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Minuteman Press Franchise in Fredericksburg, VA Supports Local Businesses During COVID-19

Minuteman Press International Inc

Minuteman Press Fredericksburg Has Remained Open Throughout COVID-19 As An Essential Business Owner Doug Walton Shares Insights On Operating During the Pandemic and How Minuteman Press is Helping Local Businesses Bounce Back For nearly 15 years, Doug Walton has owned the Minuteman Press design, marketing, and printing franchise located at 10699 Courthouse Road. Because printing is considered an essential business, Minuteman Press Fredericksburg has remained open throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. “It feels good to remain open and help other local businesses navigate the pandemic economy. We have been able to help them market themselves through direct mail, provide banners and signage to help with social distancing, and we have even supplied many with acrylic sneeze guards and masks to help keep their employees and customers safe.” Print Is Essential As a longtime local business owner in an essential industry, Doug is uniquely positioned to be able to help organizations and businesses as they continue to reopen and recover. “We’ve expanded our products and services over the years and when the pandemic first hit we were ready to provide high-demand items such as direct mail, signage, and sneeze guards. Businesses have come to us for banners, posters, yard signs, floor decals, and branded clothing, which has been a good source of growth. When everyone’s graduation ceremonies were canceled, we were able to help students and their families celebrate with lawn signs.” Doug continues, “The response from the community has been incredible. They know we have been here for a long time, and they appreciate our ability to provide custom printing of all kinds to help keep people safe. We also have been helping businesses reach out to their customers through marketing and direct mail campaigns. When restaurants need new menus or businesses have important updates and special promotions, Minuteman Press Fredericksburg is here as their trusted local provider.” “The printing industry has been designated as essential for a reason. The products and services we provide support almost every other business and allow them to continue to operate. We print for many different kinds of customers from HVAC contractors to the local Sheriff’s office and more. They all depend on us to do their jobs, and we are happy to be there to help them with everything they need during this unprecedented time.” -Doug Walton, owner, Minuteman Press Fredericksburg, VA Bounce Back Fredericksburg One of the ways Doug and his team are giving back is through Bounce Back Fredericksburg, a free community platform that provides businesses with free local listings and COVID-19 awareness and prevention posters. To date, 60 participating businesses have posted special offers and promotions that community members can take advantage of to support local and shop local. Doug says, “I would encourage every business owner to advertise more. There is no such thing as too much marketing. Take advantage of Bounce Back Fredericksburg, start a direct mail campaign, or simply take a look at your marketing materials and make sure everything is professional and up to date.” As the economy continues to recover, Doug sees opportunities for businesses to come back strong. “I’d like to think that we are proof it is possible to operate and market during the pandemic. As more and more of the local economy comes back, my message is to refocus and stay positive. I hope my own positive attitude encourages my fellow business owners to realize we will get through this together and that brighter days are ahead.” As for his own marketing efforts, Doug has used every tool available to him as part of the Minuteman Press franchise family. “We have depended on direct mail, email, and social media to advertise. We have kept the message simple by saying ‘we are here to help, and we are all in this together.’ The response has been very encouraging. Many have thanked us for being there when people need us at this critical time.” He adds, “As a franchisee, the support we’ve received from Minuteman Press International has been great. At the beginning, we received daily updates of what was going on in our industry, tips for pushing forward, words of encouragement, and tons of new resources including the launch of the Bounce Back USA program. They have continued to share success stories from across the nation and provide recommendations and industry news as well as new marketing templates and strategies to help us grow.” Benefits of Franchising Prior to owning his own business, Doug worked in construction. He was able to successfully switch industries and change careers by going the franchise route. As printing industry leaders, Minuteman Press offered Doug comprehensive training and ongoing support that he continues to benefit from today. Doug says, “Minuteman Press is outstanding. They are always there for support. I couldn’t imagine navigating this pandemic without them. Over the years they have always been there when I need them and they are always looking for ways to help us be more successful. Minuteman Press truly cares about their franchisees.” Reflecting on the rewards of business ownership, Doug adds, “It comes down to my improved quality of life. I don’t miss any of my daughter’s school or sports events. I can make my own schedule. It’s as simple as that and I wouldn’t want it any other way.” “Doug Walton has simply done a tremendous job as the owner of Minuteman Press Fredericksburg for nearly 15 years,” says Bob Heimbuch, Minuteman Press International Regional Vice President, Virginia / DC / Maryland. “I am especially proud of his efforts in helping the local business community through Bounce Back Fredericksburg as well as all of the ways he has been supporting local businesses during the pandemic. Doug is truly dedicated to his clients and his community and he lifts others up with his positivity while providing outstanding products and services.” Advice for Others When asked for what advice he would give to other business owners, Doug answers, “Put your blinders on and don’t pay any attention to bad news. Do everything you can to service your customers. Advertise more. This is not the time to cut back. Keep a positive attitude and encourage everyone in your community to support local businesses.” “And remember, we are all in this together.” For more information on Minuteman Press Fredericksburg, visit https://www.fredericksburg.minutemanpress.com. Learn more about #1 rated Minuteman Press franchise opportunities at https://minutemanpressfranchise.com. Contact Details Minuteman Press International Chris Biscuiti +1 631-249-1370 cbiscuiti@mpihq.com Company Website https://minutemanpressfranchise.com

March 05, 2021 09:01 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Cyvatar Creates First All-in-One Cybersecurity Membership Platform

Cyvatar

Cyvatar today unveiled its all-in-one platform to deliver the first-of-its-kind cybersecurity-as-a-service (CSaaS) offering. The Cyvatar platform is now the de facto operating system for all of its members’ security programs. Cyvatar’s unique membership model levels the playing field by democratizing cybersecurity and making the best protection accessible and affordable for every size organization, even if they have no cybersecurity expertise in-house. With the introduction of the Cyvatar platform, members also get complete visibility into the management of all their security tools from a single pane of glass. The platform demonstrates immediate and concrete results from their cybersecurity efforts with executive-level analytics, rising compliance and risk grades, time to remediation, and ROI calculations. “We’re losing the battle against hacks and breaches; even though more and more security tools are available, sensitive data isn’t getting better protected,” said Corey White, Cyvatar co-founder and chief executive officer. “We launched Cyvatar as the industry’s first subscription-based CSaaS to solve this problem. Rather than simply identifying issues, the Cyvatar platform gives members complete and continuous transparency into all remediation activity to support their security and compliance goals.” By replacing ownership with membership, Cyvatar members can select the freemium plan in seconds at no cost. They can later choose the packages and pricing that meet their unique business needs and they can cancel anytime--another industry first. “Without Cyvatar, you’re basically going to the supermarket and stocking up on all of the best ingredients without a recipe or general know-how to turn those ingredients into a meal,” said Cyvatar Co-Founder and Chief Product and Strategy Officer Craig Goodwin. “If you want to eat, you can’t just keep buying more ingredients; at some point, you have to combine them in the proper order and prepare them at the right temperature to create the necessary outcome--that’s what we do for our members. Our expert team of Cydekicks use the platform to remediate all vulnerabilities in a member’s system and provide CyValue in 90 days or fewer with full transparency into every action they perform.” Become a free member to get your vulnerability scan, remediation plan, and platform access today. About Cyvatar Cyvatar is committed to cybersecurity for everyone. As the industry’s first subscription-based, cybersecurity-as-a-service (CSaaS) company, it’s our mission to transform the way the security industry builds, sells, and supports cyber solutions. We empower our members to achieve successful outcomes by providing expert advisors, proven technologies, and a strategic process roadmap to guarantee results that map to their business drivers. Our approach is rooted in proprietary ICARM (installation, configuration, assessment, remediation, maintenance) methodology that delivers smarter, measurable security solutions for superior compliance and cyber-attack protection faster and more efficiently, all at a fixed monthly price. And because we’re a subscription, members can cancel anytime. Cyvatar is headquartered in Irvine, California with locations around the world. Begin your journey to security confidence at https://cyvatar.ai/ and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. Contact Details Cyvatar Media KC Higgins +1 303-434-8163 kc@cyvatar.ai Company Website https://cyvatar.ai/

March 04, 2021 08:30 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Epiq Selects Intapp OnePlace Risk & Compliance to Enhance Client Conflicts Management

Intapp

Epiq, a global technology-enabled services leader to the legal industry and corporations, today announced it has adopted Intapp OnePlace Risk & Compliance as part of its ongoing efforts to become a fully cloud-based, connected enterprise. Epiq will use the Conflicts module to streamline automate conflicts clearance, improve efficiency, enhance data hygiene, reduce risk, and centralize its business processes. Epiq maintains more than 80 offices across North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. As the organization has grown, the volume of manual conflict checks grew with it, surpassing 128 conflict checks every week. Epiq prioritized implementing a cloud-based, purpose-built solution to replace its labor intensive, manual process, and reduce the risk of human error. Epiq selected OnePlace Risk & Compliance, which uses artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze data and identify potential conflicts that require manual review, which saves thousands of hours and improves outcomes. “Automating our business process with a robust, best-in-class solution like OnePlace Risk & Compliance is a critical step in the evolution of Epiq’s Client Conflicts Program,” said Kate Stark, Manager of Conflicts and Compliance at Epiq. “Centralized, cloud-based data isn’t the future; it’s a requirement for success. With Intapp, we’re deploying a smarter, faster, and more accurate approach to our workflow, which helps us continue our pace of growth while ensuring that we continue to deliver world-class service to our internal and external clients.” Other factors in Epiq’s choice of OnePlace Risk & Compliance as a key component of its digital transformation include the ability for the solution to seamlessly integrate with major enterprise technology platforms, third-party data integrations from partners like Dun & Bradstreet, and the option to implement complementary OnePlace solutions down the line to increase its connected enterprise footprint. “By reducing the volume of potential conflicts that require manual review by up to 60%, OnePlace Risk & Compliance is a critical driver of operational efficiency and revenue growth for global organizations like Epiq,” said Nigel Riley, General Manager for Risk and Compliance Solutions at Intapp. “We’re thrilled to begin this partnership with an organization that not only understands but is excited by OnePlace Risk & Compliance and its ability to accelerate the journey to becoming a truly connected enterprise.” About Intapp Intapp powers connected firms. Trusted by more than 1,600 of the world’s top legal, investment banking, private capital, accounting, and consulting firms, Intapp offers end-to-end, cloud-based connected firm management software built for the unique needs of partner-led firms. Intapp helps enhance collaboration, unleash collective knowledge, transform decision-making, and fuel success. Our products and services span the entire engagement lifecycle — from strategy through origination and execution — to drive optimal outcomes. For more information, visit intapp.com and connect with us on Twitter (@Intapp) and LinkedIn. About Epiq Epiq, a global technology-enabled services leader to the legal industry and corporations, takes on large-scale, increasingly complex tasks for corporate counsel, law firms, and business professionals with efficiency, clarity, and confidence. Clients rely on Epiq to streamline the administration of legal department and business operations, class action and mass tort, eDiscovery, regulatory, compliance, restructuring, and bankruptcy matters. Epiq subject-matter experts and technologies create efficiency through expertise and deliver confidence to high-performing clients around the world. Learn more at www.epiqglobal.com Contact Details Natalie Papaj +1 703-586-0048 natalie.papaj@intapp.com Company Website http://www.intapp.com

March 04, 2021 07:30 AM Eastern Standard Time

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YELP SPRINGS FOR HOME CLEANING TO HELP SINGLE PARENTS

Yelp

While virtually no one has been left unchanged by the pandemic, single parents have been especially burdened by the disruption to their lives. America has the highest number of children living in single-parent households, and single parents across the country have been saddled with additional stressors for the past year due to COVID-19 — from balancing work with childcare and distance learning, to additional house chores. Trying to maintain a clean and tidy home can be challenging on top of all of the roles single parents are juggling. Kicking off just in time for spring cleaning and ahead of National Single Parents Day (March 21), Yelp is springing for single parents’ cleaning bills for a whole year. When it comes to maintaining the house, parents spend an average of seven hours per week cleaning - that’s seven valuable hours that could be spent with kids or for selfcare.* With spring cleaning season upon us, Yelp wants to help curtail one of the stressors for single parents - cleaning the house. As part of our Spring for Cleaning fund, Yelp will award five selected users a $4,000 gift card to cover the cost of a professional cleaning service once a week for one year, for two hours each week.** Single parents can enter for a chance to win by using Yelp’s Request a Quote feature to find a cleaner in their area, and submitting the quote at YelpSpringsforCleaning.com starting March 3rd through March 21st. See the Official Rules available at YelpSpringsforCleaning.com/Rules. * 2018 ACI National Cleaning Survey **See the Official Rules available at YelpSpringsforCleaning.com/Rules. Annual costs of a professional cleaning service based on an average cost of $39.00 per hour. About Yelp Yelp Inc. ( www.yelp.com ) connects people with great local businesses. With unmatched local business information, photos, and review content, Yelp provides a one-stop local platform for consumers to discover, connect, and transact with local businesses of all sizes by making it easy to request a quote, join a waitlist, and make a reservation, appointment, or purchase. Yelp was founded in San Francisco in July 2004. Contact Details Alison Brod Marketing + Communications Media Contact +1 212-230-1800 Yelp@abmc-us.com Company Website https://www.yelp.com

March 03, 2021 07:03 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Women Retirees Underestimate the Coming Long-Term Care Tsunami by Jennifer Lang Financial Services

Jennifer Lang Financial Services, LLC

Contact Details Jennifer Lang Financial Services, LLC. Jennifer Lang +1 877-487-8926 mail@jenniferlangfinancialservices.com Company Website https://www.jenniferlangfinancialservices.com

March 02, 2021 10:05 AM Eastern Standard Time

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How New Airbnb Hosts Have Earned $1 Billion During the Pandemic

YourUpdateTV

The COVID-19 pandemic has sent travelers looking for safe, comfortable settings in which to connect with family and friends, creating economic opportunity for others to earn needed extra income by listing their homes on Airbnb. New hosts with only one listing who have welcomed their first guests since the start of the pandemic have already earned more than $1 billion. Recently, Christopher Nulty, Head of Global Public Affairs at Airbnb, discussed this trend and what it means for the future of travel. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/kjxmBO8MLKc Families and workers around the world have struggled financially because of the economic hardship caused by the pandemic, and in the US, one in four adults have had a hard time paying bills and one third have tapped their savings or retirement funds. For many, sharing their homes on Airbnb has provided a critical and urgent COVID social safety net to help stay economically afloat in these unprecedented times. In the US, the typical new Airbnb host with only one listing earned $3,900 since March 2020. This is income being used to pay important bills with half of all hosts worldwide using their Airbnb earnings to stay in their homes. During the pandemic, three in 10 US hosts (29 percent) have used their hosting income to pay their rent or mortgage—including half (49 percent) of hosts aged 25-34. One quarter of hosts (26 percent) have used the income to pay down debts, and 10 percent have used it to pay for healthcare. For more information, visit Airbnb.com About Christopher Nulty: Christopher Nulty is Airbnb's Head of Global Public Affairs. Prior to joining Airbnb in 2015, Christopher led public relations for Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer. Christopher started his career in Washington, D.C., where he worked on Immigration and Healthcare Policy at the 2.2 million member Service Employees International Union (SEIU). A proud native of upstate New York, Christopher is a graduate of Colgate University where he currently serves as a director on the Alumni Council Board of Directors. About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

March 01, 2021 11:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Cloud Conventions 2021 – The Premier Telecom/Cloud Channel Virtual Event Returns Live May 12-14

Convey Services

Cloud Conventions 2021 will open its 2nd annual virtual conference and tradeshow on May 12-14 offering a unique experience for channel professionals in the telecom/cloud, hosted voice, connectivity, IT and managed services and mobility industries. Co-sponsored by media partner, TR Publications and managed by the MCI Group, this premier industry event redefines the attendee and exhibitor experience for a virtual event with industry and business content, discussions opportunities, networking and strategy sessions, along with more ways to connect individually with peers and exhibitors. “Channel Strategies to Navigate the ‘New Normal’ is the focus of Cloud Conventions 2021,” said Carolyn Bradfield, CEO of Convey Services, founding partner of the event. “We teamed with the MCI Group as our event management partner and TR Publications and their related media to build on the success of our Cloud Conventions 2020 event expanding offerings and audience. Our experience delivering dozens of virtual tradeshows, conferences, summits, and kick-off meetings for our clients has taught us how to design an virtual expo avoiding the pitfalls of events that fail to create an engaging experience for attendees and deliver sales leads to exhibitors and sponsors." "Cloud Conventions 2021 has the potential to bring together one of the largest audiences of channel partners, MSPs, VARs, IT service providers and carriers for an unparalleled virtual event,” said Doug Green, publisher of TR Publications. “Strategies to deliver cloud solutions, connectivity, mobility and managed services are evolving, along with the business models of channel organizations that provide them to business customers. Cloud Conventions 2021 brings together resources, thought leaders, technology and business solutions to ensure that the channel has the tools to thrive in this rapidly changing landscape.” “Managing Cloud Conventions 2021 opens up a vast new market opportunity for the MCI Group,” said James Kelley Director of Business Development, Virtual Events at MCI USA. “Our team has partnered with Convey and their Cloud Conventions virtual event platform to deliver large virtual tradeshows and conferences for the past year. We offer added value to a show like this through marketing and our event management experience and support for exhibitors and sponsors. The MCI Group is committed to growing the Cloud Conventions 2021 event and returning in the spring of 2022 with an even larger live and hybrid industry expo.” In May of last year, the Cloud Conventions 2020 event attracted thousands of attendees over 4 days, with industry sponsors, social engagement and networking, and 78 educational sessions to help channel partners develop pathways to get business back on track and help their customers pivot to a digital work environment in the face of the pandemic. The 2021 virtual event will help channel partners navigate the ‘new normal’ by offering connections to colleagues and providers, powerful educational sessions, along with strategies to stay personally and professionally resilient, agile, and informed. Attendance at Cloud Conventions 2021 is free to qualified industry professionals. Past attendees will receive an invitation to pre-register. New attendees and potential exhibitors can sign up at www.cloudconventions2021.com. The Cloud Conventions 2021 conference and expo is hosted and managed on the industry leading Cloud Conventions virtual event platform, powered by Convey Services. About Telecom Reseller TR Publications reports on UC, UCaaS, CPaaS, mobility, telehealth, SD-WAN, direct routing, collaboration are among the many topics covered. Written for both buyer and seller, IT director and channel leader, TR’s qualified readers include enterprise end users, channel partners, MSPs, CLECs. Content includes news, blogs, podcasts, Educasts, and webinars. TR reaches 25,000 readers daily by eBulletin, 80,000 readers every weekend with their Sunday Report, and 1,900 people daily online. www.telecomreseller.com. About MCI Group MCI is a global engagement and marketing agency. We design human-centric solutions that unleash the power of people to deliver innovation and growth for our clients. Our offering includes live & virtual events, strategic & digital communications, consulting & community solutions. We help brands, companies, associations and not-for-profits solve their challenges, bringing their people together to shape their tomorrow. MCI is an independently owned company headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, with a global presence in 60 offices across 31 countries. www.mci-group.com About Cloud Conventions Cloud Conventions is a Virtual Trade Show and Conference Platform from Convey Services that brings new capabilities to a marketplace looking for solutions to replace the thousands of live trade shows, annual conferences and association meetings cancelled in the wake of COVID-19. Originally launched as ConveyLive, Cloud Conventions automates exhibitors and virtual booths, attendee registration, speaker sessions and reminders, invitations and email communication, while at the same time producing detailed analytics on attendee, session and exhibitor activity. Trade Associations and event managers can explore all of the Cloud Conventions solutions by visiting https://cloudconventions.com or contacting info@cloudconventions.com or call 888-975-1382. Cloud Conventions™, Community™, Cloud Kickoffs™, Conduct™, One-Touch Email Share™, Hub & Spoke™, 360° Virtual Exhibit Hall & Lobby Experience™ and ListLock™ are trademarks of Convey Services LLC Contact Details Convey Services Bruce Ahern +1 770-580-0810 bahern@conveyservices.com Company Website https://cloudconventions.com

February 26, 2021 02:30 PM Eastern Standard Time

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Survey Reveals Permanent Changes in Behavior and Expectations Beyond COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout

Metova Inc.

Metova, a leading provider of custom software solutions for mobile, web, connected home and car, and Internet of Things (IoT) for the private and public sector today announced the results of their latest blind survey of over 1000 people in the United States regarding behavior, trends and expectations beyond the COVID-19 vaccine rollout. Notably, “curbside pickup” led the way as the “most helpful thing” during COVID-19, outpacing video calling, online video streaming, telemedicine and mobile food and grocery services. In addition, of those who plan on getting the COVID-19 vaccine, 64% will avoid staying in a hotel, casino or resort for the remainder of 2021 if given the option. A notable, positive finding of the survey: “Quality Family Time” leads by nearly 2 to 1 in “positive life events that came out of the pandemic” – outpacing new hobbies, skills, personal fitness and home improvements. For a freely reusable infographic summarizing Metova’s Winter 2021 Post-Vaccine COVID-19 Survey, visit: https://metova.com/infographic-expectations-beyond-covid-19/ “At Metova in our work with telehealth, mobile tech, smart home and connected technologies for the hotel and hospitality industry, it’s essential we understand the quickly evolving sentiment and preferences of our clients' customers,” said Jonathan Sasse, chief strategy officer at Metova. "COVID-19 has accelerated and in many cases truly disrupted consumer preferences and behavior, and it’s essential for industries to understand these changes in order to best serve their customers.” Metova’s Winter 2021 Post-Vaccine COVID-19 Survey: “Curbside Pickup” lead the way as the “most helpful thing” during COVID-19, outpacing video calling, online video streaming, telemedicine and mobile food and grocery services “Quality Family Time” leads the way by nearly 2 to 1 in positive life events that came out of the pandemic, outpacing new hobbies, skills, personal fitness and home improvements 86% of people working from home due to COVID-19 want to continue working from home after getting the vaccine 64% after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, if given the option, will avoid staying in a hotel, casino or resort for the remainder of 2021 1 in 4 say they won’t get the COVID-19 vaccine because they don’t think it is safe Additional Metova technology and culture sentiment surveys include: Telehealth, Contact Tracing and COVID-19, Working From Home Due to COVID-19, Internet of Things, Mobile First, the Connected Car and Smartphones and Healthcare. For a a summary of Metova 2020 survey findings, please visit: https://metova.com/metova-industry-intelligence-survey-findings-of-2020/ ABOUT METOVA Founded in 2006, with a belief that mobile would be even more transformative than the internet, Metova set out to build innovative mobile applications while also creating a great place for people to work. Today, Metova continues to build on its success by retaining world-class talent and helping companies transform their business through technology. After identifying customer needs, informed through industry-trusted surveys and analysis, Metova defines and builds the experiences customers expect, aligned with business goals to streamline workflows and increase revenues – while delighting customers and disrupting industries. Contact Details Metova Anders Steele +1 323-909-2341 anders.steele@metova.com Company Website https://metova.com

February 26, 2021 09:29 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Minuteman Press Franchise Owner Manny Castro Fulfills Lifelong Dream of US Citizenship

Minuteman Press International Inc

After being a permanent resident for over 35 years, Manny Castro has fulfilled his lifelong dream of achieving his US citizenship. As Minuteman Press franchise owner in Downey, CA for 14 years, Manny credits the support of his family and the team at Minuteman Press International with helping him achieve his dream. “I officially became a US Citizen on November 20, 2020, and it feels just great! This is my home; I have been living in the States most of my life and now I can vote. I am really proud of being a Citizen of the greatest country in the world, a land of opportunities for all!” From El Salvador to Entrepreneurship Originally from El Salvador, Manny is proud to be a shining example of achieving the American Dream both in his life and in his career. He says, “To get my US Citizenship after all this time is just an incredible accomplishment. I came to this beautiful country 38 years ago without a dollar in my pocket, no skills, no academic degrees, no English, not even a high school diploma. Just a young teenager at that time, running away from a very conflicted civil war in El Salvador, looking for a better life.” Reflecting back on those painful struggles and thinking about where he is today, Manny exclaims, “All I can say now is God is great, and may God continue to bless this great country that offers people from all walks of life, hope, endless opportunities, and a second chance in life.” Manny has owned his Minuteman Press franchise in Downey, CA since May 2007. During that time, he has successfully built his business while receiving crucial training and support from his franchisor. “My Regional Vice President Dan Byers and Steve Szymanski have always had my back since day one. They both wrote a beautiful letter of recommendation for me, to support my application for my citizenship. It meant so much to me and my family. Dan and Steve were delighted to help when I asked; everything I obtained when applying contributed to me being granted my citizenship. My kids were born here, and my entire family have already become citizens. It was time for me now to take that next step as well and join the millions of proud Americans. I love this country so much, and I’ve met great people along the way. God has opened up so many doors for me here. It is a land of opportunity for all. If you work hard, the sky is the limit.” Journey to Minuteman Press Dan Byers has known Manny Castro for 15 years. He says, “I first met Manny at a Franchise Expo in Pasadena in February 2006 and he was determined to own a business. At the time, he was working at a company that was downsizing and he saw business ownership as a means to financial independence, the opportunity to step up to a new challenge, and a way to regain control of his time.” Manny explains, “I was a distribution zone manager for a weekly publication company. I had researched many other companies and different industries for a while, but none of them gave me the level of confidence that I needed to motivate me and move forward that Minuteman Press did. Once my decision was made and we moved forward with training and opening up my center, they gave me a real solid foundation, and second-to-none ongoing support to this day.” Dan continues, “In an effort to be close to home, Manny converted an independent printing company in Downey to a Minuteman Press franchise in 2007. Time and time again, Manny has been able to successfully manage his business by working hard and treating people – customers, vendors, and employees – fairly and with the utmost respect. Whether it was the Great Recession of 2008 or the COVID-19 pandemic today, Manny has managed to stay positive and remain focused on growing his business by following the Minuteman Press franchise system.” Managing the Business Through the COVID-19 Pandemic Because Minuteman Press Downey is an essential business, Manny and his team have continued to remain open through the pandemic. He says, “We are an essential printing business and able to assist local businesses in any industry – medical, financial, retail, restaurants – and all businesses that continue to operate.” Manny adds, “For our clients, A-Frame signage, banners, floor decals, brochures, and direct mail have all been crucial in keeping their businesses operating safely while communicating with their customers. 99% of our customer base are other local businesses, and I see people are hungry to get back to work, to open up their doors safely, and we are helping them reach out and reopen safely. I’m very optimistic that things are turning back into full force. We have positioned ourselves to be there for our business community and meet their needs.” During the pandemic, Minuteman Press International has once again proven to be there for Manny to support him. He says, “Minuteman Press ongoing support during these unprecedented times has been tremendous. They’ve been there for us since COVID-19 started and provided us with extensive communications, guidance, marketing strategies, and additional resources. For example, when two of my employees needed to be home, Minuteman Press immediately provided me with additional field support to help me out with everything I needed. They are always there and quick to act whenever I need a helping hand or advice.” “We are an essential printing business and able to assist local businesses in any industry – medical, financial, retail, restaurants – and all businesses that continue to operate.” -Manny Castro, Minuteman Press franchise owner, Downey, CA Rewards of Business Ownership + Advice for Others When asked about the rewards of owning his business, Manny answers, “The most rewarding thing is having full control of your life and your financials. It’s very fulfilling to have your own business. I know that if I work hard, I reap the benefits.” His advice for others is this: “I will say Minuteman Press is a great company to partner up with. They are a leader in the printing industry and with over 45 years of experience. For someone like me who did not know about paper sizes and stocks 14 years ago, this meant the world to me. People can review the Minuteman Press franchise and see there are no hidden agendas. There was no pressure to buy the franchise, and they’ve supported me from day one and continue to work with me in achieving my company goals with ongoing coaching and marketing strategies to get there. Our success is their success as well. Minuteman Press has helped me do everything from getting started and achieving my dream of owning a business to helping my essential business during the pandemic.” Manny reflects once more on his incredible journey to US Citizenship, saying, “And now, Minuteman Press has helped me fulfill my other lifelong dream of becoming a US Citizen. For someone from El Salvador to be able to accomplish all of this, I needed to have help along the way. I couldn’t ask for a better franchise to be a part of or better people who are working on behalf of Minuteman Press International to support me with everything I do. Minuteman Press simply has my back, and I couldn’t ask for anything more than that in my business and in my life.” For more information on Minuteman Press in Downey, CA, visit https://www.downey.minutemanpress.com. Learn more about #1 rated Minuteman Press franchise opportunities and read Minuteman Press franchise reviews at https://minutemanpressfranchise.com. Contact Details Minuteman Press International Chris Biscuiti +1 631-249-1370 cbiscuiti@mpihq.com Company Website https://minutemanpressfranchise.com

February 22, 2021 10:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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