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COD, Aurora University Launch 2+2 Agreements with Graduate Study Pathways in Exercise Science, Athletic Training and Sports Management

College of DuPage

College of DuPage and Aurora University have launched three new 2+2 programs designed to help COD Physical Education, Fitness and Sports Studies students pursue advanced degrees. The programs are made possible through a new institutional partnership between COD and Aurora setting the foundation for future pathway agreements for COD students to seamlessly transfer to Aurora at the junior level. “This new institutional partnership between COD and Aurora University reflects our collaborative and intentional level of commitment to providing seamless student access and paths to success in higher education,” said COD President Dr. Brian Caputo. “Through the new programs, we are excited to offer various opportunities for our physical education students, especially those interested in furthering their education beyond a bachelor’s degree.” Developed for students who plan to major in exercise science or sports management, the new programs allow students to earn an associate degree at COD and a bachelor’s degree from Aurora in just four years with the option of a fifth year to earn a master’s degree in a related area of study. Students can pursue three different 2+2 agreements: a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science with an option to earn a Master of Science in Athletic Training; a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science with an option to earn a Master of Science in Exercise Science; or a bachelor’s degree in Sports Management with an option to earn a Master of Business Administration with an emphasis in Sports Management. Under the agreements, COD students can start planning their transition to Aurora as early as their first semester by following an academic transfer plan designed to ensure a smooth transition. “This exciting new partnership with Aurora University gives our students an educational framework from day one of classes,” said COD Physical Education Assistant Professor Stephanie Vlach. “Not only does this allow COD students to earn a bachelor’s degree in four years, but it also leads to excellent career or graduate-level pathways, including the only partnership of its kind for COD students interested in a career as an athletic trainer.” Aurora University Dean of Health Science Sarah Radke said she is excited to partner with COD to offer opportunities for students wanting to continue their education. “Students will gain hands-on experience working in our state-of-the-art labs and in a premier internship experience,” she said. “We are also excited to extend that pathway into our plus one graduate programs in exercise science, sport management and athletic training.” For more information about these new agreements, contact COD’s Counseling, Advising and Transfer Services Department at (630) 942-2259. Learn more about COD’s Physical Education, Fitness and Sports Studies transfer opportunities. Contact Details Angela Mennecke +1 630-942-3134 menneckea@cod.edu

April 25, 2022 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Road Scholar Announces Partnership With Carbonfund.org

Road Scholar

In celebration of Earth Day, not-for-profit Road Scholar, the world leader in educational travel for older adults, announces a partnership with Carbonfund.org Foundation, a not-for-profit leader in the fight against climate change, helping organizations and individuals reduce their impact on the environment. Starting July 1, 2022, at the start of its fiscal year, Road Scholar will launch a carbon offsetting initiative to counter the impact of travel to Road Scholar programs, investing in projects with Carbonfund.org that reduce the amount of carbon emissions in the atmosphere. Some of Carbonfund.org’s projects include clean-burning stoves in Kenya, solar farms in India and projects here in the United States. Since 2003, Carbonfund.org has supported 240 Renewable Energy, Forestry and Energy Efficiency projects in 28 countries and 42 American states, offsetting over 40 billion pounds of carbon equivalent emissions while also planting more than 1.6 million trees. Eric Carlson, President of Carbonfund.org Foundation said, "We are delighted to partner with Road Scholar on a carbon emissions reduction strategy for their various educational travel programs. It is critical we reduce emissions associated with travel to do our part in the fight against climate change." As an educational nonprofit, Road Scholar’s sustainability efforts will also incorporate environmental education, starting with a live virtual lecture with Brian McFarland, Carbonfund.org’s Executive Vice President of Carbon Projects and Origination. The lecture will help Road Scholar participants learn how carbon-offsetting projects protect the environment. James Moses, Road Scholar’s President and CEO, says these are just the first steps the organization is taking to create sustainability initiatives: “Road Scholar wants to help reduce the impact of travel on the environment and is committed to creating a more sustainable future for generations to come. The path to a more sustainable planet is a road we must all follow, and we’re excited to take this important step to help move the world toward a clean energy future.” About Road Scholar: Road Scholar is the nation’s largest not-for-profit educational travel organization for adults – a true university of the world. They offer thousands of programs in more than 100 countries and 50 states. Road Scholar educational adventures are created by Elderhostel, the world leader in educational travel since 1975. Learn more at press.roadscholar.org. About Carbonfund.org Foundation: Carbonfund.org is leading the fight against climate change, making it easy and affordable for any individual, business or organization to reduce & offset their climate impact. Carbonfund.org has America’s first carbon neutral product label, Carbon free ® Certified. The Carbon free ® Certified Products Program is proud to be part of Amazon’s Climate Pledge Friendly Program Contact Details Kelsey Knoedler Perri +1 617-521-5301 Kelsey.Perri@roadscholar.org Company Website https://www.roadscholar.org/about/press

April 21, 2022 10:27 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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CleverTap Appoints Anand Venkatraman as Chief Operating Officer

CleverTap

CleverTap, the world’s leading retention cloud, announced the appointment of Anand Venkatraman as the Chief Operating Officer. Anand has over two decades of experience in building and scaling global teams and P&Ls across various sales motions. He joins from Freshworks where he led the fast-growing Asia Pacific and Middle East and Africa business. He also played a key role in driving global partnerships to independently grow the business across 40+ countries, scaling the technology marketplace and embedded Freshworks deep into the worldwide startup ecosystem. Prior to that he held leadership positions at Akamai and Microsoft in APJ and India. “I warmly welcome Anand to CleverTap. His appointment underlines our ambitious growth plans to be the gamechanger for user retention. He has a successful track record in taking businesses global, building highly engaged teams, and establishing creative approaches for customer success. Anand will strengthen the CleverTap management team to help scale the company to the next level by bringing in excellence in execution,” said Sidharth Malik, CEO CleverTap Inc. “I am excited to join CleverTap as they emerge as the retention category market leader, in not just India and South-East Asia but also in markets like North America, Latin America, Middle East, Turkey, Africa and Europe. I am looking forward to being a part of CleverTap's journey in taking the Indian SaaS story to the world,” said Anand Venkatraman. About CleverTap CleverTap is the modern, integrated retention cloud that empowers digital consumer brands to increase customer retention and lifetime value. For brands that understand and value user retention, CleverTap drives context and individualization with the help of a unified and deep data layer, AI/ML powered insights and automation. Customers around the world representing over 10,000 apps, including Vodafone Idea, SonyLIV, Daimler, Gojek, Carousell, and Premier League, trust CleverTap to achieve their retention and engagement goals, growing their long term revenue. Backed by leading venture capital firms including Sequoia India, Tiger Global Management, and Accel, the company is headquartered in Mountain View, California, with offices in Mumbai, Singapore, and Dubai. For more information, visit clevertap.com or follow on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. Contact Details Sony Shetty sony@clevertap.com Company Website https://clevertap.com/

April 21, 2022 04:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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ECO BOOST: SPRING INTO ACTION FOR EARTH DAY

YourUpdateTV

A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/DoF37ftEqEk Earth Day was created back in 1970 to increase awareness and appreciation for the planet’s natural environment. Over the past four decades this holiday has grown tremendously, and today over a billion people are expected to take part in some sort of celebratory activity. The theme for this year’s Earth Day on April 22 nd is Investing In Our Planet —everybody doing their part, including governments, industry, and individuals. Author of the Mom’s Guide to Growing Your Family Green, Terra Wellington, says many of our daily activities can either help or hurt the planet, adding, “There are a few easy things every individual can do to help keep the Earth healthy and happy.” GARDENS, PARKS & GREEN SPACES: One easy way to support a greener world on the local level begins in your own garden. Wellington suggests planting more trees in your neighborhood and surrounding communities. This family-friendly activity not only teaches children about the environment, but each tree helps capture carbon dioxide, lower temperatures, and filter pollutants. Wellington says if you’re traveling this summer, it’s a good idea to plan a trip to a national park. The National Park System encompasses 423 sites in the United States. They span across more than 84 million acres, with parks in each state and extending into the territories, including Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and Guam. She adds that, “Being in nature helps you appreciate it and want to preserve it.” The Wellness Lifestyle Contributor suggests finding the perfect place to serve as a basecamp for your next adventure, highlighting the more than 75 percent of Travelodge by Wyndham hotels that are located less than an hour’s drive from a national park. She points out that the brand is a longtime supporter of the National Parks Conservation Association and has an ongoing commitment to help preserve the nation’s parks, along with other sustainability initiatives. As families plan their next adventure, Wellington suggests taking advantage of a great Earth Day deal Travelodge by Wyndham has this month offering 20 percent off two nights or more. For more information, visit Travelodge.com Instagram: @Travelodge GREENER FOOD CHOICES: About one third of greenhouse gas emissions come from the global food supply chain. Wellington says it’s important to consider making greener food choices in order to have a more positive impact on climate change. One easy way to get started is by participating in Meatless Mondays. This initiative promotes adding more healthy plant-based foods into your family’s diet. Wellington likes the idea of reducing meat to help reduce greenhouse gases. Along the same lines, Wellington says it’s also important to choose products that follow climate friendly techniques to grow their ingredients. One brand she points to is Airly Foods—the first-ever climate friendly snack that helps remove greenhouse gases from the air in every bite. After further review, Wellington discovered that this type of work is done through the brand’s innovative farming practices, including growing grains that remove greenhouse gases, electronic transportation, zero emissions baking, and negative carbon footprints for all of their ingredients. Wellington loves looking at the back of each cracker box to see how much CO2 is removed from their air, while enjoying four tasty sweet and salty varieties—cheddar, sea salt, chocolate, and salted caramel that come in the shape of a cloud. For more information, visit AirlyFoods.com Instagram: @ airlyfoods Facebook: @ airlyfoods Twitter: @ airlyfoods HOME & SEASONAL TIPS: As Earth Day approaches, Wellington has a few other tips to participate in this year’s awareness day. She recommends investing in ceiling fans for the summer. They have been found to help reduce the use of electricity and air conditioning. Another Earth friendly tip is to use LED lightbulbs. They are now widely available and a great way to lessen energy usage. These bulbs can also last up to 25 times longer than other lightbulbs. She also recommends turning off lights and unplugging devices when they’re not in use. As the summer months approach, the Wellness Lifestyle Contributor suggests biking more, saying, “The fewer cars on the road, the less carbon emissions polluting the air and contributing to global warming.” Wellington also points to reusable water bottles as a way to make greener practices a part of your daily living. Finally, she says, “Enjoy your local farmer’s market,” adding, “Besides supporting local agriculture, you’ll be purchasing seasonal food that often is transported shorter distances to get to your plate.” For more information, visit simplemomsguide.com Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

April 20, 2022 03:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Intus Care Announces $3.1M in Funding to Support Scale-Up of Predictive Analytics Platform for Geriatric Populations

Intus Care

Intus Care, developer of an innovative predictive analytics platform designed for geriatric health, has secured $3.1 million in growth capital. The investment round included Preface Ventures, Jumpstart Nova and Collab Capital, Concrete Rose Capital, Brown Angel Group, Green Egg Ventures, and strategic angel investor Brynn Putnam. Notably, Marcus Whitney, managing partner of Jumpstart Nova, and Jewel Burks Solomon, managing partner of Collab Capital, provided instrumental support for Intus Care’s mission. The company enables care providers to mitigate preventable high-utilization events, track quality interventions, and equip healthcare management teams with vital actionable insights to make informed decisions for senior patients to improve their health outcomes. This is the second round of seed funding for Intus Care, which previously raised $2.3M, bringing their total to $5.4M. “Intus Care is doing something important and truly unique in the way they empower elder care providers with the data necessary to improve the quality of care they can deliver,” said Marcus Whitney, founding partner of Jumpstart Nova. “We’re proud to invest in such a passionate and knowledgeable team with a technology that’s already exhibiting its ability to reduce hospitalizations and complications for senior citizens.” Intus Care was founded in 2019 by a team of Brown University undergraduates, who went on to graduate in 2021 after taking a hiatus to gain real-world work experience in various areas of eldercare. Its mission is to empower geriatric care providers through data to deliver more effective patient management and treatment for dual-eligible seniors -- some of the most socially vulnerable and clinically complex people in the U.S. Its digital healthcare platform integrates with electronic health records, claims, and accounting software to highlight clinical risks in patients and display organizational data. This offers a holistic view of each patient in an organization, allowing healthcare teams to better plan, manage, and provide quality care to the most vulnerable senior populations in our communities. “We’re so pleased to have esteemed investors who, like us, recognize the importance of ensuring that underserved seniors receive the quality care that they need and deserve,” said Robbie Felton CEO and co-founder, of Intus Care. “With their financial backing, Intus Care will advance our technology footprint and expand our services to better enable PACE organizations, nursing homes, long-term care facilities, and other elder care providers to enter a new era in applying data-driven predictive analytics to prevent avoidable hospitalizations and health complications.” To date, Intus Care has gained notable traction and success in the eldercare space as the first-of-its-kind data platform to specialize in PACE and Medicare-Medicaid integrated program quality management, incorporating proprietary data models and integrating APIs.​ It is currently supporting PACE plans in seven states. A 60-patient Michigan-based PACE Program implemented the Intus Care platform in 2021 and saved ~$147,000 in three months by reducing its inpatient admission rate by 54%. Intus Care has recently entered a Letter of Understanding with the National Pace Association to pursue a strategic partnership, which will further its ability to help programs across the country improve the care they can provide. “The investors we have at the center of this fundraising round will add perspectives and expertise across a multitude of sectors that will be valuable as we continue to work towards our ultimate goal of enabling all dual-eligible patients in the country to receive the best care possible,” said Evan Jackson, chief operating officer, Intus Care. “We appreciate our investors’ support and are proud of how far our company has come since our early days while still students at Brown University.” The latest investment round will position the company to maximize greater technological opportunities through data, honing product strategy that will support a major scale-up of their current service offerings. They also plan to grow their human capital by attracting, hiring, and retaining strong talent committed to their mission. About Intus Care Intus Care has found a way to synthesize data to improve care, reducing hospitalizations for some of the most socially vulnerable and clinically complex patients in today’s healthcare system – senior citizens. The company, conceived by a group of Brown University undergraduate students passionate about elder care who have raised over $5M in funding, has created a unique data-driven predictive analytics platform designed for organizations such as PACE programs, nursing homes, and long-term care facilities, and home care agencies. It easily integrates with existing electronic health records, claims, and financial software to automatically pull, analyze and highlight participant risk and care-focused data, empowering clinicians, nurses, and other care providers to better anticipate and mitigate patient risk (such as falls, development of secondary conditions, etc.) and to make more informed decisions that ultimately improve patient care and outcomes. Learn more at intuscare.com. Contact Details SVM Public Relations Jordan Bouclin +1 401-490-9700 intuscare@svmpr.com Company Website https://www.intuscare.com/

April 20, 2022 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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SC Johnson Chairman and CEO Welcomes Tanzanian President Hassan, Reaffirms Commitment to Helping Eradicate Malaria

SC Johnson

SC Johnson Chairman and CEO Fisk Johnson today welcomed Her Excellency Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of the United Republic of Tanzania, to Racine to discuss their shared commitment to eradicating malaria and to tour the company’s Center for Insect Science and Family Health, one of the world’s largest private, urban entomology research centers. Research from the Center helps SC Johnson in the development of its repellent and insecticide brands such as OFF! ® and Raid ®, as well as low-cost spatial repellent options for people who lack access to mosquito prevention tools. “Every minute, a child under five dies from malaria, most of whom are from Africa, and at SC Johnson, we are committed to sharing our expertise in insect science to help eradicate this tragic, yet preventable, disease,” said Fisk Johnson, Chairman and CEO of SC Johnson. “We are honored to welcome President Hassan and are grateful to work alongside the Tanzanian government and the greater East African Community toward our common goal of eliminating malaria.” Malaria is an illness caused by parasites which are spread to people through the bites of certain mosquitoes. Africa is home to 95% of malaria cases and 96% of deaths. Children under the age of five accounted for approximately 80% of deaths in the region, according to the World Health Organization. SC Johnson is in the process of developing and testing new, low-cost spatial repellent technologies that can be used by people who lack access to prevention tools in some of the world’s most vulnerable regions. These repellents are easy to use, do not require electricity or flame, and work continuously for up to 10 months. Large-scale clinical trials are underway in Kenya and have been completed in Indonesia and Peru. For more information on SC Johnson’s efforts to end malaria and create a healthier world, visit: https://www.scjohnson.com/en/a-healthier-world/it-takes-a-family-to-end-malaria About SC Johnson Founded in 1886 and headquartered in Racine, Wisconsin USA, SC Johnson believes that a more sustainable, healthier and transparent world that inspires people and creates opportunities isn't just possible - it's our responsibility. A heritage of innovation and bold, transparent decisions is why our high-quality products and iconic brands – including OFF! ® Raid ®, Glade ®, Windex ®, Scrubbing Bubbles ®, Ziploc ®, Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day ®, method ®, Autan ®, Baygon ®, Mr Muscle ®, Duck ®, Lysoform ® and more – are in homes, schools and businesses in virtually every country worldwide. As a global, purpose-led company, we are committed to making the world a better place today and for future generations. That means relentlessly bringing our expertise in science, innovation and partnerships to bear on some of the world's most pressing environmental and health issues like reducing plastic waste and eradicating malaria. Around the world, we use our resources to unlock greater economic and educational opportunities for people and communities where access may be limited, but curiosity and potential are limitless. See how SC Johnson is a Family Company At Work For a Better World by visiting scjohnson.com or joining us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube. Contact Details SC Johnson Global Corporate Communication +1 262-260-2440 GlobalPublicAffairs@scj.com Company Website https://www.scjohnson.com/

April 19, 2022 04:03 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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SixthRéseau Combines Luxury Fashion with Web3 Benefits for Holders

𝗦𝗶𝘅𝘁𝗵Réseau

With a rising demand for real-life utility in NFT collections, SixthRéseau tackles this challenge by combining real-world items with digital art. The fashion world is a well-established business that relies on innovation every season. SixthRéseau strives to be the pioneer in the emerging web3 market by employing a hybrid business model of releasing their collections in the Metaverse alongside the physical world. Only people that hold a SixthRéseau NFT will be eligible to access their luxury fashion brand and receive both their fashion and the advantages that come with holding one of their respective NFTs. The NFT collection of SixthRéseau will provide highly exclusive content like the Réseau EliteClub, where entrepreneurs and like-minded people exchange alpha knowledge on projects they’re involved in. Another perk for investors is SixthVentures, the R&D branch of SixthRéseau that will recruit and support a variety of projects throughout web3 that holders can get involved in to be the first in line for upcoming ventures in the space. SixthVentures emphasizes engineering its network to develop a whole ecosystem around the brand that will be managed both by its community and founders. Holding an NFT of their collection comes with a set of perks and exclusive access to even more than the ones mentioned here. The founding team of SixthRéseau will reinvest 25% of all profits back into the brand to provide a high quality of their fashion items that will be linked to the blockchain for proving authenticity on all levels. The team is made up of marketing experts, HR professionals, designers of both physical and digital spaces, and developers of all shades to be able to keep up with the big goals they’ve set to accomplish. The minting will be announced to take place at the end of April and the NFT collection will consist of 7,777 individual 3D avatars that will be available in a private sale for 0.16 ETH and in a public Dutch auction starting at 0.4 ETH. Learn more about SixthRéseau by visiting their official website or following them on Twitter. Their Discord and other socials can be found here. Contact Details SixthRéseau Anna B +1 702-410-7649 anna@nftdroops.com Company Website https://www.reseauclo.com/

April 19, 2022 02:34 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Play Globally Inc. and The US Gambler Agree to Strategic Partnership

Play Globally

Play Globally, Inc., a worldwide provider of free-to-play gaming innovations, today announced a partnership with The US Gambler (USG www.theusgambler.com ), a premier destination for premium sports content, betting picks and excellent bonus offers from leading sportsbooks and online casinos. The partnership serves as a creative avenue to support growth for both parties in the increasingly competitive US iGaming market, through cross-selling one fully aligned demographic between free-to-play gaming and sports betting content and insights. Play Globally’s upcoming release of its LuckyFans line of free-to-play games drives live, in-play sports action to determine the outcome of a fast-paced poker game. LuckyFans adds affiliate revenue and drives new high-value sports bettors to USG and its partners. Additionally, USG users will be able to create their own LuckyFans Private Leagues to earn exclusive rewards, win high-value prizes and participate in the LuckyFans National Sweepstakes to win substantial prize money. “The ability to work in tandem with an affiliate partner that has grown 300% MoM since its inception and whose audience is growing in both existing and emerging sports betting markets is a major step for our growth plans across the US,” said Play Globally President/CEO Stephen Dunham. “This partnership underscores the massive growth potential LuckyFans, and free-to-play gaming in general, offers the entire sports betting and iGaming industry. It’s exciting to see a brand like The US Gambler fully appreciate the value of what sophisticated contextual fan engagement through our LuckyFans platform provides.” About Play Globally, Inc. Play Globally, Inc. is a developer of innovative free-to-play games that utilize live, real-time in-play sports and racing data to determine the results of a live poker game. The company’s LuckyFans product line is scheduled for release in 2022 for a variety of professional sports and racing contests, providing users the opportunity to win real money sweepstakes prizes. LuckyFans is legal in all 50 states and most jurisdictions around the world. About The US Gambler The US Gambler is a site owned and operated by The Sportsbook Insider Inc (TSI); a Boston based organization newly formed in 2022. TheUSGambler.com is their first domain to go live offering premium sports content, betting picks and excellent bonus offers from leading sportsbooks and online casinos. Contact Details Alex shapiro +1 732-770-9395 ashapiro@hotpaperlantern.com Company Website https://www.playglobally.com/

April 19, 2022 01:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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38-Year Printing Business Avante Print Center Converts to International Minute Press Franchise in Mesa, Arizona

Minuteman Press International Inc

For nearly 38 years, Carl Denti and his family operated their independent print shop Avante Print Center. In Feb. 2022, Carl sold the business to new owners Devin and John Weiss through Minuteman Press International’s conversion program, which connects sellers with qualified buyers. Carl says, “It was time for me to join my wife Patricia in retirement and I think the transition to International Minute Press has gone very well. I needed to like the people who bought the business and Devin and John are great. My daughter Renee has stayed on working in the business and we also have employees with 25 years of tenure, so it was important for us to be comfortable with everything.” Devin and John have rebranded as International Minute Press in Mesa, AZ, and are operating out of the same location at 218 West Hampton Avenue, Unit 13 that was home to Avante Print Center. Devin says, “We believe owning a business gives us a real sense of pride. By purchasing this established business, we strive to honor our clients, our community, and our staff with continued personalized service and outstanding support.” History of the Business On March 27 th, 1984, Carl Denti and his wife Patricia opened Avante Print Center in Mesa. Carl shares, “I had owned a previous business in Kansas City that I sold. We moved to Arizona and at that time I decided to invest in another business. I told my accountant I didn’t want anything in credit collections (which I did for 15 years) and I didn’t want to own a food-related business. One of the things he came up with was printing.” He adds, “Patricia was very influential in having us go into the printing industry as well. She previously had worked for Hallmark in Kansas City doing calligraphy, and she wanted something we could do together. In our first full year in business together, we made a 39.8% profit.” While printing proved to be a viable business for Carl and Patricia, he also appreciated the freedom it afforded him to pursue other passions. Carl says, “From 1992 – 2021, I also served as the pastor of a church in Arizona, which I never really considered to be work plus it didn’t really pay the bills. Printing was an easy business to market and sell, and I felt it had easier customer acquisition than other industries.” Over the years, Avante Print Center became a second-generation family business. Carl explains, “Patricia and I worked together in the business until she retired a few years ago, and my daughter Renee also worked with us and is still working in the business today even after it was sold.” Growing the Business For the 37-plus years he was in business, Carl operated on four key principles. He says, “No matter what business you own, for me the principles never change. We built Avante Print Center following these principles: Customer service was the apex. We decided that no one would out-service us. When we said we were going to do something, we did it. My goal was to get at least 98% (if not 100%) of all jobs out on time and done right. My definition of quality is that the job has to be accepted by the customer, that they will be happy with it and order it again, and that they will tell someone about the work that we did and refer our business. You have to be able to go after the market and you have to sell. One of the problems people run into when starting a business is that their goal is to simply unlock their doors. Instead, your goal needs to be to make a profit, which takes a lot more than turning the key and turning on lights. Know your numbers and live by your numbers. It’s as simple as that.” Selling the Business While Carl was thinking of retiring at some point, he actually wasn’t actively pursuing a sale of his printing business. He explains, “I did not have the business listed for sale but I’ve known Jack Panzer (Minuteman Press International Regional Vice President) for approximately eight years. When I received a letter and flyer in the mail that Jack could help sell my business, I thought that was very smart of Minuteman Press International do reach out. Jack was very laid back whenever we spoke, and he was always open and honest along with being knowledgeable about the industry.” At the beginning of 2021, the timing was right. Carl shares, “In January 2021, Jack approached me with a qualified buyer that he thought could be a fit for my shop. I told him what it would cost if someone wants to buy our business. I also consulted with my daughter Renee, who decided she didn’t want to take over the business. We started the sales process in March 2021 and it was finished by Feb. 2022.” As for the transition to the new owners, Carl says, “I think the transition has gone very well. I needed to like the people who bought the business and Devin and John Weiss are great. Renee has stayed on working in the business and we also have employees with 25 years of tenure, so it was important for us to be comfortable with everything.” “Jack Panzer is a terrific guy from top to bottom. He’s very transparent and open as is the team at Minuteman Press International. I don’t think there’s a better way to sell your business and here’s why: 1. You’re not paying any commission; 2. You’re working with a well-established 45-year company in Minuteman Press International; and 3. Your buyer is going to have a much better chance of succeeding with the support they are getting. If they succeed, then your employees will be taken care of… and that really means a lot to us.” -Carl Denti, Retiring Owner, Avante Print Center (now International Minute Press, Mesa, AZ Meet the New Owners Devin and John Weiss are no strangers to owning a business. Devin says, “ John and I have owned several diverse businesses but most recently I owned a dance studio for 25 years. When John and I met approximately 10 years ago, we started a business together shortly after, that we continue to operate.” When the opportunity came to buy an established business while also receiving additional support, Devin says, “Honestly, it was a no brainer. We had planned to open an International Minute Press in the area in 2020, just before the pandemic hit. A year and a half later, our Regional VP Jack Panzer, reached out with this opportunity to buy Avante Print Center and convert it to International Minute Press. It was such a great opportunity that we couldn’t pass it up!” When asked why they chose franchising, Devin answers, “We have looked at other businesses and franchises, and were completely impressed with Minuteman Press International by comparison. The amount of hands-on guidance and support are second-to-none. In the past, we have always done businesses independently, and having the support of this franchise in particular was a great draw.” “Jack Panzer and his team were with us every step of the way; they made the sale as easy as it could be. Since buying the business, the support has been great. From the training to the in-store training with the local field staff, it has superseded our expectations in every way. Their patience and knowledge gave us the confidence we needed to enter a new industry for us.” -Devin Weiss, Owner, International Minute Press, Mesa, AZ (formerly Avante Print Center) Entering the Printing Industry Now that Devin and John are operating their business, they are excited to hit the ground running and continue the legacy that Carl and family started. Devin says, “We believe owning a business gives you a sense of pride. By purchasing an established business, we strive to honor our clients, our community, and our staff with continued outstanding service and support.” As a full-service printing and marketing services provider, Devin and John are excited to help other local businesses and organizations with virtually everything they need to operate and promote themselves. Devin says, “Wide format printing is especially exciting right now. There is such a wide variety of custom printed products that we can provide to our clients – we haven’t found anything we can’t do yet in-house or with the help of our franchisor and vendors.” As she reflects on owning a business vs. having a job, one word comes to mind for Devin: “Freedom!” She elaborates, While you have to put in many hours as the owner of a business, they are on your own schedule and with your own priorities. You decide what your life entails every day, and we wouldn’t trade that for the world! We love to travel and the freedom makes that possible.” Advice for Others Devin shares this advice for others who are looking to buy a business right now: “Do your due diligence. A positive attitude is a must. Survey other business owners about their experiences, both good and bad. There is a lot of preparation that goes into buying a business, and having a successful franchise to guide you is a great option. Ultimately, no matter how prepared you are, it is a learning experience!” International Minute Press is located at 218 West Hampton Avenue, Unit 13; Mesa, AZ 85210. For more information, call 480-969-4888 or visit https://minuteman.com/us/locations/az/mesa21. Learn more about #1 rated Minuteman Press International franchise opportunities at https://minutemanpressfranchise.com. To find out how to sell your printing business through Minuteman Press International, visit https://bit.ly/minutemanpressconversions. Contact Details Minuteman Press International Chris Biscuiti +1 631-249-1370 cbiscuiti@mpihq.com Company Website https://minutemanpressfranchise.com

April 19, 2022 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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