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100 Houstonians in Harris and Ft. Bend Counties Awarded a Total of $1 Million Through Comcast RISE, National Initiative to Support Small Business Owners

Comcast Houston

Comcast today announced the 100 recipients of the Comcast Rise Investment Fund grants. Each small business will receive a one-time $10,000 grant from the fund. More than 100 businesses in the area will also receive technology and marketing resources. The recipients are among nearly 6,700 entrepreneurs nationwide who have been selected through the Comcast RISE program, which provides marketing, technology, and capital support to small business owners. “We are proud of all of our small businesses, the impact they have in Fort Bend County is invaluable. Many of our business owners, particularly our minority owned businesses, have faced unprecedented challenges over the past year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and require a wide range of support to help their businesses survive,” stated Fort Bend County Judge KP George. “The Comcast Rise Investment Fund Grant provides these business owners with the critical financial lifeline and the resources needed so they can sustain and grow their businesses.” Through Comcast RISE, the company also announced it is on track to support 13,000 small businesses by the end of the year with marketing or technology support such as a TV campaign, production of a TV commercial or consulting services from Effectv, the advertising sales division of Comcast Cable, or computer equipment, internet, voice or cybersecurity services from Comcast Business. “Since we launched Comcast RISE a year ago, we have assisted more than 200 small businesses throughout the Houston area with either marketing, technology, or monetary grants. This round of Comcast RISE grants will provide even more small business owners of color with the resources and tools they need to thrive,” said Ralph Martinez, senior vice president for Comcast’s Houston region. “We look forward to empowering their success.” To further build on the program’s success and provide support to even more small businesses, Comcast also announced today a major expansion to eligibility, enabling all women-owned small businesses nationwide to apply. This expansion recognizes and seeks to help address the persistent inequities women continue to face in accessing the resources and funding that are critical to success. Comcast RISE and the Comcast RISE Investment Fund, initially launched as a response to help small businesses owners of color hardest hit by the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, continue to focus on uplifting small businesses, ensuring they continue to prosper in an ever-shifting post-pandemic economy. “As we continue to rebuild and emerge from the effects of the pandemic, small businesses will continue to be the backbone of our economy – and we must take every opportunity to help them thrive,” said Dave Watson, President and CEO, Comcast Cable. “Looking forward, this expansion will enable Comcast RISE to further empower and strengthen even more small businesses that are the heart of our local communities across the country.” In the year since its inception, Comcast RISE has awarded more than $11 million in grants and $50 million in in-kind support for marketing and technology services, impacting more than 6,700 entrepreneurs of color in 432 cities across 34 states. By the end of 2022, 13,000 businesses across the country are expected to benefit from the Comcast RISE initiative, either through the grant program or from the resources provided through Effectv and Comcast Business. In addition to the financial and business support services provided, a key part of the program is ensuring the long-term sustainability of businesses. To help address this, Comcast invests in and partners with organizations such as Ureeka to provide ongoing mentorship and resources to help small businesses succeed over the long-term. Comcast RISE, which stands for Representation, Investment, Strength, and Empowerment, is part of Project UP, Comcast’s comprehensive initiative to advance digital equity and help provide underrepresented small business owners with access to the digital tools and funding they need to thrive. Over the next 10 years, Comcast has committed $1 billion to programs and partnerships that will reach an estimated 50 million people with the skills, opportunities, and resources they need to succeed in an increasingly digital world. The program will continue to be open to racially and ethnically diverse small business owners and the expanded Comcast RISE eligibility to all women-owned businesses will be effective on January 16, 2022. More information and the applications to apply for either the grant program or marketing and technology services are available at www.ComcastRISE.com. To help drive outreach and awareness about Comcast RISE and provide additional support, training and mentorship, Comcast has also awarded $50,000 in grants to local community partners – Houston Hispanic Chamber, Houston Black Chamber, Empresarios Latinos Foundation, Houston LGBT Chamber, Asian Chamber of Commerce, Greater Houston Women’s Foundation and East End Chamber of Commerce. About Comcast Corporation Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company that connects people to moments that matter. We are principally focused on broadband, aggregation, and streaming with 57 million customer relationships across the United States and Europe. We deliver broadband, wireless, and video through our Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky brands; create, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, Universal Studio Group, Sky Studios, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, multiple cable networks, Peacock, NBCUniversal News Group, NBC Sports, Sky News, and Sky Sports; and provide memorable experiences at Universal Parks and Resorts in the United States and Asia. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information. About Comcast Business Comcast Business offers a suite of Connectivity, Communications, Networking, Cybersecurity, Wireless, and Managed Solutions to help organizations of different sizes prepare for what’s next. Powered by the nation’s largest Gig-speed broadband network, and backed by 24/7 customer support, Comcast Business is the nation’s largest cable provider to small and mid-size businesses and one of the leading service providers to the Enterprise market. Comcast Business has been consistently recognized by industry analysts and associations as a leader and innovator, and one of the fastest growing providers of Ethernet services. For more information, call 866-429-3085. Follow on Twitter @ComcastBusiness and on other social media networks at http://business.comcast.com/social. About Effectv Effectv, the advertising sales division of Comcast Cable, helps local, regional and national advertisers use the best of digital with the power of TV to grow their business. It provides multi-screen marketing solutions to make advertising campaigns more effective and easier to execute. Headquartered in New York with offices throughout the country, Effectv has a presence in 66 markets with nearly 35 million owned and represented subscribers. For more information, visit www.effectv.com. Contact Details Comcast Foti Kallergis +1 832-986-0196 Foti_Kallergis@comcast.com Comcast Misha McClure +1 832-547-6783 Misha_McClure@cable.comcast.com Company Website https://houston.comcast.com/

November 23, 2021 09:31 AM Central Standard Time

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U.S. Government Settles Wrongful Death Lawsuit for $1 Million After Suicide Outside Georgia VA Medical Center

Bertling Law Group

The estate of a Navy veteran, who died by suicide after he was denied medical treatment at a Department of Veteran’s Affairs medical center, recently negotiated a $1 million settlement with the U.S. government as compensation for the 35 days of pain and suffering the veteran experienced before his death. The lawsuit, filed by the Bertling Law Group on behalf of the estate of Gary Steven Pressley, continues against Bobby Dodd Institute, an independent contractor responsible for operating the switchboard at the Carl Vinson VA Medical Center. The lawsuit alleges that Pressley’s family notified an employee of Bobby Dodd Institute that Pressley was in the parking lot with a loaded gun and intended to shoot himself. The lawsuit states that employee Elaine Carswell did not call the onsite VA police who could have reached Pressley in minutes with officers trained to deescalate such situations. Pressley died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in the parking lot of the VA Medical Center. According to the lawsuit, Pressley’s referral to a pain specialist was never scheduled and he experienced excruciating pain after being denied pain medication previously prescribed by a community pain specialist. Pressley took his own life after his VA primary care physician negligently reduced his pain medication and failed to ensure he saw a new community pain management specialist in a timely fashion. Pressley’s referral to the pain specialist was never scheduled because the VA employee responsible for processing the appointment was overworked, overwhelmed and her department was understaffed. Pressley was honorably discharged from the United States Navy with an exemplary record following a tragic car accident that left him with serious injuries to his legs, hip, pelvis, and back. He required assistance to walk and managed considerable pain daily. He had previously been seen by a community pain specialist who was referred through the VA and his life had improved considerably. The community pain specialist stopped treating veterans because the VA was not paying for her services. Pressley was furthering his education and making plans to lead a long and healthy life when the VA failed to assign him a new pain specialist. His condition deteriorated because he did not receive needed prescription pain medicine for several weeks. He reached a breaking point on April 5, 2019 and shot himself in the chest. According to attorney Peter Bertling, Pressley’s death was imminently preventable. “Gary Steven Pressley served his country admirably and had been on a path to lead a long and happy life before the negligence of the Bobby Dodd Institute brought his life to a tragic close,” said Bertling. “Had Ms. Carswell paid attention to the family’s direct warnings, Pressley would still be here today.” Bertling Law Group can help you access all available resources for compensation. Prior to providing veteran advocacy, our attorneys spent three decades defending hospitals, nurses, and doctors accused of wrongdoing, helping to spare insurance companies millions of dollars in unsubstantiated damages. We now use that insight to help injured patients recover the damages to which they are entitled. More information is available at 844-295-7558 or BertlingLawGroup.com Download a copy of the complaint here and at www.LawsuitPressRelease.com. Contact Details LawsuitPressRelease.com John P. David +1 888-859-6637 john@lawsuitpressrelease.com Company Website https://www.bertlinglawgroup.com/

November 22, 2021 01:44 PM Eastern Standard Time

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Velocity Global’s 2022 Work In Progress Report: Businesses and talent benefit from distributed work

Velocity Global

1,000 surveyed tech leaders say distributed work increases productivity and diversity Most remote talent to remain untethered to an office post-pandemic Tech leaders desire to increase remote work for themselves 72% utilize a distributed workforce but face hurdles to expand it Remote and distributed workforces are here to stay due to the mutual benefits to both businesses and talent according to a new study from Velocity Global, the leading provider of global employment solutions. The 2022 Work In Progress — The State of Distributed Work: Tech Sector published today touts multiple benefits of distributed work, shows optimism for growth in the tech sector, but also names challenges for businesses to increase their global workforce. More than 1,000 U.S. and UK tech company decision-makers participated in the study and 72% say their business utilizes a substantial distributed workforce; 59% say more than half of their workforce is remote, and 61% of U.S. tech leaders report more than half of their remote workers will remain that way for the foreseeable future. “The world of work is forever changed. The global pandemic accelerated the desire to work from anywhere, and it lit a fire for employers to embrace a truly distributed workforce,” said Velocity Global founder and CEO Ben Wright. “The untethered nature of work was on the rise before COVID-19, but the tailwinds accelerated this new way of work as businesses tapped into new talent pools and workers themselves embraced a new freedom. Neither is going back - this change is here to stay.” Despite the growth of distributed and remote work, businesses cite several challenges to embrace the change even further. “This dramatic shift accelerated faster than the legacy ecosystem built to support the employment infrastructure was capable of handling,” added Wright. “We remove the roadblocks to grow businesses and connect employers and talent to simply get work done anywhere and anyhow.” Organizational and personal benefits of remote and distributed work Remote work refers to talent working at a location other than a company-owned office. Related to the concept of remote work is distributed work, in which companies employ talent that is located in multiple locations domestically or internationally. The majority of companies (72%) employ a distributed workforce and 79% of these organizations’ talent also works remotely. Respondents who utilize a distributed workforce report clear advantages: 95% say a distributed workforce model benefits their company by increasing productivity (54%), securing top talent (40%), and building a more diverse team (37%). Respondents indicate talent prefers remote work for similar reasons, reinforcing the mutual benefits. Interestingly, 3 in 4 of the tech leaders themselves work remotely at least one day per week and desire to increase the amount of time they work remotely. “Business leaders are people too, and they see the benefits in their personal life as well to their broader organization,” said Wright. “Flexibility and mobility are now must-haves for workers fresh out of school or in upper management, and lead to greater productivity and long-term talent retention. It’s a win-win.” Optimism for growth with an untethered workforce The increase in remote and distributed work drove unprecedented demand in the tech sector and organizations feel optimistic about expansion. The survey reports 96% are very or somewhat confident about their company’s financial growth over the next year, and 83% believe their industry will grow as well. That growth is realized by a remote and distributed workforce that mostly will not return to an office. More than half (54%) of respondents say 51-75% of their remote workforce will remain remote over the next year. Roadblocks create disconnect between employers and talent The data indicates a brewing dilemma regarding remote work. Talent and businesses both recognize significant benefits, but logistical challenges drive businesses to initiate a return to the office for some. The implications for this disconnect are great, considering the difficulties of finding skilled talent and employees’ desired flexibility. One factor contributing to that discord is the lack of involvement of talent in the decision to return to the office. Eighty-seven percent of organization leaders say their company decides whether remote talent transitions back to working at a company-owned office, as opposed to it being a joint decision. Only 12% report that both the company and talent make that determination. Tech leaders point to a pivotal moment for distributed work as both businesses and talent desire the benefits. The pandemic increased distributed work for most tech businesses, and 43% will maintain their current distributed workforce. However, the next stage is in question: 21% say they will expand their distributed workforce, 26% plan to reduce it. These decision-makers cite several forces that challenge their ability to grow their distributed workforce domestically and internationally, particularly among U.S. companies. Ninety-three percent of U.S. tech leaders say they do not have plans to expand their domestic distributed workforce. They point to recruiting, legal registrations in other states, and managing multiple vendors among other challenges. The growth of international distributed work faces similar roadblocks. Again, 93% of U.S. and UK tech leaders say they do not plan to expand their worldwide distributed workforce, adding foreign entity set-up, global payroll and immigration challenges to a similar list of difficulties. “The same friction comes up over and over again. Finding the right talent tops both lists and businesses want to tap larger talent pools across the country and the world,” said Wright. “Add in the bureaucracy of global regulation and the multiple vendors to navigate it on disparate platforms, and businesses get skittish. We built an end-to-end platform that removes all of this friction because the data is clear: employers and talent just want to work with anyone, anywhere, and anyhow.” Click here to download the full report: 2022 Work in Progress — The State of Distributed Work: Tech Sector. Methodology To gather the data in this report, Velocity Global surveyed 506 U.S. and 505 UK business leaders in the technology industry (e.g., software, hardware, and IT) who are employed at companies with 50–1,000 employees. The respondents work in a wide range of technology subsectors, including technology, media, and telecom; biotech; mortgage technology, property technology, and real estate technology; insurance technology; cryptocurrency; cybersecurity; and more. Respondents are in director-level and higher positions, including C-suite officers and business owners. Their job functions include human resources, finance, legal, IT/ technology, and operations. About Velocity Global Velocity Global accelerates the future of work beyond borders. Its global work platform simplifies the employer and employee experience to employ any talent anywhere with just a click through its proprietary cloud-based workforce management technology, backed by personalized expertise and unmatched global scale. As the largest global Employer of Record (also known as International PEO) in 185 countries and all 50 United States, more than 1,000 brands rely on Velocity Global to build global teams without the cost or complexity of setting up foreign legal entities or state registrations. The company offers additional services including Independent Contractor Compliance to assess a workforce, and Agent of Record (AoR) to streamline payments to contractors. Velocity Global was named a “Leader” in Global Employer of Record services by prominent analyst firm NelsonHall. Founded in 2014, the company has hundreds of employees across six continents. For more information visit velocityglobal.com. Contact Details Velocity Global John Hall +1 720-650-4348 news@velocityglobal.com Company Website https://velocityglobal.com/

November 19, 2021 07:02 AM Mountain Standard Time

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COMCAST INVESTS $16 MILLION TO EXPAND BROADBAND SERVICE TO MORE COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT COLORADO

Comcast Colorado

Comcast today announced it invested more than $16 million to expand its network and connect more rural communities in Colorado since the end of 2020, including major projects in the towns of Eagle, Gypsum and Kremmling. These network expansions are the most recent examples of the company’s investment in Colorado to ensure residents and businesses have access to innovative, reliable, fast and secure broadband services. Since 2017, Comcast invested more than $1.3 billion in technology and infrastructure developments in Colorado, including upgrades to its broadband network. “We live and work in Colorado, and our commitment is to deliver innovative media and technology experiences and an incredible customer experience with our broadband. It is what we do,” said J.D. Keller, Senior Vice President of Comcast’s Mountain West Region, which covers Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Arizona. “We’re innovating to bring you incredible products you can use to connect and protect, entertain and communicate now and into the future.” Comcast is a leader in the global 10G initiative, which leverages new standards and technology to dramatically increase speeds. In 2020, the company demonstrated 1.25-gigabit-per-second (Gbps) symmetrical speeds over a live network. Earlier this year in Colorado, the company conducted a lab test of “Full Duplex DOCSIS 4.0” technology and showed the ability to deliver 4-Gbps upload and download speeds. “Since Comcast’s founding more than 50 years ago, our mission and purpose has been to connect people to the moments and experiences that matter most,” said Stephanie Rideau, Senior Director of Business Development for Comcast’s Mountain West Region. “Thriving communities are built on connections whether they are hard wired or through experiences that bring us together. The more that people in our communities are connected with each other, the more we share, grow, and succeed.” “Broadband intersects with Economic Development in many ways. It can be the deciding factor for expanding or relocating businesses, effectively creating or eliminating the opportunity to retain and grow jobs,” said Kim Woodworth, Executive Director for the Economic Development Council of Colorado. “Reliable broadband services are essential to competitive communities. Comcast’s network investment ensures that our community can support any healthcare, educational or business data needs, and keep pace with the broader economy,” added Jeremy Rietmann, Gypsum Town Manager. The network expansions Comcast is currently completing in Eagle, Gypsum and Kremmling, bring the entire suite of Xfinity and Comcast Business services to these communities. In addition to Gigabit Internet service and unique home WiFi control capabilities with xFi, residential customers in these communities have access to all Xfinity services, including the award-winning Xfinity X1 video platform, Xfinity Home, and Xfinity Mobile. Comcast provides unmatched value to Xfinity Internet customers through superior WiFi coverage, control of connected devices with xFi in the Xfinity App, xFi Advanced Security for cyber security protection at the gateway level, a free Xfinity Flex 4K streaming device, as well as access to Peacock Premium and thousands of hours of free content. Businesses in these areas can get the full suite of Comcast Business products and services, including Ethernet network speeds up to 100 Gbps. Comcast continues to invest in its Colorado network to meet consumer demand, providing among the fastest, most reliable Internet speeds over its fiber-rich network, and one of the fastest in-home WiFi experiences. Comcast also offers Internet Essentials, the national’s largest and most comprehensive broadband adoption program, providing low-cost broadband service, digital literacy training and discounted computers. In the last 10 years, more than half a million people in Colorado have been connected through Internet Essentials. ### Media contact Leslie Oliver, Comcast Colorado Email: leslie_oliver@comcast.com Mobile: 303.810.6326 About Comcast Corporation Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company with three primary businesses: Comcast Cable, NBCUniversal, and Sky. Comcast Cable is one of the United States’ largest high-speed internet, video, and phone providers to residential customers under the Xfinity brand, and also provides these services to businesses. It also provides wireless and security and automation services to residential customers under the Xfinity brand. NBCUniversal is global and operates news, entertainment and sports cable networks, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, television production operations, television station groups, Universal Pictures, and Universal Parks and Resorts. Sky is one of Europe's leading media and entertainment companies, connecting customers to a broad range of video content through its pay television services. It also provides communications services, including residential high-speed internet, phone, and wireless services. Sky operates the Sky News broadcast network and sports and entertainment networks, produces original content, and has exclusive content rights. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information. Contact Details Leslie Oliver +1 303-810-6326 leslie_oliver@comcast.com Company Website https://colorado.comcast.com/

November 18, 2021 09:00 AM Mountain Standard Time

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International Association of Political Consultants Concludes Successful Conference

International Association of Political Consultants

The International Association of Political Consultants (IAPC) recently wrapped up its 54 th annual conference held virtually due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Attendees from across the world including Africa, Australia, Europe, North and South America discussed a wide variety of subjects focusing on elections and democracy. At the conclusion of the two-day conference, it presented the prestigious Democracy Award to imprisoned Russian democracy leader Alexei Navalny. “Despite it being a virtual conference, we were able to have informative and interesting presentations ranging from ‘Threats and Challenges to Democracy’ to ‘Campaigning in Africa’ to the ‘State of Political Polling’,” said Matt Klink, President-Elect of the IAPC. “The IAPC brings together leading political consultants to share thoughts, best practices and promote the democratic process.” Outgoing IAPC President Mauricio De Vengoechea added, “I want to thank Brent Buchanan and the conference organizers for putting on a splendid conference. I also want to thank our lead sponsor Banreservas and the many other firms that helped make this conference a success.” Among the keynote speakers were Guillermo Lasso, President of Ecuador, Raquel Pena, Vice President of the Dominican Republic, Jeff Roe, Virginia Governor Elect Glen Youngkin’s campaign consultant and Anita Dunn, Former Senior Advisor to US President Biden. Conference attendees also heard Celinda Lake, Dr. Reza Kazemi, Ekatrina Egorova, Nic Chessman and Dr. Tom Palmer. At the Conference’s conclusion, the membership elected a new Board of Directors and passed a series of resolutions. The next IAPC conference is set for London, England from November 13 to 16, 2022. Details will be forthcoming on the IAPC website. Founded in 1968, the IAPC brings together members at its annual meeting to exchange views and information about political developments and campaign techniques. Contact Details President - Elect IAPC Matt Klink +1 310-283-6267 matt@klinkcampaigns.com Communications VP - Elect IAPC Marcel Wieder +1 416-907-2126 marcel@aurorastrategy.com Company Website https://www.iapc.org

November 17, 2021 07:10 PM Eastern Standard Time

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First Ever Sizing Study Reveals 11.5 Million Americans Participate in the Creator Economy, Earning Money from Platforms Like YouTube, TikTok and Instagram

MBO Partners

A new study from ​ MBO Partners® shows that 2021 is the year of the creator. In the first-ever study of this segment, MBO Partners reveals that there are 11.5 million Americans in the creator economy and that 61%, or 7.1 million people, earned money the last year by doing so. This sector is poised for explosive growth, with another 3.2 million planning to become content creators over the next two years. This new Research Brief is being released in advance of MBO Partners’ 11 th annual State of Independence in America report, the country’s longest-running end-to-end study of the American independent workforce. As retailers harnessed technology to go direct-to-consumer (DTC), U.S. workers enacted their own version by selling their creative skills and talents directly to consumers and companies. The broader independent workforce grew to over 51 million in 2021, an unprecedented 34% growth in a single year. The growth of the creator economy subset mirrors this trend. The shift out of traditional occupations and into the creator economy has people like Wade Forbes pivoting their career paths. Forbes, an artist, and illustrator, spent 16 years working in cyber security and consulting with the DoD before jumping into the creator economy to pursue his lifelong passion of bringing concepts to life through his artwork. “I loved drawing as a kid but did not believe I could make a living as an artist,” Forbes said. “It is a dream to now be able to fulfill my passion while using the skills and expertise from across my entire career.” Technology news site The Information estimates that venture capital firms invested $2 billion in creator economy startups in the first half of 2021, and the venture capital firm Antler reports there are over 220 firms that cater to creators. This rapidly growing ecosystem of creator economy products and support services makes it easier, cheaper, less risky, and more attractive to become a successful content creator. “The Creator Economy validates the trend that more and more workers are realizing the freedom and wellbeing that comes from taking career control into their own hands,” said Miles Everson, CEO, MBO Partners. “Savvy organizations and politicians must realize the workforce of the future will be fueled by independent professional solo-entrepreneurs, choosing to design careers on their own terms. Creators are just one example of how the American workforce is changing at a rapid pace.” The report revealed several key insights about this fast-growing segment of the American workforce, including: Cash on the horizon. While 7.1 million are earning income in the creator economy, another 4.4 million are part of the segment but have not yet earned income. Diversity of talent. The creator economy skews young, with 75% of creators identifying as Gen Z or Millennial. The creators themselves are slightly more diverse than the American population at large, with 19% identifying as Black, compared to just 12% of the overall American population. Let’s collab. Creators are all about the collab with over half (55%) reporting that they are teaming up with other content creators on projects compared to only 21% of independent workers who aren’t content creators. Further, 36% of content creators have hired freelance contractors to help with their business, while only 14% of independent workers overall have done so. The struggle is real. The pressure to engage and reinvent are constant struggles for content creators, along with setting work/life boundaries. A third of all content creators (34%) report struggling with boundaries and burnout versus only 21% of independent workers. From punch the clock to TikTok. Almost six out of ten (59%) independent content creators are punching a clock at a traditional job. In fact, 46% have full-time jobs and 13% have a part-time job. The majority (63%) report working part-time as content creators, while 37% of income-earning digital content creators are doing it full-time. MBO Partners will release the full 2021 State of Independence study in December. To obtain a copy of the brief, please visit https://www.mbopartners.com/state-of-independence/​. About MBO Partners®​ MBO Partners is a deep job platform that connects and enables independent professionals and microbusiness owners to do business safely and effectively with enterprise organizations. Its unmatched experience and industry leadership enable it to operate on the forefront of the independent economy and consistently advance the next way of working. For more information, visit​ ​mbopartners.com​ Contact Details Words For Hire Karen Swim +1 586-461-2103 pr@mbopartners.com Company Website https://mbopartners.com

November 16, 2021 09:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Treliant Adds Cryptocurrency Advisor Michael Saxon to Expand Blockchain and Virtual Currency Services

Treliant

Michael Saxon has joined Treliant as Senior Director, to expand the firm’s blockchain and cryptocurrency advisory services. Michael regularly advises consultants and clients on blockchain technologies and virtual currencies, and he has led projects supporting many of the most prominent companies in the cryptocurrency market. “Business models built on blockchains and virtual currencies are proliferating in both mainstream financial services companies and disruptive FinTech startups—introducing unprecedented risk as well as opportunity,” said Treliant Managing Partner Ross Marrazzo. “Michael understands this emerging market like few others, and can help clients control critical issues in operations and strategy, compliance, and financial crimes mitigation.” “I’ve long been dedicated to helping founders and executives systematically build and grow their businesses by staying at the leading edge of new technologies,” Michael said. “The key is to embed innovations like cryptocurrency in proven leadership and business methodologies.” Michael’s consulting in the virtual currency market has focused on operations and compliance systems; processes mitigating anti-money laundering and sanctions risk; and compliance systems and regulatory matters. Past engagements include: serving as project manager and primary author for a crypto startup “go-to-market” compliance risk assessment, road map, and program development project; serving as Interim BSA Compliance Officer for a U.S.-based crypto on-ramp technology provider; and serving as team leader for a global digital currency exchange’s compliance initiative to mitigate customer anti-money laundering/Bank Secrecy Act (AML/BSA) risk. He has also advised crypto companies on customer and third-party disputes and litigation, and on state and federal regulatory engagement. He has trained executives and analysts on the emerging market. Michael is a retired U.S. Army officer and combat veteran who served on the faculty of the United States Military Academy at West Point for 10 years, culminating in his directing West Point’s ethics education program. He holds a BS from West Point and an MA and PhD from Indiana University. He also holds certifications in interorganizational planning and in organizational strategy. Treliant is a multi-industry consulting firm that serves organizations around the globe. Our firm serves financial institutions, consumer-oriented businesses, other corporations, and law firms. As a firm of leading professionals from industry and government, we assist our clients in navigating regulatory requirements and on best practices, while meeting strategic and operational objectives. We partner with clients as trusted advisors and via managed services including through secondments, interim resources, and other outsourcing strategies. Our advisory and assurance services and specialized, high-quality business solutions strengthen our clients’ corporate and regulatory compliance programs, risk management, and business performance. We also provide comprehensive support for corporate and regulatory investigations, litigation, and as government agency monitors and independent consultants. We serve companies from Main Street to Wall Street and across the globe. Contact Details Melissa Pazornik +1 202-249-7932 mpazornik@treliant.com Company Website https://www.treliant.com

November 15, 2021 10:30 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Customer Experience and Customer Engagement Market to Surpass $100 Billion in Annual Worldwide Revenue by 2026, According to Dash Research

Dash Network

Customer experience (CX) and customer engagement (CE) initiatives continue to be a major priority for organizations around the world, especially in light of the significant changes and disruptions to customer relationships that emerged as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a new report from Dash Research, this level of focus is leading to brisk growth in the market for CX/CE technology platforms. “While CX improvements are largely driven by organizational change management, software is increasingly being used to support these initiatives by managing and making available the plethora of customer data that is captured and aggregated from a variety of sources,” says principal analyst Keith Kirkpatrick. He adds that some of the key drivers of market growth include pandemic-related shutdowns and reopening, increased focus on omnichannel customer interaction capabilities, the rise of customer centricity, and the elimination of functional silos within organizations. Dash Research forecasts that global CX/CE revenue will increase from $63.6 billion in 2021 to $100.3 billion by 2026. The market size experienced a 13.5% decline between 2019 and 2020 due to economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, but spending has recovered in 2021 and is projected to reach 2019 levels again by the end of 2022. The market intelligence firm forecasts that the top 5 industries in terms of CX/CE spending between 2021 and 2026 will be as follows: Telecommunications Healthcare Financial Services & Insurance Retail Government/Public Sector Dash Research’s report, “CX Market Forecasts”, includes a detailed market sizing and forecast model that focuses on the business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) software and services opportunity related to CX and CE. The forecast is split into a variety of segments, based on the world region in which the solution is used, the offering itself, functional area, and industry. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the market drivers and barriers, and insights into four industries that are driving the market spending are discussed in the report, along with recommendations for both end users and vendors. An Executive Summary of the report is available for free download on the firm’s website. Dash Research, the market intelligence arm of Dash Network, provides in-depth research and insights on the worldwide CX market including a comprehensive assessment of technology solutions, business issues, market drivers, and end-user dynamics across industry sectors. Dash Research’s global market coverage combines qualitative and quantitative research methodologies to provide a complete view of emerging business opportunities surrounding contact center technologies, customer data & analytics, customer data platforms, customer insights & feedback, customer relationship management, personalization & optimization, and employee experience. For more information, visit www.dashresearch.com or call +1.720.603.1700. Contact Details Clint Wheelock +1 720-603-1700 press@dashnetwork.com Company Website http://www.dashnetwork.com

November 15, 2021 05:30 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Innovative Startup Develops Unique Method to Remove Plastics from our Oceans

Our Cleaner Planet

Our Cleaner Planet, a non-profit startup with an innovative technique to remove plastics from our oceans, announced today that it has successfully completed prototype testing of its first plastic harvester and is now ready to move forward with larger unit testing. The program is scheduled to launch the first of its full-sized, plastic harvesters into ocean operation in 2025. Pat Marshall, founder of Our Cleaner Planet, says that he and the development team are very encouraged by the results of the prototype tests. “The test parameters for our 1:164-scale prototype were set up to evaluate speed and control and the first stage of the filtration process,” he said. “We exceeded on all levels and we are excited to move on to our larger scale, test model.” The next step is a 1:12-scale unit that the team expects to start testing in early 2022. Marshall, an accomplished aerospace engineer and executive with many years of research and development experience in the aerospace sector, created Our Cleaner Planet with the mission to harvest plastics from our oceans by developing innovative, sustainable methods that leverage proven engineering to create a cleaner, healthier planet. Our Cleaner Planet has a patent-pending design that is focused not only on the larger, macroplastics, but also on the much smaller micro- and nanoplastics. This is an important distinction because many current cleanup efforts focus solely on the larger pieces of plastic leaving the smaller pieces to continue damaging the ocean ecosystem and our global environment. “The problem has become much more impactful than just the sheer mass of plastic now in our oceans. Plastic does not biodegrade. Instead, it breaks down into smaller pieces. These smaller pieces continue to get smaller and more toxic, creating a domino effect of damage extending from the fragile ecosystems in our oceans to our global environment and all the way up the food chain to human ingestion,” Marshall revealed. “Removing plastics from the oceans is only part of the solution to this problem, but it is the important first step that Our Cleaner Planet will take.” In its efforts to attack this wide-ranging plastic problem, Our Cleaner Planet’s system will include a large ship that utilizes an ocean-borne, plastic debris harvesting process. The process will not only remove the macro- and microplastics, but it will also introduce a unique method of removing nanoplastics down to 5 microns in size. The system will extend from surface level to a depth of 60 feet, allowing Our Cleaner Planet to remove the much smaller plastics more effectively and at much deeper levels of the ocean. The company expects to develop a fleet of ships with each vessel capable of removing up to 1000 metric tons of plastics from the oceans each year. Marshall explained that Our Cleaner Planet is targeting a net zero harvesting system. “Harvested plastics will be further processed into fuel onboard and each ship will be outfitted with CO 2 scrubbers. Ash will be the sole byproduct of the process and excess ash will be further utilized in other industries finally completing the lifecycle of the harvested plastic,” he said Our Cleaner Planet was founded as a non-profit organization in 2018, but Marshall has been working on the problem and his patent-pending solution for more than eight years. He has assembled a team of professionals with decades of experience piloting complex projects from research and development to commercial release. Marshall says this gives them an extra advantage in development and implementation. “Instead of rushing to the ocean with an unproven design, wasting crucial time and investment capital, my team and I have been adamant about proving our concept and testing the design before we went public,” he said. Marshall and his team are currently seeking funding and additional support and expect to launch Our Cleaner Planet’s first full-sized ship in early 2025. For more information on Our Cleaner Planet, the plastic pollution problem, or to find ways to support the program, please visit www.ourcleanerplanet.com. About Our Cleaner Planet Our Cleaner Planet is a non-profit organization on a mission to harvest plastics from our oceans by developing innovative, sustainable methods that leverage proven engineering to create a cleaner, healthier planet, and empower a truly circular economy through scalable and profitable solutions. Established in 2018, the company has an innovative method and patent-pending design to remove plastic from our oceans. Our Cleaner Planet has successfully tested its 1:164-scale prototype proving the efficiency and effectiveness of its design. It expects additional model demonstrations and tests in early 2022 and is scheduled to launch its first full-sized plastic harvester in early 2025. For more information on Our Cleaner Planet, the Plastic Problem, Our Cleaner Planet’s unique solution, or its development timeline, visit www.ourcleanerplanet.com. Contact Details Our Cleaner Planet Jeff Dronen +1 254-274-5333

November 11, 2021 09:00 AM Pacific Standard Time

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