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Comcast Plans Major Network Expansion in Texas

Comcast Houston

Comcast announced today it will significantly expand its next-generation network, the Xfinity 10G Network, in a major way across several southeast Texas counties in 2023. The media and technology company said it will invest more than $100 million to install at least one thousand miles of new fiber-rich highways that will reach up to 80,000 homes and businesses by the end of this year. The planned expansions add to Comcast’s ongoing $2.8 billion investment in Texas over the last three years. Network expansion efforts will begin in Kingwood, Pinehurst, Prairie View, Waller, New Caney and Conroe. Construction will continue in other communities that have ongoing network infrastructure builds in the Houston area. Construction has started in Kingwood, which will be the largest expansion of the year; it is expected to be complete by the end of 2023 and will reach nearly 24,000 Kingwood homes and businesses. These locations will have the foundational next-generation network in place to begin deploying DOCSIS 4.0, setting the stage for the introduction of new symmetrical multi-gigabit Internet options. “We will bring our fiber-rich network to twice the number of homes and businesses this year compared to the number we passed last year,” said Ralph Martinez, Senior Regional Vice President of Comcast’s Texas Region. “Southeast Texas’ rural and suburban communities have been growing fast, and we are building out our next-generation Comcast network in tandem with the growth. We will continue to expand to even more rural communities in the next few years.” Once complete, Comcast, the nation’s largest provider of 1.2 Gigabit per second speeds, will give consumers access to reliable and fast Xfinity Internet and Xfinity Mobile service that outperforms its competitors. Comcast engineers have also developed multiple artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies that make the network faster and more reliable while delivering up to 100 Gbps for Comcast Business customers. In addition, Comcast’s next-generation technology provides multiple layers of security that automatically detect and block hundreds of thousands of cyber events every second, and a Smart Network that automates many core network functions and dramatically reduces the number of outages. “Access to reliable internet and telecommunications services is something that we cannot go without in our day-to-day activities,” said Houston Mayor Pro-Tem and Kingwood resident, Dave Martin. “Comcast and their new construction project in Kingwood is a perfect example of a business working to bridge the gap to connect more people to much-needed services while increasing accessibility to much-needed services and their dependability. I appreciate Comcast’s partnership and commitment to District E.” Comcast is also committed to addressing digital equity in communities we serve, 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. Last year, Comcast Texas invested more than one million dollars to help local community organizations provide personalized digital skills training, offer workforce development/readiness workshops and other tech education to students, adults, and people with disabilities. The funding also supports ongoing efforts to build awareness about connectivity programs like Internet Essentials and the federal government’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which offers eligible households up to $30/month credit, or up to $75 for households on tribal lands, for home Internet. Comcast proudly participates in the Affordable Connectivity Program, and offers Internet Essentials Plus, a $29.95/month home Internet service that is effectively free for eligible households, once the ACP credit is applied. Interested customers can visit Xfinity.com/ACP or call 1-800-Xfinity to learn more about this program and find out if they qualify. For more construction details and updates, visit ComcastTexas.com/Expansion. Powered by the Xfinity 10G Network Comcast’s next-generation network and Internet experience are powering homes today and into the future: · Ultimate Capacity: Xfinity customers connect nearly 1 billion devices across the company’s network annually. The Xfinity 10G Network with the next-generation Xfinity gateways deliver the most advanced WiFi technology carrying three times more bandwidth to power streaming, gaming, videoconferencing, and more, simultaneously. · Fastest Internet: 10 million+ Xfinity Internet customers subscribe to gigabit speed products, and Ookla rated Xfinity the fastest Internet provider at the end of 2022*. Symmetrical gig speeds to the first homes are planned for later this year. · 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 xFi Pod that extends coverage to hard-to-reach areas, with plans for an offering of increased support for in-home WiFi through a “boost guarantee” later this year. · Most Reliable Connection: Comcast is scaling the nation’s largest and most reliable network – the Xfinity 10G Network – that passes 60 million homes and business and counting. The company plans to launch a new device that is “storm-ready” with cellular and battery backup to help keep customers connected even when the power goes out. · Ultra-Low Latency: The Xfinity 10G Network and the latest xFi 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 offers a suite of connectivity, communications, networking, cybersecurity, wireless, and managed solutions to help organizations of different sizes prepare for what’s next. Powered by the nation’s largest Gig-speed broadband network, and backed by 24/7 customer support, Comcast Business is the nation’s largest cable provider to small and mid-size businesses and one of the leading service providers to the Enterprise market. 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. Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company that connects people to moments that matter. We are principally focused on connectivity, aggregation, and streaming with 57 million customer relationships across the United States and Europe. We deliver broadband, wireless, and video through our Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky brands; create, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, Universal Studio Group, Sky Studios, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, multiple cable networks, Peacock, NBCUniversal News Group, NBC Sports, Sky News, and Sky Sports; and provide memorable experiences at Universal Parks and Resorts in the United States and Asia. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information. Ookla’s SpeedtestTM Market Index report shows that Xfinity delivered the fastest median download speeds to its Internet customers in the United States for the final quarter of 2022. Contact Details Comcast Steve Campion +1 832-920-2001 Steve_Campion@Comcast.com Company Website https://houston.comcast.com/

February 20, 2023 10:08 AM Central Standard Time

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i2Coalition Warns of Crippling Impact in Amicus Brief filed with U.S. Supreme Court in Gonzalez v. Google LLC

i2Coalition

In advance of the oral arguments in the U.S. Supreme Court for Gonzalez v. Google LLC, the Internet Infrastructure Coalition (i2Coalition) warns of the crippling impact this case could have on businesses of all sizes that build the Internet. On January 18, 2023, the i2Coalition, joined by our members cPanel, LLC; Identity Digital Inc.; Texas.net, Inc.; and Tucows Inc., filed an amicus brief calling on the Court to affirm the judgment of the Ninth Circuit and protect the foundational role Section 230 plays in ensuring the Internet's infrastructure functions efficiently and effectively. "While Section 230 may in part be responsible for protecting giant platforms that host user-generated content, it is also one of the pillars of intermediary liability law, which protects the entire ecosystem of lesser-known Internet infrastructure companies that operate the Internet at every level, down to the Internet user," said Christian Dawson, the i2Coalition's executive director. "Google may be the company listed on the case, but an adverse ruling would have far-reaching implications and cripple the ability of our member companies to ensure that the infrastructure running the Internet can continue to operate." The i2Coalition's brief demonstrates that Section 230's expressed words provide no basis for excluding the automated operation of algorithms (instructions to computer systems) from Section 230 liability protection. The coalition explains that a myriad of companies throughout the Internet ecosystem, including those providing its infrastructure, depend on algorithms to classify, organize, process, and transmit all sorts of data and that these functions do not alter Section 230(c)(1)'s protection of those companies. These include services that may seem mundane but are critically important, such as Domain Name Service (DNS) resolutions that translate domains into IP addresses. These services require stable, clear, and neutral rules that are not subject to political combat and weaponization by regulators and other actors. The extraordinary breadth of stakeholders that filed briefs last month in support of preserving Section 230, in its current form, includes private sector companies, entrepreneurs, advocacy organizations, academics, and computer scientists. Collectively, these briefs urged the Court to uphold Section 230 liability protection as courts have uniformly applied it for the past 25 years. In addition, the filings included the submission to the Court of an amicus brief from the original co-authors of the statute, former U.S. House Representative Christopher Cox and U.S. Senator Ron Wyden. "With the Internet as we know it at stake, we implore the Court to uphold Section 230's protections," said Christian Dawson, the i2Coalition's executive director. "For 25 years, courts have uniformly applied the law without Congress seeking to steer the courts onto a different course. If revisions to Section 230 are warranted, Congress alone should make those changes." The full i2Coalition amicus brief in the U.S. Supreme Court docket can be found here. About the i2Coalition Internet Infrastructure Coalition (i2Coalition) is a trade association representing the interests of businesses that construct and operate essential building blocks of the Internet. Its members include cloud providers, data center operators, domain name registrars, domain name registries, and other foundational Internet enterprises. Its mission is to preserve a free and open Internet as an engine for growth and innovation. It works with its members to advocate for sensible policies, establish and reinforce best practices, help create industry standards, and promote awareness of how the Internet works. To learn more about the i2Coalition, please visit www.i2Coalition.com. Contact Details Aaron Alberico +1 202-744-0785 aalberico@raynoravenue.com Company Website https://i2coalition.com/

February 20, 2023 10:35 AM Eastern Standard Time

Regional Supplemental Services Expands to Canada

RSS

Regional Supplemental Services Expands to Canada Regional Supplemental Services (RSS) is expanding! The leading U.S.-based temporary staffing agency is pleased to announce the opening of its new location in Niagara Falls, Ontario - marking the company's first foray into Canada. Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada - Regional Supplemental Services (RSS Inc.), a leading temporary staffing agency, is pleased to announce the opening of its new location in Niagara Falls, Ontario. With over 30 years of experience serving U.S. companies, RSS management is excited to bring their expertise and top-notch services to companies across Canada. RSS provides temporary and contract staffing solutions for various industries, including the transportation, logistics, warehousing, manufacturing, and industrial sectors. RSS owner Ed Jennings said, “ We understand the unique needs of businesses with labor shortages and work closely with our clients to provide customized staffing solutions for short or long-term projects. Whether they need the flexibility of temporary employees for seasonal work or skilled workers for special projects, we can provide the right solution from our network of qualified candidates. All of our personnel are carefully screened and prepared to perform immediately and professionally.” RSS offers temporary placement of production workers, warehouse workers, and CDL & non-CDL truck drivers. They handle all the vetting of the personnel they place as well as providing salary and benefits and manage the administrative tasks that come along with them. RSS also has extensive experience providing contingency planning and strike staffing for companies facing labor disputes, with a labor pool comprised of hundreds of employees with proven expertise in handling strike situations. RSS never puts untested workers on the front lines – all of their CDL drivers and warehouse personnel are highly skilled and know how to handle the pressure of a strike. The new location is staffed with experienced professionals ready to help businesses in Canada meet their temporary staffing needs. Jennings added, “ We are committed to providing the highest quality service and support to our clients and look forward to building strong partnerships in this new territory. ” For more information on services and how RSS can help your business, please visit their website at https://rssstaffingagency.ca or call 1 (249) 201-9658. Company Information: RSS, Inc., is a family-run company with over 30 years of experience in temporary labor staffing and strike staffing. RSS, Inc. 6150 Valley Way Niagara Falls, ON L2E 1Y3 Canada Suite 203 info@rssstaffingagency.ca https://rssstaffingagency.ca Contact Details Regional Supplemental Services (RSS Inc.) Ed Jennings +1 249-201-9658 ej@rssinc.com Company Website https://rssstaffingagency.ca

February 20, 2023 08:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

Aerial Firefighting Organizations Team To Launch United Aerial Firefighters Association

Resource Advantage

Leading aerial firefighting operators have joined together to form the first industry association dedicated to serving and fostering safety and standardization in the aerial firefighting community. The United Aerial Firefighters Association (UAFA) was founded at the end of 2022 as a non-profit association with the goal of informing policymakers and legislators about important issues concerning the increasingly critical nature of aerial wildland firefighting. UAFA exists to bring together industry experts for collaboration and to provide a unified voice for the industry when speaking to state and federal stakeholders, fire agencies, and the public about wildfires and issues impacting the aerial firefighting community. The association is headquartered in Washington, DC, ensuring that members have a significant presence on Capitol Hill and at federal agencies. “We’ve seen tremendous change occur in wildland fire aviation over the last twenty years,” says John Gould, President and CEO of 10 Tanker Air Carrier, one of the founding members of the UAFA. “As we look ahead, these challenges will only become more significant. While individual organizations within the industry will always be competitive, we believe the collective expertise represented within UAFA membership will help to ensure our industry continues to grow with the innovation, safety, and standardization necessary to deliver the best service possible to our customers.” Gould serves as the inaugural President for the UAFA Board of Directors. Other Founding Members included on the Board are: Vice President, Bart Brainerd, Firehawk Helicopter Secretary/Treasurer: Brett L’Esperance, Dauntless Air Director: Tim Sheehy, Bridger Aerospace Director: Jennifer Draughon, Neptune Aviation Services UAFA membership is open to companies who own or lease and operate aircraft, UAVs/drones, or provide aerial-delivered suppressants/retardants under contract with federal or state governmental entities for aerial firefighting services. Companies who provide products and services to the aerial firefighting industry, non-profits, and state and national agencies are also encouraged to join. For information on the UAFA, visit UAFA.org, or email membership@uafa.org. About the United Aerial Firefighters Association The United Aerial Firefighters Association (UAFA) is the only trade association dedicated to aerial firefighting. The organization provides a unified voice that advocates for safety and standardization in the aerial firefighting community at the local, state, and federal levels. The goal of the association is to inform policymakers and legislators about the important issues concerning the increasingly critical nature of aerial wildland firefighting. Contact Details Resource Advantage Dan Green +1 973-882-1313 dgreen@resourceadvantage.com Company Website https://uafa.org/

February 16, 2023 11:13 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Volatus Aerospace Receives Canadian Transportation Agency License for Drone Cargo Services

Volatus Aerospace Corp.

Volatus Aerospace Corp. (TSXV: VOL) (OTCQB: VLTTF) ("Volatus" or "the Company") is pleased to announce that the Company has been issued a Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) License for domestic service, all-cargo aircraft. This license builds on the existing capabilities authorized by CTA licenses held by Volatus subsidiaries Partner Jet Inc. (Volatus Aviation) and Synergy Aviation. The addition of this license allows the Company to build its drone cargo capability under the Volatus brand in preparation for the anticipated Transport Canada/FAA regulatory changes. “Positioning Volatus with this license is an important step toward our long-term vision of drone cargo operations, when we are scheduled to take delivery of the first 3.8 tonne Natilus Kona uncrewed regional feeder aircraft (announced in a press release on January 25, 2022 ),” says Glen Lynch, CEO of Volatus Aerospace Corp. “It is still early days for large, commercial drone cargo and our primary revenues for the next few years will continue to come from data, analytics, intelligence and equipment sales.” “Today, our cargo business is limited to smaller drones, which are practical for inter-island, remote areas, industrial sites, medical and offshore applications. These current use cases continue to build our experience and reputation as an operator of cargo drones,” added Michael Hill, Regional Director for Volatus. About Volatus Aerospace: Volatus Aerospace Corp. is a leading provider of integrated drone solutions throughout North America and growing into Latin America and globally. Volatus serves civil, public safety, and defense markets with imaging and inspection, security and surveillance, equipment sales and support, training, as well as R&D, design, and manufacturing. Through our subsidiary, Volatus Aviation, we are introducing green and innovative drone solutions to supplement and replace traditional aircraft and helicopters for long-linear inspections such as pipeline, energy, rail, and cargo services. Volatus is committed to carbon neutrality; the fostering of a safe, equitable and inclusive workplace; and responsible governance. About Natilus: Natilus was founded in 2016 to commoditize the air cargo transport industry by designing and manufacturing one of the world’s first autonomous aircraft for efficient and sustainable freight transport. This new fleet of blended wing body (BWB) autonomous freight aircraft will increase volume by 60% and lower costs by 60%, while reducing carbon emissions by 50%. Natilus aircraft use existing ground infrastructure and standard air cargo containers to produce an innovative turnkey solution for customers. The first in a family of aircraft, the Natilus Kona, is expected to carry up to 4.3 metric tonnes of freight, fly as far as 900 nautical miles, and cruise at 220 knots. To date, Natilus has an order book of $6B for 460+ aircraft. Volatus has the rights to the first aircraft production slot. Forward-Looking Information This news release contains statements that constitute “forward-looking information” and “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs, and current expectations of the Company with respect to future business activities and operating performance. Often, but not always, forward-looking information and forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “plans”, “expects”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates”, or “believes” or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or statements formed in the future tense or indicating that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” (or other variations of the foregoing) be taken, occur, be achieved, or come to pass. Forward-looking information includes information regarding: (i) the business plans and expectations of the Company; and (ii) expectations for other economic, business, and/or competitive factors. Forward-looking information is based on currently available competitive, financial, and economic data and operating plans, strategies, or beliefs as of the date of this news release, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors may be based on information currently available to the Company, including information obtained from third-party industry analysts and other third-party sources, and are based on management’s current expectations or beliefs. Any and all forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking information is not based on historical facts but instead reflects expectations, estimates or projections concerning future results or events based on the opinions, assumptions and estimates of management considered reasonable at the date the statements are made. Forward-looking information and forward-looking statements reflect the Company’s current beliefs and is based on information currently available to it and on assumptions it believes to be not unreasonable in light of all of the circumstances. In some instances, material factors or assumptions are discussed in this news release in connection with statements containing forward-looking information. Such material factors and assumptions include, but are not limited to: the commercialization of drone flights beyond visual line of sight and potential benefits to the Company; and meeting the continued listing requirements of the TSXV. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. The forward-looking information contained herein is made as of the date of this news release and, other than as required by law, the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Source: Volatus Aerospace Corp. TSXV: VOL Contact Details Abhinav Singhvi +1 514-447-7986 abhinav.singhvi@volatusaerospace.com Company Website https://volatusaerospace.com

February 15, 2023 07:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Minuteman Press International Founder & CEO Bob Titus Reflects on 50 Years in Business

Minuteman Press International Inc

In 2023, Minuteman Press International is proud to celebrate 50 years in business! The first Minuteman Press center opened in Plainview, NY in 1973. Roy Titus, founder of Minuteman Press along with his son Bob Titus, decided to open the shop after running a successful operation for Parent’s Magazine. While working with other printers for Parent’s Magazine, Roy realized that the printing industry was a huge market that had untapped potential. In 1973, that first Plainview shop served as a quick printing operation that filled the need for 1-color, short-run orders that needed to be done fast. From there, Roy tapped into the potential of the industry, creating the first one-stop Minuteman Press design, marketing, and printing center. Products and capabilities expanded, and over the past 50 years, Minuteman Press has continued to be at the forefront of the printing industry as leaders and innovators. It all started with that first Plainview shop in 1973, where Roy, along with his son Bob and childhood friends Jim Galasso and Dave Scadin, laid the foundation for the worldwide franchisor that Minuteman Press International is today. Bob Titus, who remains our CEO today, shares his thoughts, experiences, and memories of what it was like laying the groundwork in 1973. What was it like working in the Plainview shop in 1973? Bob Titus: “Jimmy Galasso and I ran the shop together, and a couple of months later we brought in Dave Scadin. I have known both of them since I was 6-years-old. I came home from college, and Jimmy was working at a sporting goods store. He came to our house and when my dad offered him the job, he said yes. We needed someone else down the road, and that’s when Dave joined us after working for the Town of Oyster Bay. Originally, Dave was making deliveries for us, but one day our press broke. Dave came into the shop and told us to get out of the way. He fixed the press and from that point forward he was our press operator. Over the years, we’ve had 36 people from Oyster Bay High School and St. Dominic’s High School work with us. It all stemmed from us as childhood friends working together and then expanding from there. It’s been an incredible ride.” What was it like working with your dad Roy Titus? How did you get started running the shop? Bob Titus: “My dad and I didn’t work in the shop together but he would come in and give us great ideas. He was really smart, and did things like start our marketing program and add pickup and delivery as a service to our customers. For me, this all started with my dad hiring an old-time printer named Tom, who taught me and Jimmy Galasso how to run the press and do bindery work. One day, a real estate customer came into the Plainview shop and my dad happened to be there. They wanted flyers printed and delivered down the street to their office once the job was done. Tom said we don’t do delivery, and my dad stepped in and said that yes, we’ll deliver the job once it’s finished. Tom said we wouldn’t want to get into delivery, and Roy disagreed. My dad saw this as a great service we could provide that would make it easy for customers to do business with us. He also decided that we don’t have to wait for customers to come in, and that we can go to the customers ourselves. At the time, the huge commercial printers were looking for home run clients, and they were not going door to door. We started going door to door, starting in the retail area, and we were picking up business.” “The two biggest things we did to really get the shop going strong were: Marketing to the customers, going to them and not waiting for them to come to us; Adding pickup and delivery options at a time where others just weren’t doing that. My dad always told us to never say no to the customer. No matter what the customer wants, get it for them.” -Bob Titus How did Minuteman Press originally grow from there into a franchise? Bob Titus: “First, our Plainview shop went from an AB Dick 1-color press to an older Multi-Graphic Press that really improved the quality of the work we were doing. When we opened the second Farmingdale store, we purchased a new Multi-Graphic Press along with our first 3M camera that lead to us implementing the franchise model for other shops. We found that the 3M company invented a plastic plate camera where the plastic plates would cost about the same as a paper platemaker. The plastic plates allowed for metal plate quality that wouldn’t stretch and allowed for 2-color printing. The salesman told us the camera could help us produce 2, 3, and 4-color printing with plastic plates that don’t stretch like paper plates, and he was right. The cameras did everything the salesman said they could do. We first hired Mike Jutt as our press operator for the Farmingdale shop, where we first used the press with the 3M camera. He did a great job and the Farmingdale center became the prototype for the Minuteman Press franchise. When we started franchising, we asked Mike to create the training program to teach the owners our system. He created and implemented the training program, and he’s done an absolutely fabulous job for 50 years. Mike ultimately became our Executive VP & Director of Training, and is still going strong today.” “I want to share one quick story from our Farmingdale shop. This speaks to the importance of being involved in the community and joining local clubs and organizations. At that time, Farmingdale merchants held their Hardscrabble Day. Families would come to the event and one year, they needed to hire a clown at the last minute. My dad volunteered to pay for the clown, who would blow up balloons for the kids and put smiles on their faces. The families were happy, the merchants saw us as saviors for stepping in to help, and many of them started using us for their printing. That $50 investment and ‘saving the day’ lead to a lot of business.” -Bob Titus “Because the press and camera worked so well in Farmingdale, my dad ordered another one for our Plainview shop, and then a third one. When the head honchos at 3M saw that we had purchased 3 cameras in 6 months, they paid us a visit to see what we were doing. On their end, they were having trouble selling the cameras because other printers were reluctant to change. They said we had a terrific idea for using these cameras and suggested we franchise. 3M really believed in our concept and our program, and so they offered financing to new owners. They allowed the owners to form a shell corporation so that they wouldn’t have personal liability. We then went to a franchise show at the NY Coliseum, just looking to put people into business in the Tri-State Area, and we would support those owners. At that show, we had one prospect who wanted to open in Boston, and another one who wanted to open in Los Angeles. At first, we said no to going out of state, but they were persistent. At that point, my dad reached out to six quality people who had worked for him in the past, who had sons that were around my age. My dad felt this would be a great business for a father and son, and he was able to hire them. He had them go to six different cities - Boston, Cleveland, Chicago, Atlanta, Denver, and Los Angeles – and hire a press operator. They ran these Minuteman Press shops with the press and 3M cameras, and followed our business model. Then, they franchised and supported the new stores that opened around them while also working in their own shops. As these cities expanded with more franchises, we could no longer run our own stores while supporting the new owners. That is when we made the decision to sell those original shops we owned and support the owners full-time. We had the press operator, the marketing person, and the regional vice president for those locations, and that’s how our local support teams were originally formed. Ultimately, we sold hundreds of 3M cameras, and they also were able to sell the ancillary materials needed for those cameras. This really helped us get going as a franchise, and the company-owned stores became profitable very quickly because of the new marketing program we introduced. As we generated more and more business and sold those satellite stores, that’s how we created the support teams that laid the groundwork for our regional teams today.” What are some the key ways that Minuteman Press has evolved over the years? Bob Titus: “One of the biggest changes we’ve ever made was when my dad introduced the royalty cap to our owners around 1977-78. The owners thought we were crazy, but what happened is that this really incentivized our owners to sell more and more. At the time, we saw owners who were making 15K/month at the time start selling 20, 30, 40K, 50K. My dad sent them a letter and told them to act as if you’re paying the full royalties, and use that money to reinvest and build the business. Many of our owners bought into this idea. They appreciated the royalty cap but also understood how important it was to hire that extra marketing person, or add that piece of equipment, etc.” Other key changes Bob noted are: We originally created manual price lists that went from 50 to 1,000 copies, for 1-color printing on 8.5 x 11, 8.5 x 14, or 11 x 17. Eventually, we decided to develop pricing software. Our original pricing software was on a Tandy 1000 from Radio Shack. It was developed by an owner in Dallas, Texas, who had a computer background and previously worked for EDS (Electronic Data Systems). We then hired IT people to create our first software program. This laid the groundwork and planted the seeds to what is the incredibly dynamic FLEX pricing and management software today. When copiers were invented in the 1970s, people wrongly predicted that all of the printers would go out of business. Instead, when Xerox machines were introduced, printers bought the machines and grew their sales. To this day, our partnerships with Xerox and Konica-Minolta have been a tremendous asset to our owners. Everything we’ve done / added from a products and services standpoint has worked. We would add new products based on what our owners would be farming out. That’s how we added apparel and promotional products, as it just made sense to add those based on what they were selling. Other key changes and points of growth include direct mail / EDDM, digital printing, wide format printing. “We started this business by filling a void for our clients. To this day, we continue to fill that void in different areas that make sense and meet their needs.” -Bob Titus Is there anything else you’d like to share? Bob Titus: “My dad was president of Minuteman Press for the first 20 years, and we were in pure growth mode in terms of opening new franchise locations. We expanded from the USA into Canada, and I even ran the Toronto office for two years. For the next 25 years of our history, I was president of the company. We expanded even further internationally to the UK, Australia, and South Africa. I felt that my job was to improve on existing services and add services that made the most sense for our owners. We would conduct studies and see what’s next, then implement new items to benefit our owners. Everything we did and still do, we always try to think of how we can best help them. For over 3 years now, my son Nick has been president of the company. He took over for me just 3 months before the pandemic. Looking back on it now, this is one of the best decisions we made to elevate him to president when we did. There is no way I could have carried us through the way he did. Everything he did and everything our team did was just tremendous. There were daily communications, the Bounce Back program, and so much hard work and dedication. His vision helped all of us adapt. Even though I already knew this, it just assured me that everybody’s in great hands.” Bob concludes: “Looking back, I think of the longtime owners that helped us build the company. And then I think of every owner out there who has since helped us build, whether they realize it or not. We are all like family, and we’re in this together. Let me also say that what makes me feel so gratified is when the business is turned over from parents to their kids. It’s always such a great feeling to see a business that people worked really hard to build carry through to the next generation. I know that from experience, as both a son and as a dad. Over 50 years… it’s certainly been an incredible ride.” For more information on Minuteman Press products and services and to find your local Minuteman Press franchise, visit https://minuteman.com. To learn more about #1 rated Minuteman Press franchise opportunities, visit https://minutemanpressfranchise.com. Contact Details Minuteman Press International Chris Biscuiti +1 631-249-1370 cbiscuiti@mpihq.com Company Website https://minutemanpressfranchise.com

February 14, 2023 10:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Since Elon Musk’s Takeover, Twitter Has Seen a Rapid Rise in Gen-Z, Neo-Nazi Antisemitism, New Study Shows

Combat Hate Foundation

A study by the Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) and the Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI) has demonstrated that extremist elements have viewed Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter as an opportunity to rejoin the social media platform en masse. The study also indicates that a sea change is taking place on Twitter with respect to the proliferation of extremist antisemitic content. Much attention has been paid to Kanye “Ye” West’s antisemitic tirade, and indeed NCRI/CAM’s data finds his remarks triggered a significant increase of 136% in toxic comments, threats, and identity attacks in tweets pertaining to Jews on the platform. Furthermore, the data suggests that the influx of extremist activity onto Twitter began far before West’s statements, with an organized effort of extremist communities like the Gen Z, neo-Nazi “Groypers,” led by white supremacist Nick Fuentes. The report finds they acted as a vanguard: anticipating, planning for, and capitalizing on Musk’s acquisition of Twitter to popularize and disseminate hateful content. They did so with the expectation that Musk would provide a more hospitable platform for their brand of extremist content, joining Twitter at a rapid rate. This report comes on the heels of Twitter briefly reinstating Fuentes’s account in late January, the only mainstream social media platform that has allowed his activity. Within hours of being reinstated, Fuentes’ second tweet was a video showcasing “ye24” and “Death Con 3,” a nod to West’s October tweet where he said he was going to go “death con 3 on the Jewish people.” Using machine learning, natural language processing, open-source investigation of social media content, graph and time series analysis, and econometric techniques, NCRI examined how an antisemitic transformation has taken shape on Twitter and how these changes might relate to physical-world, antisemitic incidents. Combining CAM's expertise in identifying emerging antisemitic trends with NCRI's proprietary technology, insights are drawn from vast amounts of data across social media platforms in near-real time to uncover contemporary antisemitism on social media, and its real-life consequences. Neo-Nazi Groyper accounts joined the platform first in response to Musk joining the board of the company, then surged to their highest levels (~2,000% growth) on April 15th, with the announcement of his purchase offer. Notable spikes also accompanied Musk’s formal acquisition of the platform (~1,000%) and the reinstatement on Twitter of former U.S. President Donald Trump. Baseline levels of new Groyper accounts continuing to join the platform have also surged and remained elevated by over 200%, suggesting sustained growth in Gen-Z neo-Nazi Groyper activity on Twitter. “Since Elon Musk acquired Twitter, it has become not only a safe space for hate, especially antisemitism, but also a vector for its spread,” said Sacha Roytman Dratwa, CEO of CAM. “Many white supremacists and other extremists have perceived it as a place where there is permission to incite, and even a single tweet from someone like Nick Fuentes or Ye has to the power to sow seeds of hate for years to come. It is a very real and tangible threat.” Since Twitter accepted Musk’s offer in April, monthly references to tropes about “Soros” and “Globalists,” which are often antisemitic, have nearly doubled. This is of great concern, as the NCRI/CAM now characterizes online antisemitism as an upstream predictor of real-world incidents. In fact, these impacts have emerged in tandem with a surge in real-world antisemitic activity, and the data suggests key antisemitic conspiracy terms on Twitter both correlated with and were useful for forecasting these activities. “There is almost a horseshoe effect mobilizing against the Jewish people, with white supremacists, Black Hebrew Israelites, Islamists, and others working together on the only cause that unites them -- a hatred of Jews,” said Joel Finkelstein, Chief Science Officer and Director at NCRI. One example was from November last year when Christopher Brown (@vrilgod) replied to a heated argument on Twitter about the history of the transatlantic slave trade with the claim “Jews owned the ships.” Later that same day, Brown was arrested at New York City’s Penn Station carrying a “large 8-inch military-style knife, a blade longer than 4 inches, a Swastika arm patch, and a ski mask,” in connection to threats against a synagogue in the city. The tweet was subsequently uncovered, after being deleted, on the NCRI’s platform. Brown -- a white male linked to online neo-Nazi groups -- had used a trope common to the Black Hebrew Israelites. His quip on Twitter and subsequent planned terror attack shows the convergence of different racial hatreds in new, unexpected ways that appear to be growing in popularity and attention, with a rash against Jews taking place in the physical world. To view the full CAM/NCRI report on Twitter and its responsibility for a rise in antisemitism, click here. The Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) is a global coalition engaging more than 650 partner organizations and two million people from a diverse array of religious, political, and cultural backgrounds in the common mission of fighting the world’s oldest hatred. CAM acts collaboratively to build a better future, free of bigotry, for Jews and all humanity. Contact Details JDA Worldwide +1 615-473-0794 Press@jdaworldwide.com Company Website https://combatantisemitism.org/

February 08, 2023 01:32 PM Eastern Standard Time

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Alan Schneider Celebrates 15 Years as Owner of Minuteman Press Franchise in Northvale, NJ

Minuteman Press International Inc

The Minuteman Press franchise in Northvale, NJ has been operating for over 40 years. Alan Schneider and his wife Nadine are celebrating 15 years as owners and share their insights and reflections. Minuteman Press in Northvale, NJ is located at 202 Livingston Street, Northvale, NJ 07647. Congrats on 15 years! What does this milestone mean to you and what are the keys to your success and longevity? Nadine and Alan: “This is a tremendous milestone for us. Although we have hit this milestone in our tenure, the shop has been in business for over 40 years in this community. We are well known and very involved in the town. For years, people were saying the printing industry was dying. Then the pandemic hit and I think everyone feared a little bit for the future. However, I have to say that I never expected the bounce back from the pandemic to be such a boon for business. I think people realized that community is important, supporting local business is important, and although online marketing has a place, it’s not the only game in town. Print is still king. The keys to our success and longevity are: providing a warm and friendly place to do business; being knowledgeable about our products and services; letting our clients know that their success is important to us and we are here to help them; caring about our clients as people—not just as customers; and, most importantly, reliability and integrity.” What are some of the key ways you’ve grown your business? Nadine and Alan: “Believe it or not, the pandemic was a blessing for our business. It forced us to take critical look at how we were operating. We took a hard look at our numbers, and strategized on what we could do better in both operations and marketing. On the operational side, we cut out some of the fat and streamlined things where needed.” Alan: “My wife, Nadine, has an MBA in marketing and has owned a marketing and graphic design business for 15+ years. She joined me in our Northvale, NJ location and is providing all the graphic design services. Not only was this a strategic financial/operational move, it was the best marketing move we could have made. We are now truly a marketing, design and printing company – a one-stop shop!” Nadine and Alan: “Our clients are provided with a free consultation on the best ways to market their business. We do the strategy, design and printing. When the clients see the results, they come back for additional products and services—and they tell their friends! The savings we realized from our reduction in payroll was also reinvested in the business by increasing our participation in the SEO/Internet marketing program. We are starting to see an uptick in our internet leads! A couple of other cool things… Last year, we expanded our marketing strategy by promoting ourselves as a local family business. Our holiday cards now feature our family photo – myself, Nadine, and our 4 grown children. The theme is, Family is everything. We appreciate you being part of ours. I can’t tell you how many compliments we received on that card. People feel like they know our family, and always ask how our kids are doing. This year, we will be planning a marketing program to celebrate my birthday on October 26 th. Why? Because we found out that it’s also National Printing Day! We are going to have a lot of fun with that. We also do a lot of in-person networking by being active in our home and business communities. We are BNI members and directors, are involved with many not-for-profits, serve on the boards of the local Chambers of Commerce, and are Auxiliary Police Officers in our hometown. We are always visible helping the community in whatever way we can.” What are your high-demand products and services? Nadine and Alan: “We do a ton of direct mail, particularly EDDM. Although the program has been around for years, it’s really been gaining traction since the pandemic. Once our clients see how well direct mail works for them, they either expand their reach or frequency…or both. We help them build their customer lists as a result of their EDDM efforts, then assist them with targeted direct mail programs to these new customers. We are proud to say that many of our clients credit us with helping them build their businesses through direct mail. They refer to us as the direct mail experts! We also began heavily promoting branded apparel. It’s featured in the front of our store, and we make a point of mentioning it to our clients when they come into the shop. Once we learn about their business, we suggest what types of apparel and promotional items they may want to consider to boost their brand awareness.” What are your key growth areas? Nadine and Alan: “Again, direct mail and apparel are huge for us. Design as well. Our previous graphic designer was more of a layout/production person. Nadine is a true creative. Everything we do for a client now has a marketing strategy behind it, and a creative, eye-catching design. Clients who come in with their ideas are truly blown away by how we bring their visions to life. One successful campaign for a client usually snowballs into more business—and more referrals! But our true measure of success is knowing how we are helping our clients grow their businesses.” How would you best describe your community? Nadine and Alan: “Northvale, NJ is one square mile in area, right on the New York State border. The community is comprised of mostly residential homes, a small downtown with shopping and a handful of light industrial/manufacturing. Since it’s a small-town area, we focus on serving the local trades, retail stores, restaurants, professional services and industrial businesses. We have also built a client list outside of our small regional area by creating relationships with professionals that can provide us with ongoing business.” Why do you think printing remains so vital to businesses today? What are the benefits of print? Nadine and Alan: “Several years ago, email marketing became extremely popular because it was free. Today, in-boxes are flooded with messages that are deleted before they are even opened. A wasted marketing effort, even though it is ‘free.’ With print, your message is tangible. A direct mail piece in someone’s mailbox is handled – even if it is eventually discarded. Someone saw it, and handled it. Print is the ultimate conversation-starter. Hand someone a brochure, mail them a postcard, or even embroider your company name on your polo – and you are now visible to them. The most successful businesses rely on print for the majority of their marketing, so it is definitely here to stay.” What was your background before franchising? Alan: “I owned a food distribution company prior to owning a Minuteman Press. I wanted something new, but I still wanted to be a business owner. I chose Minuteman Press because of the company’s reputation for training and support of its franchisees. Also, printing is a consumable business which means repeat business.” What has the support from Minuteman Press International been like for you? Nadine and Alan: “Pick up the phone, send an email, and someone is there to help. The conventions are invaluable. We always come back learning something new, whether it’s from corporate or fellow owners. We look forward to seeing everyone, and meeting new people. It’s like a family reunion! We’ve also come back with new vendors to try which really had an impact on our business.” What are the biggest rewards of owning your business? Nadine and Alan: “Being an integral part of other people’s businesses and helping them achieve their goals. Also, being part of the community.” What advice would you give to others? Nadine and Alan: “Be professional and be persistent!” Minuteman Press in Northvale, NJ is located at 202 Livingston Street, Northvale, NJ 07647. For more information, visit their website: https://minuteman.com/us/locations/nj/northvale/ 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 06, 2023 11:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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AI-Generated Cover Art and Article Surprise Readers of NCMA’s Contract Management Magazine

National Contract Management Association

Only by reading to the end of “AI Is Coming for Contracting,” the February cover story, did Contract Management Magazine readers learn the truth about author Annaliese Trenchfield. “She” was an amalgam of generative artificial intelligences. In a first-ever test, the editors of the National Contract Management Association’s (NCMA) flagship magazine used Open AI’s DALL-E2 to create the cover image and the same company’s Generative Pre-trained Transformer 3 (GPT3) model to write the cover story. “What better way to bring home to government and industry contracting professionals AI’s growing potential to alter their work and careers than by showing them what it can do?” said NCMA CEO Kraig Conrad. “The slightly ominous nature of the cover art was intentional,” he added. “All of us quickly must adjust to AI augmenting our work. But as “Ms. Trenchfield” made clear, rumors of human replacement are greatly exaggerated... for now.” The cover package details current AI applications in government contracting. It was brought to life by Contract Management Editor in Chief Anne Laurent with the support of John Ferry, CEO of Trenchant Analytics, (TAC), which is prototyping an AI-powered contract writing application, AcqBot, for the Department of Defense. “I had seen Cosmopolitan magazine’s DALL-E2-generated astronaut cover, and I thought, why not go all the way, and have AI generate a cover image and story about AI in contracting,” Laurent said. “Almost immediately after ChatGPT went public last November, contracting folks began musing on social media about using at work. So, I knew there was an appetite for exploring AI.” Just a day after Laurent posted it on LinkedIn, the cover package had attracted thousand of impressions, the equivalent of going viral for an article about contracting. “It was averaging 100 hits an hour for the first day or so,” she said. “My post didn’t give away the surprise, but I did advise people to read all the way to the end of the story where Trenchfield’s “bio” appeared.” Ferry, who prompted DALL-E2 to produce the cover illustration and article, generated 1,580 images to find the cover image. “Each prompt produces four images, so that comes to 395 individual prompts,” he said. Like many ChatGPT users, Ferry quickly discovered the limits of AI language models. Asked to write about the use of robotic process automation in government and provide web links and citations, “GPT-3 gave me 50 or more very official-sounding system names complete with acronyms, military service sponsors, and website links. All were completely fictitious,” he said. View the full February issue. For more on the story behind the February cover, look for the March issue of Contract Management, coming soon. # # # The National Contract Management Association (NCMA), founded in 1959, is the world's leading association in the contract management field. With more than 18,000 members, NCMA is dedicated to the professional growth and educational advancement of procurement and acquisition personnel worldwide. NCMA strives to serve and inform the profession in government and industry by offering opportunities for open exchange of ideas in neutral forums. NCMA's Contract Management Standard is the foundation of foundation contracting training for the entire U.S. government. To learn more, please visit www.ncmahq.org. Contact Details Dominick Belfiore, Director of Operations and Special Projects +1 571-207-5151 dominick.belfiore@ncmahq.org Company Website https://www.ncmahq.org/

February 06, 2023 10:30 AM Eastern Standard Time

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AI-Generated Cover Art and Article Surprise Readers of NCMA’s Contract Management Magazine