. The samples are directionally representative of U.S. consumers and census-weighted across age, gender, ethnicity, and region to accurately reflect attitudes across the broader American consumer population. About Suzy Founded in 2017, Suzy is an enterprise software platform that puts the voice of the consumer at your fingertips. Whether you’re a novice or an expert researcher, Suzy delivers advanced tools combined with the highest-quality audience to deliver insights in minutes. Many of the biggest brands in the world use Suzy to deliver breakthrough products and experiences backed by data-driven decisions. To date, Suzy has raised over $35MM in venture capital funding from investors that include Bertelsmann Digital Media Investments, Foundry Group, Tribeca Venture Partners, Triangle Peak Partners, and Kevin Durant’s 35 Ventures. Learn more at www.suzy.com. Contact Details Catrine Thorrud suzy@trustrelations.agency Company Website http://suzy.com/

February 02, 2021 10:00 AM Eastern Standard Time