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Most cannabis consumers would vote for pro-cannabis candidates regardless of party, new polling finds

NuggMD

A majority of cannabis consumers who are likely to vote this November would cast their ballot for a pro-cannabis presidential candidate regardless of that candidate’s party, according to a new poll that sheds light on how aligned cannabis consumers are as a voting bloc and what they think about this year's presidential election. When asked whether a presidential candidate’s endorsement of pro-cannabis policies would increase their likelihood of voting for that candidate, 59% of the respondents said: “Yes, this would make me more likely to vote for that candidate regardless of their party.” Just 14% of respondents said they are locked into voting for their party or candidate of choice. The poll was conducted by NuggMD.com, the largest telehealth platform for cannabis, using its own first-party data. The full results are available on the company’s website. It shows President Biden outperforming Donald Trump, 43% to 36%, among those who use cannabis regularly, a population of at least 35 million voting-age people. President Biden also polled well ahead of a generic Republican candidate, while Trump was roughly tied with a generic Democratic candidate. Concerning cannabis policy, the Democratic Party polled better than the GOP among this audience. Fifty-six percent of respondents said Democratic electeds have better ideas for cannabis policy, compared to 16% who said the same of Republicans. But this support is neither universal nor particularly intense. Nearly 40% of respondents indicated that they believe Democrats “want to suppress the legal use of cannabis,” while 68% said the same of Republicans. While 88% of respondents said understanding cannabis culture is a requirement for writing and passing effective cannabis legislation, 73% said elected officials in general currently lack that understanding. “This poll shows that adopting pro-cannabis policies can move more constituents into either party’s camp,” said Deb Tharp, head of legal and policy research at NuggMD. “This is a large voting population we’re talking about, and its demographics are changing quickly.” She continued: “Respondents say they’re motivated by policy commitments and wins, not by grievance politics, outrage, or red meat. The degree to which this emerging constituency is moveable, and how to move them, will probably come as a surprise to insiders of both parties. “To me, it signals that Republicans are shooting themselves in the foot by continuing to embrace the platform of prohibition. Democrats should double down on cannabis and expand their voting base by embracing full decriminalization and expungement for victims of targeted, unjust enforcement.” Methodology NuggMD.com conducted the poll digitally from March 25 to April 3 using a random sample of its first-party data. In total, 53,380 individuals were contacted and 755 completed the survey, resulting in a margin of error of 3.89% at a confidence level of 95%. Six swing states (n=120 in aggregate) were over-indexed. The full data set is available upon request. About NuggMD NuggMD is the nation's leading medical marijuana technology platform, serving patients in Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia. They've connected over 1,300,000 patients face-to-face with their new medical marijuana doctors via their state-of-the-art telemedicine platform. They believe every human being has the right to explore the benefits of medical cannabis and are fully committed to helping each patient explore every option in their journey to wellness. For further information, visit https://www.nuggmd.com. Contact Details Andrew Graham +1 646-385-0189 andrew.g@getnugg.com Company Website http://www.nuggmd.com

April 11, 2024 12:28 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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kevin. triunfa con la primera transacción NFC de cuenta a cuenta en iPhone

kevin.

En un evento innovador destinado a trastornar el panorama de los pagos en tiendas, kevin., pionero en tecnología de pagos, ha realizado con éxito la primera transacción NFC de cuenta a cuenta en un iPhone. Vídeo de la transacción: enlace En un mundo financiero donde la conveniencia y la seguridad son primordiales, kevin. ha establecido un nuevo pináculo al ejecutar el primer pago NFC de cuenta a cuenta que no es Apple Pay en un iPhone. Este salto tecnológico sigue la presión de la Comisión Europea sobre Apple para democratizar el acceso a NFC. Esto llega después de años en los que el estricto control de Apple sobre la tecnología NFC en dispositivos iOS había sofocado la competencia de terceros. Pavel Sokolovas, cofundador de kevin., articula la magnitud de este momento: “Superar las barreras finales de los pagos NFC en dispositivos iOS representa un verdadero momento trascendental. Estamos inmensamente orgullosos de ser los primeros en proporcionar transacciones de cuenta a cuenta utilizando NFC de Apple, dando a los consumidores el poder de elegir cómo pagan.” En enero de 2022, kevin. hizo olas al habilitar este método de pago innovador para los usuarios de Android, un movimiento elogiado por su originalidad y empuje hacia un ecosistema de pagos abierto. Ahora, con los cambios regulatorios en marcha, kevin. obtuvo rápidamente la autorización bajo el Programa de Derechos NFC de Apple y se embarcó en el desarrollo en su entorno controlado. Justamente seis semanas después del lanzamiento del programa de Apple, kevin. celebró la ejecución exitosa de la transacción experimental en modo de desarrollo, preparando el escenario para lo que podría revolucionar las interacciones en el punto de venta (POS). Sokolovas delineó el viaje técnico: “Hemos estado desarrollando rigurosamente dentro del marco arquitectónico de Apple. Nuestro equipo trabajó incansablemente para integrar nuestra solución técnica de kevin. dentro de la emulación de tarjeta anfitrión (HCE) de Apple, incluyendo estándares de seguridad, validación de transacciones y mucho más para crear una experiencia sin fisuras que permita a los usuarios realizar transacciones desde sus aplicaciones bancarias o de billetera.” La Comisión Europea continúa monitoreando los comentarios de los primeros desarrolladores como kevin. mientras anticipa el inicio oficial de una implementación más amplia de NFC. Este escrutinio subraya la dedicación de la Comisión para fomentar la innovación y la competencia equitativa en la esfera de pagos móviles. Mirando hacia el futuro, la industria anticipa un aumento en soluciones de pago similares tras este éxito inicial. kevin. de hecho ha establecido un precedente dominante, prometiendo un mercado abierto donde los consumidores ya no están limitados por plataformas de pago específicas del dispositivo — una reconfiguración fundamental de cómo se realizan transacciones en todo el mundo. kevin. es una empresa de tecnología visionaria que está reformando los sistemas de pagos para las necesidades del mañana. Desde sus oficinas centrales en Europa hasta la reciente expansión en el bullicioso centro financiero de Dubái, la misión de kevin. ha sido consistente: ofrecer tecnología de punta a punta confiable y ahorros significativos en tarifas por transacción sin cambiar la forma en que las personas pagan. La introducción de su red de aceptación de pagos multiarrendataria y agnóstica de la marca marca un cambio significativo para consumidores y empresas por igual, otorgando autonomía y valor sin los impedimentos de la tecnología heredada. Descargar: logotipo de Kevin, imagen de Pavel Sokolovas y vídeo de la transacción de iOS: enlace - termina - Acerca de kevin. kevin. es una empresa de tecnología pionera con la misión de revolucionar los sistemas de pagos heredados. Con una infraestructura recién construida, kevin. hace que las transacciones sean más eficientes, seguras y convenientes tanto para ventas digitales como físicas. La red de aceptación de pagos multiarrendataria de la compañía es de etiqueta blanca, agnóstica de la marca y sin intermediarios, ofreciendo a los socios el control completo de sus procesos de pago en tienda. Esto les permite desbloquear un valor mayor a través de nuevos servicios, tasas de conversión mejoradas y lealtad de clientes reforzada. La red de kevin. redefine los pagos internacionales, asegurando una infraestructura de pago NFC de cuenta a cuenta segura y sin fisuras para terminales POS en todo el mundo. Esta innovación ofrece una experiencia de 'tap and go', compatible con dispositivos Android y iOS, haciendo los pagos internacionales tan familiares como los locales. kevin. cuenta con el respaldo de Accel, Eurazeo y otros inversores, incluyendo OTB Ventures, Speedinvest, Open Ocean y Global Paytech Venture. Compromiso con el Ecosistema El objetivo de kevin. es empoderar a todos los jugadores en el ecosistema de pago, incluyendo bancos, billeteras digitales, minoristas y otros. La compañía permite a estas entidades lanzar sus propios esquemas independientes no tarjetas o expandir sus servicios conectándose con una red existente en la plataforma de kevin. Contact Details NettResults Relaciones Públicas Nick Leighton +1 949-478-5880 nick.leighton@nettresultsLLC.com Company Website https://www.kevin.eu/

April 11, 2024 07:50 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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KME Insurance Brokerage Partners with ICON

AmeriLife

ICON, a joint venture between AIMCOR Group, LLC (“AIMCOR”) and AmeriLife Group, LLC (“AmeriLife”), announced today that it has entered into a partnership with KME Insurance Brokerage, a leading, national brokerage firm that specializes in corporate and individual disability and life insurance. Per the agreement, terms of the deal were not disclosed. “I’m excited to partner with Steve Heney and his team and look forward to a bright future for KME as part of ICON,” said Marc Verbos, president of ICON. “This partnership further highlights our vision and dedication to create a platform that combines expertise, resources and innovation to offer value to our affiliates. KME's knowledge of the disability market strengthens our overall capabilities and enables our affiliates to broaden the range of services they offer their agents, allowing them to have a greater impact on the lives of their clients." Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Chicago, KME was built to serve and grow the businesses of employee benefit firms and independent producers to assist their clients with disability and life insurance protection. With more than 100 years of combined industry experience, KME’s in-house experts provide comprehensive support, including point-of-sale assistance, benefits implementation, case manager coordination, underwriting assistance and post-issue client administration. The team’s hands-on approach and deep product knowledge have helped the firm earn a strong reputation for excellence in service, which has been a major engine for its growth and persistency. “The KME Team is excited to partner with ICON,” said Heney, principal of KME. “This collaboration will allow us to expand our footprint and further educate producers on the importance of income protection and life insurance. This partnership will not only enhance our services, but also provide our producers with even more valuable resources and support.” As part of ICON, KME will gain access to new life insurance and annuity products, among other leading resources, and become a part of a rapidly expanding AmeriLife Wealth Group, which aims to deliver best-in-class services to the modern agent and financial professional to ensure their clients – no matter their stage of life – never outgrow them. “Continuing to add to ICON’s strong, diverse roster of partners is a crucial piece of AmeriLife Wealth Group’s long-term strategy to transform wealth distribution,” added Mike Vietri, Chief Distribution Officer of AmeriLife Wealth Group. “I’m thrilled to welcome Steve to our growing platform and look forward to watching his business grow and thrive under Marc’s leadership.” ### About KME Insurance Brokerage Founded in 2007, KME Insurance Brokerage specializes in both disability and life insurance to assist benefit consultants and independent producers with their clients’ needs. KME’s experts’ combined 100-plus years of experience is a testament to its knowledge and relationships within the industry, providing unparalleled results for its affiliated brokers. For more information, visit KMEIns.com. About ICON ICON (“AIMCOR Consolidated LLC”) is a joint venture between AIMCOR Group, LLC and AmeriLife Group, LLC. By combining the power of a premier national marketing organization (“NMO”) with capital resources, ICON offers brokerage distributors access to innovative technology, a multi-product platform and a robust suite of centralized shared services to better scale their business, protect their legacy, and enhance their service offerings. As part of ICON, affiliates not only benefit from access to resources and distribution, they join a community that allows them to maximize their entrepreneurial spirit and drive innovation, be at the forefront of transformation, take a long-term view, and most importantly make a greater impact on the lives of their team, their agency, and their communities. For more information, visit icon-ac.com, and follow ICON on LinkedIn. About AmeriLife AmeriLife’s strength is its mission: to provide insurance and retirement solutions to help people live longer, healthier lives. In doing so, AmeriLife has become recognized as the leader in developing, marketing, and distributing life and health insurance, annuities, and retirement planning solutions to enhance the lives of pre-retirees and retirees across the United States. For more than 50 years, AmeriLife has partnered with top insurance carriers to provide value and quality to customers served through a distribution network of over 300,000 insurance agents and financial professionals and more than 100 marketing organizations and insurance agency locations nationwide. For more information, visit AmeriLife.com, and follow AmeriLife on Facebook and LinkedIn. Contact Details AmeriLife | Media Jeff Maldonado media@amerilife.com ICON | Media Mike English menglish@icon-ac.com Partnership Inquiries Patrick Nichols corporatedevelopment@amerilife.com Company Website https://amerilife.com/

April 10, 2024 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Vitalik Buterin Reveals Ethereum Update, Litecoin and KangaMoon Top Gainers This Week

Kangamoon

As Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin announces network upgrades that are centered around simplification, security reinforcement, and operational efficiency for Ethereum network, investors are taking a position in Litecoin (LTC) and KangaMoon (KANG) at the start of the second quarter. In Particular, the Litecoin token is bouncing back from a recent downturn that suggests an imminent bullish reversal. On the other hand, KangaMoon has managed to raise substantial capital through its presale stage. Having crossed over the $4 million presale funding milestone, KangaMoon exhibits strong market presence and increasing adoption while offering huge potential in the meme coin and DeFi market. Vitalik Buterin Releases New Update For Ethereum (ETH) To Aid Seamless Usage Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum, has just dropped updates and improvements to the Ethereum network. One important change is EIP-6780, which makes the network simpler and more secure by optimizing a certain code (SELFDESTRUCT). They also removed unnecessary code from the Ethereum network and used a method called "precompiles" to make certain tasks on Ethereum faster and more efficient. With Ethereum currently experiencing a declining momentum, these updates should help it regain some vigor due to how they’ll help Ethereum run smoother and safer now. Ethereum token is holding in a weekly price range of $3,315.21 and $3,664.36 despite declining by 8.52% this past week. KangaMoon (KANG) Completes Its Fourth Stage Presale As It Raises Over $4M in Revenue Pioneering the first GameFi and SocialFi platform in the meme coin space, KangaMoon (KANG) is burgeoning as the token has seen an impressive growth rate that is beyond expectations. Still in its presale phase, KangaMoon has just completed the fourth stage and is now entering the 5th stage presale with a new price of $0.0196 for each $KANG tokens. The recent rise in KangaMoon token to $0.0196 from its initial price of $0.005, marks a 290% ROI for early buyers of the token. Due to its monumental growth, investors are increasingly flocking to KangaMoon as its community of registered members now surpasses 20,000 with an average of 5,000 KANG holders recorded. As KangaMoon begins the 5th stage of its presale to set the pace for its Q2 plans, the token has amassed over $4M in presale funding with analysts predicting that it could break the $5M funding milestone before the end of April. Apart from its financial allure, KangaMoon is also attracting investors and traders from both the meme coin and DeFi market due to its social media community earning incentive. While in its presale, the social media earning incentive grants new and existing users KANG token in return for sharing posts and commenting on KangaMoon social media pages. This side attraction is only a tip of the iceberg, compared to the battle contests, gaming challenges which grants you opportunities to claim tokens prizes and rewards as well as NFTs in the main KangaMoon ecosystem. Litecoin (LTC) Recovers From A Brief Downturn in Price Despite mostly maintaining a bullish and positive momentum this past week, Litecoin token still fell to volatility as the token couldn’t avoid declining below its weekly highs, almost reaching its weekly support of $91.40, however, Litecoin quickly regained stance as it managed to total a 9.41% rise while it holds in a weekly price range of $88.40 and $110.85. In the past month, Litecoin has also been able to rise by 11.82%. With Litecoin futures currently listed on Coinbase and Bitcoin halving incoming, Litecoin holders can expect a potential price increase. Discover the Exciting Opportunities of the KangaMoon (KANG) Presale Today! Website: https://KangaMoon.com/ Join Our Telegram Community: https://t.me/KangaMoonofficial Integrating GameFi and Play To EarnEmbark on your quest for glory. Assemble your champions, engage in epic battles or bet on your favorite fighters to earn $KANG tokens and exclusive rewards. Gain control of rare NFTs, unlock exclusive content and build alliances with fellow gamers as you ascend the ranks and leaderboards. Contact Details Kangamoon marketing@kangamoon.com Company Website https://kangamoon.com/

April 07, 2024 11:00 AM Central Daylight Time

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Annette Clayton Joins Flash Board of Directors

Flash Parking

Flash, the leading digital ecosystem provider connecting drivers to parking and EV charging experiences, today announced Annette Clayton, chairwoman and former CEO of Schneider Electric, has joined the company’s board of directors. Ms. Clayton has decades of automotive, technology and energy industry experience and brings an extensive track record guiding corporate strategy and operations for growth companies and pioneering startups. “We are incredibly fortunate to welcome Annette to our board of directors,” said Dan Sharplin, Flash’s CEO and Chairman. “She is an accomplished leader who has dedicated her career to companies that are transforming their respective industries, and her talents and expertise will be invaluable to our next chapter of growth, particularly when it comes to meeting the needs of modern drivers through the next wave of EV adoption.” Ms. Clayton joins Flash’s board of directors after recently concluding her tenure as CEO of Schneider Electric North America. During that time, Ms. Clayton led business strategy for the region, representing 30,000 employees and sales of more than $11 billion in fiscal year 2022. “Working with innovators like Flash that reimagine an industry is the work I love,” said Ms. Clayton regarding her appointment. “I have followed Flash’s evolution from its startup days and think the current moment is among its most exciting – Flash has done the heavy lifting and is poised to bring all the players together to set the new standard for a first-of-its-kind digital ecosystem.” Ms. Clayton currently serves on the public boards of Duke Energy, NXP Semiconductors, Oshkosh Corporation and Nordson Corporation. Ms. Clayton’s prior board service includes National Electrical Manufacturers Association, National Association of Manufacturers and many of Schneider Electric’s Energy-as-a-Service joint ventures. She was also a member of Rewiring America’s CEO’s for Electrification coalition for business leaders. Prior to Schneider Electric, she served in senior management roles for Dell, where she led the transformation of its global supply chain and fulfillment model, and General Motors Corporation, including president of Saturn Corporation, where she oversaw strategic direction, financial accountability, and profitability. Ms. Clayton holds a bachelor’s degree in general engineering from Wright State University, a master’s degree in engineering management from the University of Dayton and has completed the London Business School executive development program. About Flash Flash is a pioneering technology company bringing seamless parking and EV charging experiences to drivers through a first-of-its-kind digital ecosystem. Flash’s platform connects reservable parking and charging in the apps drivers use every day with garage, surface lot, event, and valet parking locations — connected and controlled via a cloud-based operating system with unrivaled intelligence. Customer-obsessed brands partner with Flash to deliver digital, easy-to-use, reliable, and increasingly frictionless experiences to drivers eager to pay for a solution that eliminates wasted time, excess emissions, and stress from driving. The solution has arrived. Visit www.flashparking.com to learn more. Contact Details Flash Parking Ray Young +1 512-694-6097 ray@razorsharppr.com Company Website https://www.flashparking.com/

April 04, 2024 03:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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ARway.ai sees positive results from deployment of AR wayfinding at campus of Brandenburg University

ARway.ai

ARway.ai Chief Product Officer Shadnam Khan joined Steve Darling from Proactive to unveil the successful deployment of an innovative AR navigation system within the 5G campus network built by Deutsche Telekom AG at the Brandenburg University of Applied Sciences campus in Germany. The fully funded partnership with the Brandenburg University of Applied Sciences and its prestigious institute ifii (Institute for Innovation and Information Management), originally announced in October 2023, revolutionizes the way faculty and visitors experience the university campus. It provides a seamless and intuitive AR experience and AR-powered navigation. As part of their 2024 roadmap, the university will implement, evaluate, and publish research on over 20 different use cases with ARway's technology, highlighting the depth of this collaboration. Khan emphasized that a significant number of master's students are conducting their theses on AR, leveraging the new system for their research. This academic involvement underscores the system's role not only as a navigational tool but also as a platform for academic and technological exploration. The company anticipates that this project will set new standards for digital campus experiences and open new pathways for the application of AR and 5G technologies in various sectors. Contact Details Proactive United States +1 347-449-0879 action@proactiveinvestors.com

April 03, 2024 10:14 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Ukrainian critical minerals for British technologies: BGV presented Ukraine's mining potential in London

BGV Group Management

On March 26, one of the largest investment companies in Ukraine - BGV Group Management presented at the highest level in London opportunities for cooperation with Ukraine in the field of mining. BGV’s founder, Gennadii Butkevych, as well as its management team were invited to join British parliamentarians, members of the House of Lords and state ministers to participate in an official event on investment in Ukraine, which took place in the Houses of Parliament. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss British-Ukrainian partnership in the field of critical minerals mining, which will help the United Kingdom to develop advanced technologies and promote the transition to clean energy. The event was attended by Lord Martin Callanan - Under Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Green Investment at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, and Bob Seely MP. Representatives of Ukrainian business were also present. In its speech, the BGV team noted three main areas of development in the British-Ukrainian bilateral partnership: FAMILIARIZATION WITH THE MINING POTENTIAL OF UKRAINE Ukraine has all the prerequisites to become one of Britain’s main suppliers of critical minerals crucial for advanced technologies and the green energy transition. 117+ types of minerals have been discovered across Ukraine’s rich subsoil. In particular, the country has reserves of 22 out of 30 raw materials resources that have been identified as critical by the EU. Ukrainian lands have significant deposits of beryllium, zirconium, titanium, rare earths and others, and graphite reserves in Ukraine are among the largest in the world. Many Ukrainian deposits are located on Europe’s doorstep, which provides profitable logistics with low transport costs. INSURANCE OF RISKS War risks insurance is currently an extremely necessary tool for protecting foreign investments in Ukraine. In 2023, Britain set an example to the whole world by unlocking insurance coverage for exporters of Ukrainian grain through the Ukrainian Black Sea corridor. Private British investments in the Ukrainian economy, in particular in raw materials projects, also need a similar effective insurance mechanism. The Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) has already started to provide war risks insurance guarantees in Ukraine from the Trust Fund for the Support of the Reconstruction and Economy of Ukraine. Opportunities for trade insurance in Ukraine and investments in local projects are also provided by America (USDFC and USAID), Japan (NEXI), Poland (Kuke), Germany (administered by PricewaterhouseCoopers) and others. INVESTMENTS IN MINING The BGV team called on British business to increase investment activity within the mining industry in Ukraine. During his speech in the Houses of Parliament, Serhii Voitsekhovskyi emphasized that BGV is ready to become a reliable partner of British investors and companies in the field of critical minerals. BGV Group and Gennadii Butkevych as its founder have already invested more than 100 million dollars in Ukrainian mining projects in 8 years to help Ukraine emerge as a leader in global critical minerals. In particular, two main mining projects of BGV Group Management were presented at the event. THE BALAKHIV PROJECT, the BGV team has currently completed all laboratory and pilot tests of graphite, which is widely used in battery production, identified the enrichment technology and is designing a production complex. In 2025, the company plans to start construction of one of the largest graphite production complexes in Europe, the potential capacity of which will be 50 thousand tons of high-quality graphite concentrate per year, of which 19 thousand tons are suitable for the production of spherical graphite. This, the company’s experts note, will cover a significant part of the EU market needs. PERZHANSK COMPLEX BERYLLIUM DEPOSIT, Serhii Voitsekhovskyi also presented to the participants of the meeting details of BGV’s hydrometallurgical tests and assessment of reserves according to international standards. Next year, in 2025, the BGV team plans to complete work on the preliminary feasibility study (PFS) for the search of potential strategic investors for the project. In conclusion, the representatives of Gennadii Butkevych's BGV investment group emphasized that cooperation with Ukraine in the field of critical minerals can provide Britain with a powerful raw material base for the development of a number of technologies and innovations in medicine, the automotive industry, computer technologies, lasers, navigation, telecommunications devices, the aerospace industry and many others. What is no less important: it will also help to avoid raw material dependence of European countries on Chinese critical minerals. The event was organized by CEO Club and Bob Seely MP. Contact Details BGV Group Management Press Contact +380 44 277 1430 press@bgv.com.ua

April 03, 2024 02:54 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Stanton Chase Expands to Burgeoning Huntsville, Alabama Through Its New Office

Digifora

Stanton Chase proudly announces the inauguration of its newest office in Huntsville, Alabama. Two of the company’s leading executives are spearheading the initiative. Al Smith, Jr., is the youngest managing partner in Stanton Chase’s history and is collaborating with seasoned advisor Daniel Casteel. Casteel is also a managing partner and the Stanton Chase Global Functional Leader for CEO Search and Succession, bringing nearly 25 years of industry experience to the new office. The Huntsville office gives Stanton Chase a “boots on the ground” presence in Alabama’s fastest-growing market. Nicknamed “The Rocket City,” Huntsville’s population has surged in recent years and has been named the number one best job market in the U.S. Already the largest city in the state and an affordable place to live, the area also has a reputation as an aerospace, defense, and technology hub. Bioscience and advanced manufacturing also have a strong presence, and the city’s population growth is driving commercial, residential, and industrial construction. The strategic location of the new Stanton Chase office places it in close proximity to esteemed organizations such as Dynetics, ADTRAN, SAIC, and Toyota Manufacturing. These industry leaders align seamlessly with Stanton Chase's expertise in executive recruitment and leadership advisory, facilitating tailored partnerships with organizations poised for success. As the inaugural Stanton Chase presence in north Alabama, the Huntsville office serves as a pivotal hub, catering to the needs of forward-thinking businesses and fostering impactful collaborations statewide. “I am honored to be part of Huntsville's dynamic growth and flourishing business community," stated Al Smith, Jr. "Amidst its palpable energy and burgeoning enterprises, Huntsville stands poised to emerge as a leading business hub in the Southeast. I look forward to collaborating with local organizations, leveraging our expertise in executive search and leadership advisory to drive strategic growth and foster impactful leadership development initiatives across the region.” Daniel Casteel echoed this sentiment, saying, “I have been in this industry for years, and it is clear that Huntsville has significant potential for growth.” The managing partner added, “At Stanton Chase, integrity, transparency, and discipline are at the core of every client and candidate relationship we build. These are the standards that we intend to bring to the Huntsville office. By immersing ourselves in our clients’ cultures, operations, and leadership dynamics, we gain valuable insights into their vision and needs, which enables us to forge enduring partnerships that will last.” Both Smith and Casteel eagerly anticipate the challenges and opportunities ahead as they collaborate to establish the new Huntsville office as a pivotal asset within the broader Stanton Chase global community. For those with questions or comments regarding the new office or who have executive search or leadership advisory inquiries, please contact Al Smith via the information provided below. About Stanton Chase Stanton Chase is a top-ranked global executive search and leadership advisory consulting firm. For over three decades, Stanton Chase has been at the forefront of corporate leadership, providing unparalleled support to its clients. Learn more about Stanton Chase and the Huntsville office on our website. Stanton Chase Contact Name: Al Smith, Jr. Company: Stanton Chase ​ Address: 4100 Market Street, SW; Ste. 100​ Huntsville, AL 35808​ Phone: (256) 665-9953 Contact Details digifora Justin Brackett +1 843-284-6594 justin@digifora.com Company Website https://digifora.com

April 02, 2024 01:37 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Shareholder Group and Gender Ideology Opponent to Press Disney on Discrimination at Company’s Annual Meeting

NLPC

National Legal and Policy Center, an investor in The Walt Disney Company, and healthcare accountability group Do No Harm, will present a shareholder proposal at the iconic media and entertainment corporation’s annual meeting on April 3. The measure asks the company to investigate its discriminatory pay and benefits policies – specifically addressing where employees affected by gender-switching advocacy have been psychologically or medically harmed, without providing remedial care – and reporting to shareholders why such compensation gaps exist at an allegedly tolerant company. Speaking at the Disney meeting in support of the proposal will be Chloe Cole, patient advocate for Do No Harm, who has testified before legislative bodies nationwide in opposition to gender ideology and its destructive health consequences. Ms. Cole will address the company’s board of directors, including beleaguered CEO Robert Iger, and tell her story about her difficulties in finding medical care and insurance coverage in her efforts to “de-transition,” after trying earlier in her life to switch from the biological sex she was born with. Ahead of the Disney meeting, NLPC released a one-minute video to highlight the shareholder proposal. The corporate and government watchdog also filed a white paper with the Securities and Exchange Commission earlier this month to more fully explain the necessity for the company to investigate its discriminatory policies. “Disney has been so proud about its 100-percent score on the Corporate Equality Index, designed by the pro-LGBTQIA+ Human Rights Campaign, which requires companies to cover sex change treatments in their health insurance offerings,” said Paul Chesser, director of NLPC’s Corporate Integrity Project. “Now we call upon Mr. Iger to lead the way for Corporate America to provide equal care for those who have suffered physical harm as a result, and who want bodily restoration. Besides the damage they have suffered, they are also discriminated against.” As NLPC points out in its shareholder proposal, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission considers failure to provide equivalent pay and benefits based on categories including “gender identity” and “sexual orientation” as discriminatory. Even the Securities and Exchange Commission agreed with NLPC that de-transitioning individuals fit under such classifications when considering unfairness in corporate compensation practices. In its opposition statement (p. 104 at link) to the proposal, Disney alleges that NLPC is just trying to “generate attention” with a “narrow focus…to advance a limited agenda.” “Disney acts as if people like me don’t exist,” said Chloe Cole. “I intend to make sure the board and Mr. Iger hear that the company’s irrational gender ideology policies are actually destructive, and that I am a victim of policies like it. De-transitioners like me are not going away. With the numbers of LGBTQIA+ workers at the company who have sought ill-advised sex changes, you can bet that litigation over deception, and discriminatory benefits policies, won’t be far behind.” You can read NLPC’s shareholder proposal at its website. Learn more about Do No Harm at its website. ### 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

April 01, 2024 01:15 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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