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SFAA Members Elect New Board, Honor Outgoing Chair at Annual Meeting

SFAA

The Surety & Fidelity Association of America (SFAA), a nonprofit, nonpartisan trade association representing all segments of the surety and fidelity industry, held its annual meeting this past week with more than 185 members and guests attending. Robert Murray, SFAA Chair, Executive Committee Member, Head of Surety, Zurich North America, and Ryan Work, SFAA president and CEO, presided over the event, providing updates on SFAA’s accomplishments and ongoing initiatives. SFAA members were on hand to celebrate outgoing SFAA Chair Robert Murray after his two-year term, in addition to congratulating him on his upcoming retirement. Murray will be succeeded as chair by Michael Keimig, president and CEO of Markel Surety Corporation. Keimig has been an active participant in the SFAA for over a decade, most recently as a Board and Executive Committee member. Videos celebrating SFAA’s accomplishments throughout 2023 and honoring the 2023 Surety Industry Awards winners were also shared. The SFAA Membership elected the following Board of Directors and Executive Committee in a unanimous vote. Officers and Executive Committee Members Michael Keimig Stephen Ruschak John F. Welch Rick Ciullo Timothy Mikolajewski Antonio C. Albanese Bryce Grissom Other Elected Board Members Ken Bearley John Guglielmo Stephen M. Haney James Kawiecki Matt Lubin, Robert Murray Alan Pavlic Sharon Sims Gary Stumper Larry Taylor Mike Zurcher The Surety & Fidelity Association of America (SFAA) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan trade association representing all segments of the surety and fidelity industry. Based in Washington, D.C., SFAA works to promote the value of surety and fidelity bonding by proactively advocating on behalf of its members and stakeholders. The association’s more than 425 member companies write 98 percent of surety and fidelity bonds in the U.S. For more information visit www.surety.org. Contact Details Peter Roth +1 703-401-0676 proth@surety.org Company Website https://surety.org/

May 09, 2024 09:55 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Boeing’s Chairman is Leaving Under a Cloud – So Why Does Exxon Want Him on Their Board?

NLPC

In a case of corporate elitists’ blindness at best, and ineptitude in governance at worst, Exxon Mobil Corporation’s directors have renominated Lawrence “Larry” Kellner, who is also the departing Chairman of the crisis-plagued Boeing Company, to their own board. Kellner, a former Continental Airlines Chairman/CEO, left the now-defunct (merged with United) company in late 2009 and joined Boeing’s board of directors in 2011. He was elevated to chairman in late 2019, and his tenure has been marked with failures both financial and reputational. As anyone who follows air travel news knows, Boeing has likely endured the worst year of any U.S.-based corporation due to numerous troubling safety incidents, with the penultimate occurrence in January, when a door plug blew off an Alaska Airlines flight at 16,000 feet, imperiling passengers and crew. In addition to that high-profile episode, Kellner has presided over a cascade of devastating headlines related to Boeing’s quality and safety record. It’s gotten so bad that now every airliner performance glitch, regardless of the responsible party, is now headlined as a “Boeing plane” incident. Yet, inexplicably, ExxonMobil wants Kellner to serve another year on its board, which he joined in 2023. As a result, National Legal and Policy Center, a shareholder in both Boeing and Exxon, is calling for fellow investors to vote against Kellner for the energy company’s annual meeting on May 29. “It’s incredible to have to even ask, but after the last five years-plus that Boeing has had, Larry Kellner is properly leaving its board – so why do Exxon directors think he deserves a seat with them?” said Paul Chesser, director of NLPC’s Corporate Integrity Project. “Is this about strong governance to protect shareholder assets, or just keeping the social club together until something catastrophic happens – like what just happened at Boeing?” Earlier this week NLPC filed a proxy memo with the Securities and Exchange Commission which further explained why it believes Kellner has no business serving on a corporate board at this time, much less the largest U.S.-based energy company in the world. Kellner, along with exiting CEO Dave Calhoun, were supposed to be the leadership pair to improve Boeing’s performance after the firing of previous CEO Dennis Muilenburg. Instead the company’s performance only worsened, with its stock price being almost halved since Kellner took over as Chairman. NLPC also released a short video on Thursday that highlights Boeing’s mishaps under Kellner’s leadership, and questions why ExxonMobil would want to keep him on its governance team. The oil giant’s board, in exhibiting the ultimate in tone-deafness, even plans to keep Kellner on the company’s safety committee! “There’s a reason Larry Kellner is leaving Boeing’s board, and that reason is failure,” Chesser added. “Exxon is not in business so it can provide soft landings for mediocre executives. Nonetheless his colleagues put him on the proxy ballot for the board, so our fellow shareholders should do the right thing and vote against him.” ### For more information or to schedule an interview with Paul Chesser, contact Dan Rene at 202-329-8357 or drene@nlpc.org. Please visit http://www.nlpc.org. Founded in 1991, the National Legal and Policy Center promotes ethics in public life through research, investigation, education and legal action. Contact Details National Legal and Policy Center Dan Rene +1 202-329-8357 drene@nlpc.org Company Website http://www.nlpc.org

May 09, 2024 09:49 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Own Up and Move Forward from a Crisis: Reputation Expert Ray Hennessey Explores Elements of a Lasting Apology in a New Book, Beyond Sorry

Vocatus

Everyone messes up. In relationships. In business. In life. It’s a fact of human nature that we’re flawed. People aren’t inherently bad, but humans tend to do a lot of bad things. In the digital age, so much of our personal and professional behavior can be suddenly thrown into public view. In a new book, Beyond Sorry: How to Own Up, Make Good and Move Forward After a Crisis, author and reputation expert Ray Hennessey lays out the framework for people to offer sincere and lasting apologies that can help resurrect their careers or personal lives in the digital age. “Repairing a reputation isn’t easy,” Hennessey said. “It takes more than a simple apology. That’s what I meant to convey in the title — Beyond Sorry — taking the extra steps to ensure you can fight all the hurdles in your way.” Most people have engaged in behavior they’re not proud of, whether personally or professionally, and humans are prone to imperfect traits and impulses. History, literature, and music have given us examples of falls from grace, tragedies, and fatal flaws for centuries. Beyond Sorry explores the steps readers need to take to move forward, including finding the right words, delivering the message with credibility, taking ownership of actions and behaviors, and living a life that shows you’re worthy of another chance. In a social media-driven world, Hennessey’s message becomes even more important. “The human tendency to fail those around us has changed from a personal crisis to one with a large audience often clamoring for some measure of retribution,” Hennessey said. “As humans, professionally and personally, we find ourselves at risk of lasting reputational damage if we don’t find a way to recover and move forward.” Hennessey is Executive Partner and Chief Executive of Vocatus, a marketing and messaging consulting firm that works with companies and individuals in financial services and other industries. He is a frequent speaker on the topic of reputation management and digital communications. With more than 25 years of media, marketing, and management experience, Hennessey previously served as Editorial Director for Entrepreneur Media, helped launch the FOX Business Network, and appeared regularly on CNBC and CBS News. Earlier in his career, he was an editor at SmartMoney.com and Dow Jones, where he wrote the IPO Outlook column for The Wall Street Journal. About Vocatus Vocatus is a growth partner for companies, providing sales consulting, CRM support, marketing and advertising, and communications support. We are a high-level consulting firm, helping executives craft and execute their business strategies. Investing in public relations, marketing and brand development is essential in a competitive environment. That investment demands a balance between strategy and execution, an experienced and cohesive team, and a holistic, integrated plan for a multi-channel world. As a true outsourced partner, your success is our success. We prioritize collaboration and communication to ensure we’re always aligned with your vision. Contact Details For Vocatus Peter Page ppage@vocatusllc.com

May 08, 2024 12:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Share of Experience:

MESH Experience

Contact Details MESH Experience Fiona Blades fionablades@meshexperience.com

May 08, 2024 09:12 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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PRESTIGEPEO WINS TWO STEVIE® AWARDS IN 2024 AMERICAN BUSINESS AWARDS®

PrestigePEO

PrestigePEO, one of the nation’s largest professional employer organizations (PEO), announced today it was named winner of two Bronze Stevie® Awards in both the Company of the Year - Business & Professional Services – Medium and Achievement in Sales or Revenue Generation categories of The 22nd Annual American Business Awards®. The American Business Awards are the U.S.A.’s premier business awards program. All organizations operating in the U.S.A. are eligible to submit nominations – public and private, for-profit and non-profit, large and small. Nicknamed the Stevies for the Greek word meaning “crowned,” the awards will be presented to winners at a gala ceremony at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York on Tuesday, June 11. Tickets are now on sale. PrestigePEO was recognized in this prestigious competition for its distinctive model and service offering to small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) as well as its commitment to customer service, market expansion, and introduction of innovative solutions. As a PEO, PrestigePEO supports SMBs nationwide by providing an extensive menu of human resources and administrative services to expand their employee benefits offerings and provide their HR operations with deep guidance and expertise. “This recognition is a tribute to PrestigePEO’s team. They work tirelessly every day to ensure our clients and their employees receive exceptional service and a broad portfolio of best-in-class benefits options. Our distinctive service model is dedicated to the delivery of top-notch service, which is the primary reason why PrestigePEO was recognized by the Stevie Awards program,” commented PrestigePEO’s Chief Operating Officer Robyn Rusignuolo. “From our humble roots as an entrepreneurial start-up organization in 1998, PrestigePEO has since morphed into one of the nation’s top PEOs. We earned this ranking not only from our ever-increasing menu of benefits and services but also because of the people we employ, the diverse companies we serve, and our unrelenting efforts to continually expand our offerings. We thank the judges for recognizing our company and team,” said PrestigePEO Chief Executive Officer Andrew Lubash. An excess of 3,700 nominations from organizations of all sizes and in virtually every industry were submitted this year for consideration in a wide range of categories. More than 300 professionals worldwide participated in the judging process to select this year’s Stevie Award winners. Details about The American Business Awards and the list of 2024 Stevie winners are available at www.StevieAwards.com/ABA. About the Stevie Awards Stevie Awards are conferred in nine programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, the Middle East & North Africa Stevie Awards, The American Business Awards®, The International Business Awards®, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service, and the new Stevie Awards for Technology Excellence. Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 12,000 entries each year from organizations in more than 70 nations. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about the Stevie Awards at http://www.StevieAwards.com. About PrestigePEO Melville, N.Y.-based PrestigePEO, also known as Prestige Employee Administrators LLC, provides integrated, end-to-end outsourced solutions to small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) for managing all integral benefits and human resources operations. This includes support for employee benefits management, payroll administration, workers’ compensation, compliance, and HR guidance, among other areas. PrestigePEO’s full spectrum of solutions helps SMBs lower employee benefit costs, reduce administrative workloads, and manage critical HR functions. PrestigePEO is among only 1% of PEOs accredited by the Employer Services Assurance Corporation (ESAC), certified (CI) through Workers Comp Risk Management and classified as a Certified Professional Employer Organization (CPEO) by the IRS – demonstrating financial stability and strict adherence with a diverse range of regulatory and security standards. To learn more, visit www.prestigepeo.com and follow PrestigePEO on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube. Contact Details PAIRELATIONS, LLC Susan Turkell +1 303-766-4343 sturkell@pairelations.com Company Website https://www.prestigepeo.com/

May 08, 2024 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

5thScape Lists "MMA Cage Conquest" on Meta Store: Step into the Ultimate Virtual MMA Arena

Spark Metro PR

Mixed Martial Arts fans and enthusiasts, your virtual fighting dreams have arrived! 5th Scape delivers a transformative experience with "MMA Cage Conquest," stepping far beyond traditional fighting games into true sensory immersion. Step into the iconic MMA cage, feel the roar of the crowd and become the champion you always envisioned. The 5thScape Project is an ambitious venture that aims to create a comprehensive Virtual Reality ecosystem. In this VR ecosystem many developers, gamers and experts from various industries can collaborate. This is a VR gaming studio startup in which they focus on developing games, movies, animations etc. Apart from this, they are also planning to launch a special VR headset and a VR Chair which is an ergonomically perfect chair for long gaming sessions. Now, coming back to the MMA Cage game, - "MMA Cage Conquest" redefines virtual combat. Its skill-based system demands true martial arts strategy along with honed reflexes. Learn and master strikes like a real-life wrestling professional. It includes (not limited to) powerful grappling throws and the intricacies of ground control to secure your victories. Feel the impact of every blow, the thrill of a perfectly executed submission, and the tension of a match fought on the razor's edge. Training lies at the heart of "MMA Cage Conquest." This journey transcends button-mashing and enters the realm of personal development. Start as an eager underdog, mastering the fundamentals through rigorous simulations. Refine your striking, defense, and ground game, tracking your progression and building unshakeable confidence. With each session, you don't just play the game – you live the fight. MMA Cage Conquest is all set to make gaming experiences more vigorous and a powerhouse for the senses. Feel the rush in your bones as you climb the leaderboards, and establish yourself as the ultimate MMA cage conqueror. Ready to unleash your inner champion? "MMA Cage Conquest" will be available on the Meta platform. Submitted for listing on May 2, 2024, the developers await approval. Visit 5thscape.com for trailers, release updates, and the latest news on your journey to become the undisputed MMA Cage conqueror. Contact Details 5th Scape 5th SCAPE Team +1 302-597-6768 team@5thscape.com Company Website https://5thscape.com

May 08, 2024 06:18 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Responsible Gambling Affiliate Association Opens Membership

Responsible Gambling Affiliate Association

Responsible Gambling Affiliate Association, the leading industry trade group representing companies involved in the promotion and advertisement of sports betting and gaming announces the launch of its new membership program at SBC Summit North America. This expansion marks a significant step for the RGAA, furthering its commitment to act as a trusted voice in the gambling industry, protect consumers and provide greater representation for affiliate companies. Since its inception, the RGAA has been rooted in integrity, upholding the highest standards in responsible gambling marketing and advertising practices while advocating for sensible regulation. By welcoming new affiliates into its association, the RGAA will amplify its impact and influence within the industry, building on the foundation laid by its founding members. "The launch of our membership program is a pivotal moment for the RGAA as we strive to promote responsible gambling practices and advocate for equitable regulation in the industry," said Max Bichsel, Chair of the RGAA. "With each new affiliate that joins our ranks, we fortify our efforts to ensure that integrity and consumer protection remain at the forefront of our sector.” New RGAA members will benefit from united representation within the industry, as well as gain access to a comprehensive suite of resources including regulation updates, education, and tools aimed at empowering their individual businesses. Those interested will have the opportunity to learn more about the RGAA’s mission and membership at a networking event during SBC Summit North America on Thursday, May 9 from 3 to 4 pm hosted on Better Collective’s footprint with drinks provided by SBC Events. “Last year’s Summit was a huge success and brought together industry leaders throughout North America eager to exchange ideas, collaborate and make lasting change,” said Rasmus Sojmark, CEO and Founder, SBC Gaming. “I am confident that this year will be no different and our collaboration with the RGAA will further elevate the conversation surrounding responsible gambling practices and player protection.” In joining the RGAA, members will be expected to pass a yearly responsible gambling and compliance audit. In return, they will receive the RGAA Standards of Excellence certification, awarded to organizations that demonstrate their compliance and commitment to the Group’s mission to champion responsible gambling marketing and advertising practices and protect consumer best interest. "With more than 20 years of experience in the industry and as a founding member of the RGAA, we are dedicated to supporting initiatives that enhance safer gambling practices to ultimately strengthen the protection of the players,” said Marc Pedersen, CEO of North America, Better Collective and RGAA Board Member. “We look forward to welcoming more industry peers to the RGAA as we continue our work to secure the sustainable development of the sector." To learn more about the RGAA, please visit www.rgaa.org. For affiliates interested in joining the Responsible Gambling Affiliate Association, submit your application request via email to information@rgaa.org. Responsible Gambling Affiliate Association (RGAA) is an independent trade association comprised of companies that engage in gambling, gaming, or sports betting marketing and advertising. Its mission is to champion responsible gambling marketing and advertising practices, advocate for sensible regulation, and protect consumer best interest while effectively serving the market. RGAA was founded in 2023 by Better Collective, Catena Media, FairPlay Sports Media, Gambling.com Group, Spotlight Sports Group, and XLMedia plc. Contact Details Hot Paper Lantern Jackson Gaskins Jgaskins@hotpaperlantern.com Company Website https://rgaa.org

May 06, 2024 01:17 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Warren Buffett Sued by Shareholder Who Was Arrested at 2023 Shareholders’ Meeting for Raising Bill Gates/Jeffrey Epstein Issue

NLPC

National Legal and Policy Center (NLPC) has filed a federal lawsuit in Omaha against Berkshire Hathaway and its Chairman, Warren Buffett. The lawsuit, seeking monetary damages, stems from actions taken by the company during last year's shareholders’ meeting where NLPC Chairman Peter Flaherty raised the issue of the reputational risk to the company posed by Buffett holding the posts of both Chairman and CEO. Flaherty cited Buffett’s strong public identification with Bill Gates, and Gates relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. Flaherty had his microphone cut, was ejected from the arena and was arrested. Charges against Flaherty were quickly dropped by the local prosecutor. Flaherty is scheduled again to speak tomorrow at the Berkshire shareholder’s meeting in support of NLPC's proposal that Berkshire disclose the risks of its investments in China. Click here for the Complaint. Founded in 1991, the National Legal and Policy Center promotes ethics in public life through research, investigation, education and legal action. Contact Details National Legal and Policy Center Dan Rene +1 202-329-8357 drene@nlpc.org Company Website http://www.nlpc.org

May 03, 2024 04:53 PM Eastern Daylight Time

5thScape to list its first game “MMA Cage Conquest” on Meta Store: Ultimate Virtual MMA Experience

Spark Metro PR

Mixed Martial Arts fans and enthusiasts, your virtual fighting dreams have arrived! 5th Scape delivers a transformative experience with "MMA Cage Conquest," stepping far beyond traditional fighting games into true sensory immersion. Step into the iconic MMA cage, feel the roar of the crowd and become the champion you always envisioned. The 5thScape Project is an ambitious venture that aims to create a comprehensive Virtual Reality ecosystem. In this VR ecosystem many developers, gamers and experts from various industries can collaborate. This is a VR gaming studio startup in which they focus on developing games, movies, animations etc. Apart from this, they are also planning to launch a special VR headset and a VR Chair which is an ergonomically perfect chair for long gaming sessions. Now, coming back to the game, - "MMA Cage Conquest" redefines virtual combat. Its skill-based system demands true martial arts strategy along with honed reflexes. Learn and master strikes like a real-life wrestling professional. It includes (not limited to) powerful grappling throws and the intricacies of ground control to secure your victories. Feel the impact of every blow, the thrill of a perfectly executed submission, and the tension of a match fought on the razor's edge. Training lies at the heart of "MMA Cage Conquest." This journey transcends button-mashing and enters the realm of personal development. Start as an eager underdog, mastering the fundamentals through rigorous simulations. Refine your striking, defense, and ground game, tracking your progression and building unshakeable confidence. With each session, you don't just play the game – you live the fight. MMA Cage Conquest is all set to make gaming experiences more vigorous and a powerhouse for the senses. Feel the rush in your bones as you climb the leaderboards, and establish yourself as the ultimate MMA cage conqueror. Ready to unleash your inner champion? " MMA Cage Conquest " will be available on the Meta platform. Submitted for listing on May 2, 2024, the developers await approval from Meta. Visit 5thscape.com for trailers, release updates, and the latest news on your journey to become the undisputed MMA Cage Conqueror. Contact Details 5th Scape 5thScape Team +1 302-597-6768 Team@5thscape.com Company Website https://5thscape.com

May 03, 2024 06:51 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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