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Comcast to Expand Fiber Broadband Services Across Northern California

Comcast California

Comcast announced it will expand its reliable, smart, high-speed, fiber broadband network in both residential and commercial neighborhoods in Northern California’s Marin and Sutter counties. By mid-2026 these expansion efforts will bring Comcast’s next-generation network to over 150 locations in Marin County and over 450 locations in Sutter County, both of which had previously been unserved. This broadband network expansion is made possible by a $14 million Federal Funding Account (FFA) Grant from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and private funding by Comcast. Comcast also recently announced it has received a $26 million FFA grant to expand its fiber-rich network in Tulare County, which will bring broadband services to nearly 6,200 unserved locations by early 2026. “At Comcast we understand that reliable, high-speed Internet has become a necessity to not only support those looking to participate in the ever-growing digital economy, but also to connect students, families and seniors to those moments that matter the most,” said David Tashjian, Regional Senior Vice President of Comcast California. “This continued investment of funds from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) will allow us to expand into unserved communities throughout Marin and Sutter Counties, which will provide residents and businesses with a future of unlimited possibilities.” “This grant project will help level the playing field for a lot of families in Sutter County who have not previously had access to high-speed Internet,” said Mat Conant, Chair of the Sutter County Board of Supervisors. “This is really important for anyone doing any research for school or work, and for small business owners.” “There has always been an overwhelming demand to improve and expand our broadband services in Marin County,” said Eric Lucan of the Marin County Board of Supervisors. “That need is particularly important for our senior community, including my constituents within a mobile home community in Novato. I commend the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and Comcast on today’s announcement and I’m excited to see the lasting impacts these awards will have in connecting more residents to high-speed Internet and the economic opportunities they will create.” Comcast’s commitment to new communities goes beyond network expansion efforts, addressing digital opportunities in communities through Project UP, the company’s $1 billion dollar commitment to help tens of millions of people connect to the Internet and build futures of unlimited possibilities. Over the past three years, Comcast has invested more than $130 million in cash and in-kind donations into California nonprofits focused on helping people build digital skills, expanding WiFi connected Lift Zones and funding connectivity and Internet adoption programs. Comcast’s funding also supports ongoing efforts to build awareness about affordable connectivity services like Internet Essentials, which offers eligible households high-speed Internet for $9.95/month or Internet Essentials Plus for $29.95/month. Affordable computers are also available through Internet Essentials. Since its inception in 2011, the program has connected more than 2.2 million Californians. Residential customers will be able to take advantage of Xfinity’s full suite of products, including Internet, video, mobile, voice and managed home solutions. For local businesses, Comcast Business will offer a suite of connectivity, communications, networking, cybersecurity, wireless, and managed solutions to help organizations of different sizes prepare for what’s next. Industry analysts and associations have consistently recognized Comcast Business as a leader and innovator, and one of the fastest-growing providers of Ethernet services. Comcast’s network and Internet experience are powering homes today and into the future. Ultimate Capacity: Xfinity customers connect more than 1 billion devices across the company’s network annually. With the next-generation Xfinity gateways, we deliver the most advanced WiFi technology carrying three times more bandwidth to power streaming, gaming, videoconferencing, and more, simultaneously. Fastest Internet: Nearly a third of Xfinity Internet customers subscribe to gigabit speed products. Recently Comcast connected the first customers in the world to a DOCSIS 4.0 connection, delivering symmetrical gig speeds over existing connections in customers’ homes with plans to continue to rollout these speeds across the country over the coming years. Unprecedented Coverage: The latest Xfinity Gateway provides a more reliable connection throughout the home. Customers can get wall-to-wall WiFi coverage with a powerful WiFi Boost Pod that extends coverage to hard-to-reach areas of the home. Most Reliable Connection: Comcast is scaling the nation’s largest and most reliable network that passes 62 million homes and businesses and counting. The company launched Storm-Ready WiFi, a new device that comes powered with cellular and battery backup to help keep customers connected even when the power goes out. Ultra-Low Latency: The Xfinity network and the latest Xfinity Gateway are a powerful combination that deliver ultra-low latency for those moments when response times matter most like video games, a fast-growing category with Xfinity households averaging more than one gaming console per home. For local businesses, Comcast Business will offer a suite of connectivity, communications, networking, cybersecurity, wireless, and managed solutions to help organizations of different sizes prepare for what’s next. Comcast Business has been consistently recognized by industry analysts and associations as a leader and innovator, and one of the fastest-growing providers of Ethernet services. ### About Comcast Business Comcast Business offers leading global businesses the technology solutions and forward-thinking partnership they need. With a full suite of solutions including fast, reliable connectivity, secure networking solutions and advanced cybersecurity and a range of managed service options, Comcast Business is ready to meet the needs of businesses of all sizes. Comcast Business has been recognized by leading analyst firms for its continued growth, innovation, and leadership, and is committed to partnering with customers to help them drive their businesses forward. For more information, call 800-501-6000. Follow @ComcastBusiness on social media networks at http://business.comcast.com/social. About Comcast Corporation Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company. From the connectivity and platforms we provide, to the content and experiences we create, our businesses reach hundreds of millions of customers, viewers, and guests worldwide. We deliver world-class broadband, wireless, and video through Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky; produce, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through brands including NBC, Telemundo, Universal, Peacock, and Sky; and bring incredible theme parks and attractions to life through Universal Destinations & Experiences. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information. Contact Details Comcast California Jon Koriel +1 925-315-2690 jon_koriel@comcast.com Company Website https://california.comcast.com/

September 12, 2024 01:46 PM Pacific Daylight Time

Now Four Years In, Here's How News Direct Leapfrogged the Legacy Newswire Industry

News Direct

In business parlance, the term “Leapfrog” refers to “ a strategy that involves making a significant change or innovation that goes beyond what is expected or incremental. The goal is to improve a position by either skipping stages or taking an alternative path to achieve a desired outcome”*. *Google AI Overview News Direct represents the latter of those two paths. Founded in 2020 by former Business Wire president, Gregg Castano, and owing to his 32+ year career with the Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary, News Direct enjoyed a head start unlike most other “challengers” to the established newswire industry order that also includes PR Newswire and Globe Newswire. Castano leveraged the vast industry knowledge and expertise accumulated across those three plus decades and combined it with a forward-looking vision brought to life with a state-of-the-art, custom-written tech stack sitting atop a cloud infrastructure. The result is what can best be described as a “Next-Gen” news and content distribution platform ideally suited for a 21 st -Century communications ecosystem. News Direct has either vastly improved or completely replaced virtually everything about the legacy newswire model, which Castano believed needed to more strongly embrace and adopt the leading-edge digital technologies that enable the user experience to be modernized and enriched. The features and functions of News Direct are in many ways unrecognizable from traditional wires, with the notable exception of their comprehensive distribution footprint, which is identical to the “Big 3”. Castano stated, “I felt strongly that for the newswire model to be sustainable, remain relevant and to grow, it needed to evolve. But more quickly than the classic interpretation of evolution, which suggests a slow, steady pace. Rapid evolution, I suppose, is what I envisioned, although at some point that becomes revolution. That’s a term I hesitate to use because it’s a bit shopworn and can seem hyperbolic, but there is no doubt that News Direct has changed the game in a big way.” Among the ways in which News Direct has upended and disrupted the traditional newswire model, highlights include: Cutting-Edge Technology: News Direct is built atop a modern, digital cloud infrastructure with a software stack custom-written to precise specifications that perfectly align with today’s communications landscape. Direct-to-SEO Optimization: The platform is engineered to automatically enhance news releases for search engines, ensuring greater visibility and reach. Multimedia Integration: Videos, images, and other rich media are easily incorporated into news releases to stimulate greater engagement – or can be sent as independent assets, no release required. This is a feature unique to the industry. User-Friendly Interface: The workflow is intuitive and designed for speed, efficiency and seamless collaboration, allowing users to create, review and distribute releases in minutes, rather than waiting for remote editors to “process” content. Greater Control and Flexibility: With News Direct, the user maintains complete control over their content throughout the distribution workflow. With no “middleman” editors, the distribution process can be directly managed end-to-end, ensuring that the news reaches the target audience without unnecessary delays, or the security risks of relying on intermediaries. Real-Time Analytics: Customers get instant insights into how their news is performing with real-time analytics that are retrievable on-demand from within the customer interface. Transparent, Cost-Effective Pricing: News Direct offers straightforward flat-rates with no word count limits, no fluctuating, geographically tiered pricing and no opaque hidden upcharges for things such as logos or trade media. Customers know exactly what they’re paying with a pricing model designed to be highly cost-effective and flat rates that make budgeting simple, easy and transparent, a particular advantage for high frequency users. No Distribution Trade-Offs: The News Direct distribution network is identical to that of legacy services, providing a superior user-experience without sacrificing comprehensive reach. Leadership and Industry Expertise: Founder and CEO Castano’s deep understanding of the market and vision for the future of news distribution that has been gained over a 40-year career is embedded into every aspect of News Direct. This wealth of expertise uniquely positions News Direct to meet the needs of modern communicators. News Direct was designed to be thoroughly modern, streamlined and user-friendly, offering unprecedented value, flexibility, and efficiency. The company is committed to helping communications professionals achieve their media outreach goals by meeting the demands they face in today’s fast-paced digital environment. About News Direct News Direct is a technology-driven content distribution and amplification platform for PR, IR, corporate communications and marketing professionals. Our automated platform delivers a completely reimagined, modernized user experience for newswire users that has reshaped the industry landscape. Additionally, the company has expanded its offerings to include an array of technology-enhanced message amplification tools ranging from sponsored content to podcasting products, all from a single online destination. Contact Details News Direct Corp. Media at News Direct +1 917-698-4131 media@newsdirect.com Company Website http://www.newsdirect.com

September 11, 2024 09:07 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Kevel and Placements.io Announce Strategic Partnership to Address Unique Challenges in Retail Media

Kevel

Kevel, the API-first ad serving company for building custom, in-house ad platforms, and Placements.io, the leading revenue management platform for media companies, today announced a strategic partnership that will empower retailers and ecommerce brands to seamlessly manage, optimize and scale their retail media networks with unparalleled flexibility and precision. The partnership will integrate Kevel’s state-of-the-art Retail Media Cloud™ solution with Placements.io revenue management system. With this unified platform, retailers can manage, monetize and scale their ad inventory effectively in-house, which will help to maximize return on ad spend and drive more significant results from retail media investments. “At Kevel, we’re committed to providing our clients with the tools they need to succeed and scale their retail media networks,” commented James Avery, CEO of Kevel. “This partnership is a no-brainer for us - we are aligned with Placements.io in our relentless drive to make the internet a better place. Now, we can extend our capabilities even further to offer a more comprehensive solution that meets the complex needs of our retail and ecommerce customers.” As retail media continues to grow at an unprecedented rate, the ability to efficiently manage ad inventory, optimize campaigns, and maximize revenue while maintaining control of data and reporting has become crucial for retailers. “This partnership can help unlock revenue opportunities for retailers, ecommerce and media companies,” said Edwin Fu, Founder and CEO of Placements.io. “By bringing together two powerful platforms, retailers can achieve their goals with greater accuracy and efficiency.” By integrating Kevel’s cutting-edge API infrastructure with Placements.io’s robust order and billing management capabilities, this partnership aims to provide a solution that unifies processes and data across ad operations, sales, and finance to show the true value of advertising and address the unique challenges of the retail media landscape. Key Benefits of the Partnership: Enhanced Customization: Retailers can now build fully-customized ad platforms, streamline operations, and take advantage of advanced revenue management tools. Seamless Integration: Combining Kevel and Placements.io’s tech on one unified platform will help retailers manage and monetize their ad inventory more effectively. Scalable Solutions: Both platforms are built to scale, allowing retailers to expand their retail media networks without the limitation of traditional black-box ad tech solutions. Improved ROI: The collaboration will help retailers and ecommerce brands maximize return on ad spend, driving more significant results from their retail media investments. This partnership underscores both companies’ commitment to raising the bar within ad tech and retail media. By joining forces, Kevel and Placements.io are at the forefront of empowering today’s modern retailers to build custom, in-house, privacy-first, revenue-generating ad platforms that can adapt to the rapidly changing digital advertising landscape. For more information about the partnership and how it can benefit your business, please visit Kevel.com and Placements.io. About Kevel Kevel is powering innovative, flexible ad tech infrastructure APIs that fuel its Retail Media Cloud™. This unique offering is the only API-based solution for in-housing retail media technology that enables multi-brand retailers to differentiate based on their unique brand, improving shopper experience while maintaining total control of their first-party data.Kevel believes that every digital retailer should have the capability to build and scale their own distinct ad platform, just like big tech players like Amazon. Customers like Edmunds, Delivery Hero, Sonae, Leroy Merlin, Slickdeals, and other leading retailers and marketplaces all launched their own retail media networks with Kevel. The company has garnered numerous accolades, most recently earning recognition as one of the leading 100 innovative tech start-ups driving the future of brand-to-consumer in 2023 and awarded the MarTech Breakthrough Award for best overall ad tech company in 2022. Learn more at www.kevel.com About Placements.io Placements.io was founded in 2014 to provide a more modern platform for companies buying and selling digital-focused, omnichannel advertising. Placements.io powers over $12B in annual ad revenue for publishers, broadcasters, OTT/CTV companies, retailers, and emerging media companies. Placements.io has offices across the U.S. and in London, Singapore, and Taiwan. Contact Details Kevel Jennifer Choo Director of Marketing +1 973-343-8819 jchoo@kevel.com Placements.io Lindsey Bradshaw lindseyb@placements.io

September 11, 2024 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Alvarez & Marsal Report: Top Private Brand Retailers Outperform the Market: 7 out of Top 10 Retailers by Grocery Dollar Share Are Top Private Brand Players

Alvarez & Marsal Consumer and Retail Group

· U.S. Private Label spending is 20% of total market, projected to rise to 24% by 2030 · Top 4 Private Brand retailers had 144% stock price growth in past 5 years · Over 250 new stores have been opened by top Private Brand retailers in the past year Global professional services firm Alvarez & Marsal’s Consumer and Retail Group (A&M CRG) has released its latest report, Accelerate your Private Brand journey to win with customers and shareholders, which looks at how the Private Label market is accelerating even amid slower total grocery market growth, and what retailers need to do to gain and maintain success with their private brands. The report lays out the case for private label traction as a strategic imperative for grocers and provides examples of the ways in which prominent Private Brand retailers have built stronger loyalty and advocacy with their customers while delivering superior returns for their shareholders. “There’s a strong correlation between the most successful private brand grocers and their market share and financial performance,” noted Marco Valentini, Managing Director at Alvarez & Marsal’s Consumer and Retail Group. “The best players act differently from the rest of the pack. Their C-level executives are committed to growing their own brands and driving differentiation through them. Chief Merchants treat their Private Brands with the same priority and attention as they do National Brands. Marketing and branding efforts are aimed at elevating and differentiating products and increasing overall customer awareness and advocacy of their brands. Finally, product innovation cycles need to reflect the yearly cadence of line reviews and retailers must be able to constantly innovate and update their ‘Own Brand’ products.” The report lays out key enablers to winning with private brands, and the benefits of having a Private Brand strategy, including: · Value perception: Private Brand products should be 30 to 50% less expensive than National Brands and provide same or better quality. The majority of consumers cite value as a key driver of purchase. · Product innovation/differentiation: Private Brand products can be tailored to align with customer demographics and preferences. The second most important attribute that drives purchase of private brands is quality/taste. · Margin management: Private Brand margins typically surpass those of National Brands and the individual product should provide the same or better unit economics (“penny profit”) than their National Brand equivalents. Private Brands are a very effective way to drive value for customers in addition to price and promotion investment, which often dilute margins. · Brand development: More than 8 in 10 shoppers make decisions based on brand trust, so developing private label brands that resonate with consumers and provide strong advocacy is critical. Successful Private Brands can drive positive impact to retailers’ overall banner brand perception. · Sustainable sourcing: Direct control over product development, packaging, sourcing and supply chain can support specific sustainability goals. This is an important factor, especially for Gen Z and Millennial shoppers. "For many grocery retailers today, the lack of a comprehensive Private Brand strategy means that they’ll get left behind,” said John Clear, Senior Director in Alvarez & Marsal’s Consumer and Retail Group. “To unlock the value of private label, grocers need to have a clear plan in place: a differentiated brand architecture and consistent positioning across categories; scalable processes and innovation capabilities that will ensure their success is repeatable.” To download a pdf of Accelerate your Private Brand journey to win with customers and shareholders, please visit: https://alvarezandmarsal-crg.com/insight/accelerate-your-private-brand-journey-to-win-with-customers-and-shareholders/ The Alvarez and Marsal Consumer and Retail Group (CRG) is a management consulting firm that tackles the most complex challenges and advances its clients, people, and communities toward their maximum potential. CRG combines the best of A&M’s broader firm bias toward action and practicality with deep consumer and retail industry experience. CRG partners with businesses across a wide range of categories including Grocery, Mass, Convenience, Discount/Dollar, Wholesale/Distribution, Food & Beverage, Beauty & Personal Care, and Apparel & Footwear to drive significant performance improvement. Contact Details David Schneidman dschneidman@alvarezandmarsal.com Company Website https://www.alvarezandmarsal.com/industries/retail/retail

September 10, 2024 02:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Brand Engagement Network (NASDAQ: BNAI) Expands Global Footprint As It Secures $5.9M in Private Placement Financing And Enters $50M Standby Equity Purchase Agreement

Benzinga

By Anthony Termini, Benzinga Brand Engagement Network (NASDAQ: BNAI) (BEN), which creates artificial intelligence (AI) solutions for consumer engagement using human-like avatars as the interface to communicate with customers, hit multiple milestones recently Early in September, the company entered into an agreement with IntelliTek Health. IntelliTek Health is a subsidiary of SmarTek21 and creates solutions for virtual assistants that interact with medical patients. It develops clinical and patient-facing tools and focuses exclusively on bringing AI-enabled productivity and services to the healthcare industry. What The IntelliTek Deal Means For BEN The agreement grants BEN a worldwide license to provide AI-driven solutions to support healthcare operations and optimize patient engagement throughout the United States, Australia, New Zealand, India and Europe. Together, BEN and IntelliTek will offer a suite of AI-driven healthcare solutions to support and execute a broad range of tasks and operations that serve both medical professionals and patients. The agreement is intended to seek synergies in the strengths and solutions of both companies. Brand Engagement Network will combine its Healthcare AI Assistant, Sandy – which serves as a direct interface resource for patients – with IntelliTek’s Personal Virtual Assistant (PVA). Sandy can help patients schedule appointments and obtain up-to-date information on prescription drugs. The IntelliTek PVA is part of a collaboration with Samsung Mobile Solutions and other leading U.S. and multinational telecommunications companies. The deal also combines BEN’s AI technology with IntelliTek’s Clinical Virtual Assistant (CVA). The CVA is specifically designed for clinical teams looking to reduce their administrative burden. BEN reports that it has been shown to improve administrative efficiency by up to 50%, creating the opportunity to improve patient throughput by up to 17%. Another solution rolled into the agreement is IntelliTek’s hands-free and voice-enabled Document Search AI. This device-agnostic tool can quickly and securely search for and retrieve specific medical information in real time from many different document formats sourced from a wide variety of different repositories. Martyn Molnar, Chief Executive of Products at Intellitek Health, says that the “cooperation with BEN will enable both companies to offer a comprehensive suite of AI solutions for the healthcare industry, which is experiencing critical challenges surrounding workforce and resource availability.” “We’re proud to have found a like-minded ally in IntelliTek, as we both strive to elevate patient experiences and healthcare professional productivity with innovative AI technology,” added Paul Chang, BEN’s CEO. The two executives believe that together the platforms can serve as an end-to-end suite of solutions that offers continuous support to improve healthcare access and outcomes. They believe the collaboration will help each company broaden its customer base. It is expected that the agreement will expand the reach of both companies’ solutions to a larger number of healthcare providers and patients and increase access to life-saving AI technology. IntelliTek delivers highly curated products that automate over 2 billion interactions reaching more than 600 million global users, reports the company. The company and its parent, SmarTek21, ensure seamless connectivity of more than 100 pre-built integrations to support AI-driven solutions. Together they provide intelligent workflow automation across healthcare, telecommunications, aviation, finance and global eCommerce platforms. The healthcare industry represents one of BEN’s primary target markets. The company’s full-stack platform includes front-end, middleware and back-end functionality through scalable, customizable solutions that it says are fully optimized to deliver superior customer experiences, productivity and performance. New Financing Transactions Prior to the IntelliTek Health announcement, BEN completed two investment transactions that provide the company with increased financial flexibility and access to capital to support its ongoing strategic growth initiatives. In August, BEN closed a $5.9 million private placement, which will provide funding to the company on a monthly basis through the first quarter of 2025. The investment was supported by a group of BEN’s existing stockholders, who agreed to purchase nearly 1.2 million shares of common stock. The transaction was consummated at a price per share that was materially above the trading price of the company’s common stock at the time. For each share purchased, investors received an additional share of common stock from certain other existing stockholders. In exchange for transferring those shares, certain transferring stockholders received an aggregate of 960,000 warrants to purchase shares of BEN’s common stock at $5.00 per share. Concurrent with the private placement, BEN also entered into a Standby Equity Purchase Agreement (SEPA) with Yorkville Advisors. The SEPA provides BEN with the ability, but not the obligation, to cause Yorkville to purchase up to the aggregate amount of $50 million of BEN common stock. The SEPA is intended to provide BEN with access to capital on an as-needed basis to fund its business plan as it seeks to execute its growth and revenue strategies. The SEPA cannot be used until a registration statement is declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission. These two transactions are intended to help the company expand market validation and scale production of its human-like conversational AI assistants. For more information about BEN, please visit www.beninc.ai. Featured photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash. Benzinga is a leading financial media and data provider, known for delivering accurate, timely, and actionable financial information to empower investors and traders. This post contains sponsored content. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

September 10, 2024 08:55 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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VOESH New York Launches New 28 oz. Vegan Hand & Body Crème Collection

VOESH New York

VOESH New York is debuting a new 28 oz. Vegan Hand & Body Crème Collection, created to provide salon clients with a luxurious and healthier hydration experience. These larger bottles offer the same high-quality, vegan-friendly ingredients that have established VOESH as a leader in the body care industry. “We’re thrilled about the addition of these generously sized lotions to VOESH’s product line,” said Tom Harrison, Principal of Coleman Harrison. “VOESH consistently outshines the competition with expert formulas. This new size will undoubtedly enhance manicure and pedicure services, delivering superior results for both clients and technicians.” “As a bonus, technicians can pair these lotions with VOESH’s best-selling Pedi in a Box products,” added Kendall Stone, Principal of Jay Stone Sales. Enriched with 94+% natural-origin ingredients, VOESH’s 28 oz. crèmes are formulated with organic virgin olive oil and natural extracts. They are infused with 100% vegan, clean, and certified organic components and are free from parabens, phthalates, gluten, mineral oil, and more than 1,680 other potentially harmful substances. The velvety texture provides long-lasting moisture and a radiant glow without a greasy feel. These larger bottles not only provide a superior experience but also ensure lasting hydration and value. “Our lotions have always been a best-seller, so we’ve brought them back in a more convenient size for salons,” said Joseph Choi, Co-Founder of VOESH New York. “Salon owners have been asking for our popular massage butter in a bottle, and we’re ecstatic to fulfill this request.” The new collection is available in five delightful scents: Olive Sensation, Lavender Relieve, Vitamin Recharge, Jasmine Soothe, and Green Tea Detox. Each scent is made with premium, IFRA-certified fragrances that pair perfectly with VOESH’s best-selling Pedi in a Box Deluxe 4 Step pedicure kits. This allows for a cohesive pampering experience that caters to clients’ preferences. With a transparent ingredient list, dermatologist testing, and U.S. FDA registration, VOESH’s new 28 oz. Vegan Hand & Body Crèmes are the best addition to guarantee clients and technicians feel good about what goes on their skin. For more information about VOESH’s new 28 oz. Vegan Hand & Body Crèmes, please visit voeshpro.com. About VOESH New York: Founded in 2013, VOESH New York has emerged as a premier destination for clean and efficacious body care solutions catering to head-to-toe wellness. Noteworthy products include Pedi in a Box, Mani in a Box, the award-winning Shower & Empower Vitamin C Shower Filter, and Collagen Gloves and Socks. VOESH New York is committed to providing 100% vegan, cruelty-free, and sustainable products because every body deserves better beauty! All VOESH New York products are certified by PETA and registered with the US Mocra, EU CPNP and UK SCPN, maintaining vegan, cruelty-free, and dermatologist-tested standards. VOESH New York proudly excludes all 1,680+ EU-banned ingredients and an additional 400+ potentially harmful ingredients. For more information, visit VOESH New York’s website at Voesh.com or contact press@voesh.com. All VOESH New York products are certified by PETA and registered with the EU CPNP, and UK SCPN. Always vegan, cruelty-free, and dermatologist-tested, VOESH New York proudly excludes all 1,680+ EU-banned ingredients and an additional 400+ potentially harmful ingredients. Contact Details Colleen Mathis +1 917-690-5560 Colleen@absoluterrelations.com Company Website https://voesh.com/

September 06, 2024 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Goodway Group Secures Meta Media Certification: Elevating Expertise, Enhancing Efficiency, and Maximizing Media Investments as Meta Drives 21% of U.S. Ad Spend in 2024

Goodway Group

Goodway Group, a leading digital marketing agency, proudly announces that we have achieved Meta Media Certification. This prestigious recognition from Meta confirms our proven digital expertise and solidifies our position as an industry leader, enhancing our ability to deliver more efficient, effective campaigns that maximize our clients’ media investments for better outcomes. As reported by eMarketer, Meta—the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and more—is a dominant force in the U.S. and global advertising landscape. With a projected $64.63 billion in U.S. ad revenues in 2024, Meta is expected to account for 21.3% of U.S. digital ad spend and 74.5% of U.S. social network ad spend, according to a March 2024 eMarketer forecast. To achieve this top-tier certification, agencies must meet stringent standards, including maintaining a minimum of 20 active certifications or 20% of the team being certified, whichever is higher. Goodway Group has now met and exceeded these criteria with 73% of eligible team members being certified, earning recognition from Meta for our exceptional digital expertise. Our certified team members possess deep knowledge of Meta’s platforms, which is crucial for driving greater buying efficiency and ensuring that every dollar our clients invest is optimized for maximum return. Goodway Group is uniquely positioned to leverage Meta’s advanced tools and insights, enabling us to deliver exceptional value through our Outcome Engineering approach. Meta's platforms are a core component in holistic omni-channel marketing for a more connected online customer journey, with Meta apps boasting 3 billion people using their products. This certification is validation that Goodway Group is better equipped to harness Meta’s full potential, ensuring that our clients’ media investments are fully maximized to yield the best possible outcomes. Our relationship with Meta has already delivered significant results. For instance, in a recently published joint case study, Goodway Group: Meta Business Partner Conversions API Success Story, we detailed our collaboration with Tacori, a leading jewelry brand. Tacori aimed to improve overall campaign performance by achieving more granular tracking of conversion events across their websites and eCommerce platforms. By utilizing Meta’s Conversions API (CAPI) Gateway, we helped Tacori increase bookings to view jewelry for purchase by 18% and reduce costs with a 27% decrease in CPMs. This case study highlights the tangible benefits of our Meta Media Certification and how it directly contributes to our clients' success. You can view the full case study here. “Being recognized as a Meta Media Certified Company is a significant milestone for Goodway Group,” said Stephani Estes, Chief Media Officer at Goodway Group. “This certification not only validates the exceptional talent of our team but also strengthens our ability to deliver top-tier results for our clients. As we continue to innovate and push the boundaries of digital marketing, our partnership with Meta will be instrumental in helping us achieve new heights of success.” Goodway Group's Meta Media Certification provides our clients with the assurance that their campaigns are managed by experts who have been rigorously tested and certified by one of the world's leading digital platforms. This recognition solidifies our standing in the marketplace and further positions us as a leader in delivering innovative, outcome-driven digital marketing solutions that maximize buying efficiency and protect our clients’ investments. About Goodway Group Goodway Group is a leading independent digital marketing agency fueled by data, technology and a dedicated purpose of making your media investment perform. Goodway Groupâs Outcome Engineeringâ¢ powers our full ecosystem, a proprietary philosophy that connects strategy, analytics and precise execution for measurable growth. Goodway Group ranks among the top North American agencies, earning prestigious awards for innovative marketing technology, impactful work and fostering inclusive, remote-first workplaces. We've been honored as a multiyear Ad Age Best Places to Work and received AdExchangerâs Best Use of Technology by an Agency award among other accolades. Our collective media buying power has led to industry-renowned partnerships. We hold certifications and are recognized with preferred partner status across the Triopoly and all major marketing and media platforms. This ensures that our clients' media investments are optimally managed, minimizing fraud and waste, and maximizing effectiveness and value. Our company encompasses five distinct divisions: CvE, a marketing advisory firm; G-Comm, a retail media accelerator; TUFF, a performance marketing agency; Goodway, a managed service media and analytics partner; and GRADIANT, a modern funnel digital media agency. Together, we make up Goodway Group, the marketing engine that unlocks measurable growth for the world's most progressive brands. Facebook® is a registered trademark of Meta Inc. Contact Details Kite Hill PR for Goodway Group +1 973-722-7881 goodway@kitehillpr.com Company Website https://www.goodwaygroup.com/

September 05, 2024 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

News Release

Introducing Brick Media: A New Force in Media Management and Innovation

Full Scope PR

Brick Media announces its powerful entrance into the media landscape, asserting itself as a catalyst for transformation. With a bold vision for content innovation and unparalleled management expertise, Brick Media is set to redefine and lead the charge in shaping the future of media. As a full-service media management firm at the intersection of content strategy and business execution, Brick Media is committed to nurturing the growth and monetization of its clients' careers across the digital media landscape. With a multifaceted approach, the company aims to elevate brands and voices across sports, entertainment, and beyond. Drawing from over a decade of unparalleled success in sports and entertainment management, Aaron & André Eanes of A&A Management bring their strategic expertise and deep industry insights to position Brick Media as a transformative force in the media sector. Leading this ambitious venture alongside them is CEO of Brick Media, Maggie Clifton. Formerly with Blue Wire and Wasserman, Maggie brings a wealth of experience and a visionary outlook to the company. Under her guidance, a team of highly skilled media professionals will spearhead the optimization of innovative and compelling content. Together, they stand ready to redefine the boundaries of the industry, heralding a new era of influence. "We founded Brick Media with the strategic vision of being a vital resource in the media industry for those seeking to elevate their clients' success to new levels. When we helped with the launch of New Heights, it revealed a critical need for an independent partner adept at steering through the intricacies of advertising, ancillary revenue streams, digital creation, and social growth. Brick Media fulfills that role, offering expert guidance and the best-in-class resources to empower achieving maximum value." says Aaron & Andre Eanes of A&A Management Group. "Brick Media is here to support our partners’ media businesses via strategy, monetization, distribution, marketing, and all other opportunities for growth. We’ve been building quietly all year and are excited to finally launch publicly.” says CEO of Brick Media, Maggie Clifton. In a remarkable inaugural achievement, Aaron Eanes of A&A Management Group and Maggie Clifton of Brick Media led negotiations a ground-breaking deal between the leading podcast studio Wondery and the widely acclaimed show, "New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce," alongside Andre Eanes of A&A Management Group and Jason Bernstein of Clarity Football. This marks the beginning of Brick Media's mission to forge impactful partnerships and deliver unparalleled growth across the digital media landscape. Brick Media is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of creativity and strategic content development. As the company continues to forge influential partnerships and manage transformative projects, Brick Media is poised to become a leader in the digital media ecosystem. About Brick Media Brick Media is a media management firm specializing in content strategy and business development. Dedicated to fostering client growth and monetization across diverse media landscapes, including sports, entertainment, and news, Brick Media is set to make its mark on the future of media. Contact Details Alessandra Chisolm alessandra@fullscopepr.com

September 05, 2024 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Broadband Leaders Publish Permitting Success Strategies for ISPs and Local Governments

Benton Institute for Broadband & Society

Today, a group of leading broadband organizations published a strategic paper titled “ Permitting Success: Closing the Digital Divide Through Local Broadband Permitting. ” The paper will help local governments and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) navigate broadband network construction challenges and maximize investments in broadband connectivity for all Americans. The Benton Institute for Broadband & Society, in partnership with the Georgetown Law Institute for Technology Law & Policy, the American Association for Public Broadband, Fiber Broadband Association, Brightspeed, and GFiber, wrote the Permitting Success paper. The paper publishes at a critical moment when broadband infrastructure funding is at an all-time high due to the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program—the single largest broadband program in U.S. history. This historic level of funding creates an opportunity to bring high-speed internet access to every community in America and close the digital divide. Historic levels of funding will accelerate broadband network construction, putting enormous pressure on local governments responsible for permitting infrastructure construction within municipal boundaries. These processes take time and resources, and not every government is equipped for the coming wave of construction. This is especially true in rural areas, where municipal resources are lowest and BEAD activity will be highest. Effective and efficient permitting processes are critical for ISPs and local governments to successfully deploy broadband networks that will give every American community modern connectivity. The Permitting Success paper includes case studies; strategic checklists for ISPs, local governments, and state and federal agencies; and outlines three main categories for permitting success: Fostering partnerships between the permit seeker and the permitting authority Maximizing resources available to the permitting authority Ensuring transparency and consistency in the permitting process The paper’s findings were identified during a collaborative national summit on local permitting processes convened by Georgetown Law Institute for Technology Law & Policy, which was attended by more than 30 permitting leaders representing local, state, and federal governments; ISPs; civil society organizations; philanthropies; and other key stakeholders. The paper will be explored during an episode of FBA’s Fiber for Breakfast on September 25, at 10:00am EDT. Register here to watch the episode live. Supporting Quotes: Drew Garner, Director of Policy Engagement, Benton Institute for Broadband & Society: “Broadband is fundamental to modern life. Yet, for millions of Americans, broadband is unavailable. To correct this, the U.S. has launched a historic effort to bring broadband to every household in the country. But such extensive broadband construction will require extensive construction permitting, and construction permitting often happens at the local level. Thus, the historic effort to close the digital divide will ultimately flow through the permitting offices of our local governments. This paper is intended to help those offices and their applicants operate at maximum efficiency.” Natalie Roisman, Executive Director, Georgetown Law Institute for Technology Law & Policy: “The Georgetown Law Institute for Technology Law & Policy seeks to be a convener for conversations that are necessary, challenging, and will move the needle on urgent technology policy issues. We were pleased to host the permitting summit that sought input from a wide range of expert private and public sector perspectives, culminating in this thoughtful paper, and hope this process will get us closer to the critical goal of broadband for every American." Gigi Sohn, American Association for Public Broadband Executive Director: “The permitting paper being released today was made possible by a unique collaboration among representatives from across the broadband ecosystem—local, state and federal government officials, civil society, philanthropy and diverse segments of the industry. While there was not always unanimity on every finding, there was complete agreement that everyone benefits when all US households are connected to robust, affordable high-speed broadband. The result is a common sense guide that seeks to ensure that everyone in that ecosystem contributes to a successful local permitting process.” Fiber Broadband Association President and CEO Gary Bolton: “There is tremendous opportunity ahead to connect every American to reliable, high-speed broadband and to the economic benefits that come with high-quality connectivity. But every player across the broadband ecosystem needs to develop their best strategy to ensure network construction is safe and efficient and broadband deployment is effective and successful. The Fiber Broadband Association offers a growing library of research and resources to help the industry develop successful strategies for fiber broadband deployment, and we believe this paper is a valuable addition that will help ensure these networks are built right the first time.” Brightspeed: Tom Dailey, senior vice president, Public Policy, Government Affairs and Regulatory, Brightspeed “Brightspeed is actively building our state-of-the-art fiber network across 17 states mostly in rural and suburban communities, and positive and timely engagement with permitting authorities is critical. This is especially true when permitting requirements vary from state to state and jurisdiction to jurisdiction. By creating more streamlined, consistent and transparent permitting processes, we can ultimately reach more homes and businesses more efficiently. We very much appreciate the opportunity to engage with the many permissions and policy professionals who contributed their time, energy and most of all their expertise to developing this paper, which will facilitate the successful deployment of broadband networks across the nation.” GFiber: Darrel Hegar, Head of Market Operations, GFiber “Everyone deserves access to high-quality broadband internet. Communities and providers must work together to speed up network construction and service delivery. The policies and procedures laid out in this paper provide a clear roadmap for how we can make real, tangible progress to bringing the promise of next-generation internet to reality for all Americans.” ### Press Contacts: Benton Institute for Broadband & Society: Drew Garner, dgarner@benton.org Georgetown Law Institute for Technology Law & Policy: Samantha Simonsen, sas497@georgetown.edu American Association for Public Broadband: Aaron Alberico, alberico@raynoravenue.com Brightspeed: Gene Rodriguez Miller, pr@brightspeed.com Fiber Broadband Association: Autumn Minnich, FBA@connect2comm.com GFiber: gfiber-pr@google.com About the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society The Benton Institute for Broadband & Society’s primary mission is to bring open, affordable, high-capacity and competitive broadband to all people in the U.S. to ensure a thriving democracy. For over 40 years Benton has provided information and analysis about communications policy, including universal service. In recent years, Benton’s activities strengthened local, state, and national leadership by providing the timely information, rigorous evidence, practical guidance, and advocacy support needed to articulate and implement a broadband for all agenda. Benton has long advocated for universal, affordable telecommunications access for everyone living in the United States. About Georgetown Law Institute for Technology Law & Policy The Institute for Technology Law and Policy is a hub at the Georgetown University Law Center for policymakers, academics, advocates, and technologists to study and discuss the most pressing issues in technology law and policy. With the leading academic program for law and technology in the U.S., the Tech Institute supports faculty research initiatives and trains the next generation of tech lawyers and policymakers through an unmatched combination of up-to-the-minute curriculum, world-class faculty, and impactful experiential and career development opportunities. In addition, the Tech Institute convenes public and private discussions on urgent and cutting-edge policy issues, conducts workshops for government staff, and works to identify and create opportunities for technology to improve access to justice. About the American Association for Public Broadband The American Association for Public Broadband proudly represents community-owned broadband networks and co-ops that are fueling the nation's economic future through reliable high-speed internet access. With more than 650+ networks across 33 states, public––or municipal broadband––is answering America's call for reliable, affordable, and accessible internet for all. Learn more at aapb.us. About the Fiber Broadband Association The Fiber Broadband Association is the largest and only trade association that represents the complete fiber ecosystem of service providers, manufacturers, industry experts, and deployment specialists dedicated to the advancement of fiber broadband deployment and the pursuit of a world where communications are limitless, advancing quality of life and digital equity anywhere and everywhere. The Fiber Broadband Association helps providers, communities, and policymakers make informed decisions about how, where, and why to build better fiber broadband networks. Since 2001, these companies, organizations, and members have worked with communities and consumers in mind to build the critical infrastructure that provides the economic and societal benefits that only fiber can deliver. The Fiber Broadband Association is part of the Fibre Council Global Alliance, which is a platform of six global FTTH Councils in North America, LATAM, Europe, MEA, APAC, and South Africa. Learn more at fiberbroadband.org or subscribe to FBA’s Fiber Forward Weekly newsletter here. About Brightspeed Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., and with assets and associated operations in 20 states, Brightspeed provides broadband and telecommunications services through a network platform capable of serving more than 6.5 million homes and businesses. Our 4,000 employees are committed to building a future where more communities benefit from a more connected life, deploying a state-of-the-art fiber network and a customer experience that makes being connected as simple as it should be. For more information, please visit brightspeed.com. About GFiber GFiber delivers fast, reliable, fairly-priced and open fiber internet service, prioritizing customer service and speed. GFiber started in 2010 as a Google-driven experiment to catalyze the gigabit internet ecosystem, and has since pioneered the gigabit and multigig internet future. For more than a decade, GFiber has maintained its $70/1 Gig base internet plan without any rate increases, and remains committed to bringing the best internet experience to customers in nearly 20 states with plans to further expand. GFiber was awarded PC Mag Readers’ Choice Awards for Best Overall and Fiber ISP in 2024, Best Fiber Internet Provider by Forbes in 2024 and Best Fiber Provider for Gig Internet by CNET in 2024, in addition to top recognitions from J.D. Power, HighSpeedInternet.com and many more. You can find more information, check availability in your area and compare plans at fiber.google.com. Contact Details Benton Institute for Broadband & Society Drew Garner dgarner@benton.org Company Website https://www.benton.org/

September 04, 2024 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Communications