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AmeriLife Announces Leadership Expansion for Life & Health Brokerage Division

AmeriLife

AmeriLife Group, LLC (“AmeriLife”), a national leader in developing, marketing, and distributing annuity, life, and health insurance solutions, today announced an expansion to its Life & Health Brokerage Division leadership amidst record-pacing growth and increased strategic integration between AmeriLife and its nationwide distribution. The appointments, as follows, were announced by Scotty Elliott, president of AmeriLife’s Life & Health Brokerage Division: Matt Graham, most recently Vice President, Managed Care Solutions, has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Life & Health Operations & Managed Care Solutions. In this newly created role, Graham will provide operational leadership to help the division achieve its overarching productivity and financial goals. He will also work closely with the heads of all product lines to construct and deliver a value-laden platform for agents and advisors to grow their businesses. Graham joined AmeriLife in 2005 and has enjoyed an accomplished career with the organization. He started as a marketer with Medicare Advantage Services and has held a number of other roles with the company, including overseeing operations at Midwestern Marketing, an AmeriLife affiliate. Graham has been a champion for the company’s Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) initiatives and direct-to-consumer projects. Graham graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Edith Cowan University. Eric Brennan and Bryan Keevan have both been named Vice President, Life & Health. In these roles, they will each oversee a portfolio of division affiliates and provide strategic direction to help them achieve top- and bottom-line financial objectives. Additionally, they will help their portfolio firms develop and optimize synergies between them and AmeriLife; build and cultivate an operational foundation for a multisolutions approach for their advisors; and assist with long-term integration and succession planning. Prior to AmeriLife, Brennan was president and CEO of AmeriLife affiliate Equita Health Care and an owner and board member of The Equita Group, a leading national Field Marketing Organization (FMO) in the life and health insurance distribution market with more than 10,000 agents serving over 30,000 clients. Brennan began his career in business consulting with Accenture before joining The Equita Group in 2003 and has since served in increasingly senior leadership roles, including launching Equita Financial Expense Services in 2005. Brennan graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Information Systems from the University of Texas, Dallas. Keeven, who has more than 25 years of experience in the insurance and Medicare industry, most recently served as Vice President, Managed Care Sales, overseeing the online agent and marketer platform YourMedicare.com. Prior to AmeriLife, he was National Vice President of Sales for Medicare & Marketplace for Molina Healthcare. Previous to that role, served in senior leadership roles with Bloom Insurance Agency, Aetna and Coventry Health Care. Keeven is a licensed insurance agent and holds a bachelor’s degree in Health/Health Care Administration/Management from Southeast Missouri State University and an MBA from Lindenwood University. "To say I’m thrilled for these appointments is an understatement,” said Elliott. “Matt and Bryan’s promotions and Eric’s hiring are a testament to the incredible growth — and opportunities that lie ahead — for AmeriLife’s Life & Health Brokerage Division. I know I speak for our partners across our distribution when I say that we’re excited to get down to work with our new leadership bench and build on the tremendous momentum we achieved in 2021.” ### About AmeriLife AmeriLife’s strength is its mission: to provide financial 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 national distribution network of over 300,000 agents and advisors, more than 40 marketing organizations, and 50 agency locations. For more information, visit AmeriLife.com, and follow AmeriLife on Facebook and LinkedIn. Contact Details AmeriLife Jeff Maldonado +1 321-297-1112 jmaldonado@amerilife.com Company Website https://amerilife.com/

January 19, 2022 10:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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FROM THE STOCK ROOM TO THE BOARD ROOM: HIGHER PAY ON THE WAY

Total Compensation Solutions

As a result of projected inflation, increasing interest rates, and a COVID-19 Pandemic economy, compensation shifts are happening up and down the corporate ladder as well as in The Board Room. And, the insurance and energy industries are leading the way. According to the 2022 Total Compensation Solutions (TCS)' Board of Directors Compensation Report, payment methods are also shifting towards a combination of both stock and annual retainers, with Board Chair and Lead Director, among other Board positions, seeing dramatic increases. The 16 th annual edition of the TCS Board of Directors Compensation Report, provides in-depth analytics on compensation, incorporating proxy data from 2,283 public companies across 12 industry sectors, representing revenue groups from $50 million to over $1 Billion. The report also provides industry breakdowns (i.e., insurance, energy, health care, media, telecommunications, banking, etc.) and geographical breakdowns to reflect regional economies. Board of Directors’ pay elements include annual retainer, meeting fees, stock awards, stock options, committee retainers and meeting fees. Findings reveal: Most companies (74%) in this report pay some form of stock compensation to their Board members. Seventeen percent (17%) of the companies in this report give initial stock grants to new Board members. Seventy-seven percent (77%) use annual retainers to compensate Board members. Only three percent (3%) of companies in the report use per meeting fees exclusively. Fifty-six percent (56%) of companies reported having stock ownership guidelines for Board members. Chairman, Lead Director Regular Board Member Positions Highest Paid Sectors: Insurance, Energy and Tech Overall, compensation for Regular Board Members increased by 8.1% over the last three years. The Insurance Industry has the highest total cash compensation and equity pay for Board Chair with an increase of 18.1% over the last three years. The Insurance industry has the highest average annual retainer for Regular Board members with an increase of 10.1% over the last three years. The Energy industry has the highest average retainer for Lead Directors with compensation increasing 47.7% over the last three years. The Technology industry has the highest average total cash compensation and equity for Regular Board Members with an increase of 19.0% over the past three years. The members of the Audit Committee have the highest total cash compensation of any committee. With Projected Growth, Comes Projected Scrutiny” – Proxy Advisory Firms Play Larger Role “Our data validates what we expected to see given the inflationary environment and economic variables resulting from a Pandemic economy. What surprised us was the major shifts in the three leading sectors, insurance, energy, and tech.” says Paul Gavejian, Managing Director of TCS. “We’ve been tracking Board data for over 20 years now, and the years of flat payments seem to be over”. Tom Bailey, Principal Consultant on Board advisory matters point out. “With these increases come the need for caution. When those in the Board Room get paid more, there should be an expectation of increased scrutiny.” Governance surrounding Board compensation will become even more critical in the future and, he notes ”proxy advisory firms started to address excessive compensation paid to non-employee directors in 2020. One of these watchdogs instituted a policy to identify boards that pay members at the top 2% of their index and sector and identified these payers as outliers and potentially problematic.” The 2022 Board of Directors Compensation Report, a leading source of Board compensation trends, and it also reveals data on other Board room issues, including board governance and function, sustainability and societal shifts (ESG), and Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI), among over 2,200 public companies in diverse industry sectors, geographical regions, and revenue size groups. For more information on these trends, or to purchase a copy of the study please contact Tom Bailey at tbailey@total-comp.com. For more information on TCS visit the web site at www.total-comp.com. Total Compensation Solutions is a compensation consulting firm specializing in Executive Compensation and Board of Directors Compensation. Contact Details Total Compensation Solutions Tom Bailey +1 914-255-8725 Tbailey@total-comp.com Company Website http://www.total-comp.com/

January 18, 2022 02:00 PM Eastern Standard Time

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Velocity Global Named Official Global Work Platform of the LPGA and LET

Velocity Global

The LPGA announced today that Velocity Global, the leading provider of global expansion solutions, has been named the Official Global Work Platform of the LPGA and Ladies European Tour (LET) in a multi-year agreement. Velocity Global will work with the LPGA Tour and LET to highlight the global impact of their players, representing more than 60 countries, through enhanced storytelling opportunities and player recognition. “This partnership highlights that global talent pushes greater competition,” said Rob Wellner, Velocity Global Chief Revenue Officer. “Golf is truly a global sport and to achieve success, you must perform against anyone, anywhere. We’re proud to partner with the LPGA and LET to support the game’s global players just as our Global Work Platform supports talent and businesses around the world.” The partnership introduces the Velocity Global Impact Award, celebrating players who have helped to grow the sport of golf and inspire the next generation of athletes through their actions. More details on the Velocity Global Impact Award, including the structure of the 2022 nominations, will be shared in the coming months. “We’re excited to welcome Velocity Global to the LPGA Partner family and create this Impact Award to showcase our players outside the ropes,” said the LPGA’s Chief Sales Officer Kelly Hyne. “As a like-minded global business, Velocity Global will help illustrate the impact our players make in the game of golf and in their home countries. We look forward to many years of collaboration.” The LET will utilize the Global Work Platform from Velocity Global to simplify compliance, benefits and payroll for their talent to deliver tour events in 25 countries across multiple continents this year. “We are delighted to partner with Velocity Global to utilize their world-class expansion and talent solutions to help accelerate the growth of our business and international footprint,” said LET CEO Alexandra Armas. “We fully embrace this opportunity to best service our players and continue growing the game globally.” Additionally, as an Official Partner of the LPGA’s Women’s Network, Velocity Global will utilize the LPGA platform to highlight those initiatives internally focused around women’s leadership, diversity, equity, and inclusion through additional programming. Velocity Global furthered its support of the women’s game with the recent announcement that LPGA Tour players Lexi Thompson and Albane Valenzuela joined six-time PGA TOUR champion Billy Horschel and four-time APGA Tour champion Kevin Hall as its global golf brand ambassadors. 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. About the LPGA The LPGA is the world’s leading professional golf organization for women, with a goal to change the face of golf by making the sport more accessible and inclusive. Created in 1950 by 13 Founders, the Association celebrates a diverse and storied history. The LPGA Tour competes across the globe, reaching television audiences in more than 220 countries. The Symetra Tour, the LPGA’s official qualifying tour, consistently produces a pipeline of talent ready for the world stage. The LPGA also holds a joint-venture collaboration with the Ladies European Tour (LET), increasing playing opportunities for female golfers in Europe. Across the three Tours, the LPGA represents players in more than 60 countries. Additionally, the LPGA Foundation has empowered and supported girls and women since 1991, most notably through LPGA*USGA Girls Golf, the only national program of its kind, which annually engages with nearly 100,000 girls. The LPGA Amateur Golf Association and LPGA Women’s Network provide virtual and in-person connections to female golfers around the world, while LPGA Professionals are educators, business leaders and gamechangers dedicated to growing the game of golf for everyone. Follow the LPGA on its U.S. television home, Golf Channel, online at www.LPGA.com and on its mobile apps. Join the social conversation on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. About the LET The LET inspires women and girls to pursue their passion and realise their potential through the game of golf. At our core, we aim to build and deliver an extensive competitive schedule of events to enable our strong, energetic, proud, and confident players to compete at the highest level, pursue their dreams and lead by example. Our diverse and multicultural membership of 316 professional golfers represents as many as 36 countries. We are a global tour with roots in Europe. We aim to entertain and excite, but also to enhance health and quality of life, as a responsible, committed and respectful partner. Inspiring – our players are inspiring role models to follow and encourage others to pursue their own dreams. Passionate – we are driven by a passion to perform to our full potential and get better every day. It’s not just about the money or the glory, but a true love for the game. Committed – we are fiercely committed to continuous improvement and recognise the grit that it takes to achieve long-term goals. 2022 marks the 44th season of golf tournaments since the professional tour was founded in 1978 and the third edition of the Race to Costa Del Sol. This year’s schedule includes 31 events in 21 different countries and a record-breaking prize fund of €24.5 million. The LET Access Series is the official development tour of the LET, formed to give players an opportunity to compete and progress onto the LET and achieve their dreams in professional golf. Ladieseuropeantour.com #RaiseOurGame Contact Details Velocity Global John Hall +1 720-650-4348 news@velocityglobal.com LPGA Christina Lance christina.lance@lpga.com LET Bethan Jones bethan.jones@ladieseuropeantour.com Company Website https://velocityglobal.com/

January 18, 2022 07:01 AM Mountain Standard Time

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Osmo From BYJU’s Names Peter Glovin Senior Vice President of Educational Sales

Osmo for Schools

Award-winning STEAM brand, Osmo from BYJU’S, announces Peter Glovin’s appointment as Senior VP of Educational Sales, effective immediately. In this role, Glovin, a seasoned senior edtech sales executive, will develop and implement a U.S. sales strategy for the brand’s educational sales division, Osmo Education, as well as expand its sales team, targeting the Pre-K to Grade 5 education market. Osmo Education celebrated its fifth anniversary last March. “Peter’s proven background in edtech sales and business development will undoubtedly help open doors for Osmo in the education field,” says Cherian Thomas, Senior Vice President of International Business at Osmo from BYJU’S. “While we’ve seen tremendous support from kindergarten and elementary teachers in the past five years who individually purchased Osmo to use inside classrooms across the country, we’d love to build sales and begin support for the education community at the district level.” Glovin’s remarkable track record of success and longevity in sales is defined by his expertise in creating and implementing innovative sales programs, and providing targeted solutions for high-level customers. He was previously Senior Vice President of Sales at MIDAS Education where he led sales efforts for K-12, Higher Ed and Workforce development markets. “I see enormous growth potential for Osmo in the education market,” says Glovin. “The combination of tactile exploration and innovative technology is a powerful package that will help transform the way students learn while in school, and I’m energized by the shared vision that its learning system will be used by many more school kids in the near term, in addition to the focus and dedication of the team leading Osmo. I’m very excited to be part of the worldwide growth of BYJU’S.” Prior to MIDAS Education, Glovin was Vice President of District Relations at BrainPOP, where he led sales efforts for the K-12 supplemental content segment, increasing sales 500% between 2008 and 2019, and helping to expand the company’s domestic K-12 market share to 35%, plus building presence in key states like Texas, New York, Florida, Georgia, Virginia, and California. He was also closely involved in STEM-related product launches and liaising with industry advocacy groups. Before BrainPOP, Glovin held a number of business development roles for educational technology companies. In his early career, he held marketing roles with a number of media and publishing companies. Glovin has a B.A. from Hobart College. About Osmo from BYJU’S Osmo is an award-winning STEAM brand, wholly owned by BYJU’S, the leading global edtech company. Osmo from BYJU’s and Osmo Education products are used in over 2.5 million homes and 50,000 classrooms, respectively. Osmo builds a universe of hands-on, curriculum-based learning experiences that nourish the minds of children by unleashing the power of imagination. The brand brings physical tools into the digital world through augmented reality and its proprietary reflective artificial intelligence. Learn more at PlayOsmo.com and Osmo Education. Contact Details Osmo Lisa Fujioka lisa@tangibleplay.com Company Website http://schools.playosmo.com

January 18, 2022 05:00 AM Pacific Standard Time

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FeganScott Announces Investigation into Equity LifeStyle Properties for Widespread, Chronic Neglect of Mobile Home Properties across U.S.

FeganScott

Today consumer-rights law firm FeganScott announced it is broadening its investigation of Equity LifeStyle Properties (ELS) (NYSE:ELS) to include other mobile home properties owned and operated by ELS across 33 states. FeganScott filed a class-action lawsuit earlier this month in the Southern District of Florida, alleging that ELS and the operator of the Heritage Plantation mobile home park in Vero Beach, a subsidiary of ELS, have failed to maintain the park’s stormwater drainage system, leaving residents to deal with frequent flooding, mud, slip and fall injuries, and damaged mobile homes and cars, in dereliction of their duties as mobile home park operators and owners. “Since we filed our complaint on behalf of the residents in Vero Beach, we’ve learned that this might not be an issue limited to this one property but could be a systemic issue with ELS properties across the state of Florida and in other states as well,” said Elizabeth Fegan, founding partner and managing member of FeganScott and lead attorney representing the residents. In the Florida lawsuit, homeowners claim they have had to pay to replace flooring that is persistently damaged by the three-feet high floodwaters that occur after normal rainfall. In addition to the stress of frequent household damages, residents risk injuries caused by muddy accumulations and face health risks caused by mold growth caused by the flood waters. “Heritage Plantation, like many of ELS’ properties, is an age-qualified community, meaning its residents are over the age of 55. Many of those residents are on a fixed incomes and because mobile homes cannot easily be moved, cannot relocate to another mobile home park and so are trapped by ELS’s neglect,” Fegan added. “As we noted in our complaint, we contend that ELS has made the decision to forego necessary infrastructure investments in efforts to increase profits at the expense of residents’ safety and wellbeing and believe this extends to other ELS properties.” FeganScott urges residents and homeowners who live in properties managed by ELS to learn more about their rights by contacting the firm at heritage@feganscott.com. ### About FeganScott FeganScott is a national class action law firm dedicated to helping victims of consumer fraud, sexual abuse, and discrimination. The firm is championed by acclaimed veteran, class action attorneys who have successfully recovered $1 billion for victims nationwide. FeganScott is committed to pursuing successful outcomes with integrity and excellence while holding the responsible parties accountable. Media Only: Mark Firmani feganscottpr@firmani.com 206.466.2700 Case: 8:20-cv-01584 About FeganScott FeganScott is a national class action law firm dedicated to helping victims of civil rights violations, sexual abuse, sexual harassment, and consumer fraud. The firm is championed by acclaimed veteran, class action attorneys who have successfully recovered $1 billion for victims nationwide. FeganScott is committed to pursuing successful outcomes with integrity and excellence while holding the responsible parties accountable. Contact Details Mark Firmani +1 206-466-2700 feganscottpr@firmani.com Company Website https://feganscott.com

January 17, 2022 09:35 AM Pacific Standard Time

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FeganScott Announces Investigation into Prenatal Testing Options Revealing Flawed Genetic Results

FeganScott

Today consumer-rights law firm FeganScott announced it has launched a broad-ranging investigation into whether certain national medical laboratories, including Natera (NASDAQ:NTRA), Sequenom (now owned byLabcorp, NYSE: LH), and Quest (NYSE: DGX), provided expectant mothers with lab test results the organizations knew – or should have known – returned unacceptably high percentages of flawed results. In some instances, the flawed results led expectant mothers to believe the children they were carrying had serious genetic abnormalities, according to media reports. “Since we’ve begun our investigation into mothers who were offered prenatal testing and received flawed results, it’s evident this issue is widespread,” said Beth Fegan, founder of FeganScott. “We are examining whether the labs acted appropriately in how they disclosed information regarding the accuracy of the testing, and whether those disclosures were done in a way that allowed parents to make informed decisions regarding the test and test results.” According to media reports, many prenatal tests including Panorama, Prequel, Maternit21 and others are expected to be wrong over half the time and yet they continue to be offered as possible solutions for parents who may be worried about genetic abnormalities. “There a have been other instances in which labs and laboratory testing organizations have delivered flawed results to parents causing great emotional and financial distress. We need to be sure this isn’t happening again,” Fegan added. Individuals who are interested in learning more about this investigation are urged to send their contact information to prenataltesting@feganscott.com. ### About FeganScott FeganScott is a national class action law firm dedicated to helping victims of consumer fraud, sexual abuse, and discrimination. The firm is championed by acclaimed veteran, class action attorneys who have successfully recovered $1 billion for victims nationwide. FeganScott is committed to pursuing successful outcomes with integrity and excellence while holding the responsible parties accountable. Media Only: Mark Firmani feganscottpr@firmani.com 206.466.2700 About FeganScott FeganScott is a national class action law firm dedicated to helping victims of civil rights violations, sexual abuse, sexual harassment, and consumer fraud. The firm is championed by acclaimed veteran, class action attorneys who have successfully recovered $1 billion for victims nationwide. FeganScott is committed to pursuing successful outcomes with integrity and excellence while holding the responsible parties accountable. Contact Details Mark Firmani +1 206-466-2700 feganscottpr@firmani.com Company Website https://feganscott.com

January 17, 2022 09:07 AM Pacific Standard Time

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ACCOUNT HOLDERS AT DONORSTRUST SET ASIDE MORE THAN $1 BILLION FOR CHARITY IN 2021

Donors Trust

The team at DonorsTrust, a donor-advised fund (DAF) provider committed to encouraging philanthropic giving and protecting donor intent, today announced that accountholder contributions made in 2021 more than doubled from 2020 to exceed $1 billion dollars. This significant milestone demonstrates the continued generosity of existing accountholders and new philanthropists choosing to open or transfer accounts to DonorsTrust. Most importantly, by contributing such funds to a donor-advised fund, it ensures these individual funds can only be used for philanthropic purposes that benefit an operating charity. “The philanthropic spirit is alive and well as donors increase giving, give more strategically and more frequently,” stated Lawson Bader CEO of DonorsTrust. “Donor-advised funds remain the fastest growing charitable vehicle in the country to centralize and simplify giving. We are excited to provide these critical services to philanthropists at a time when charitable organizations need it most.” In addition to the more than $1 billion in contributions flowing into DonorsTrust accounts during 2021, grant recommendations from accountholders (essentially, a donation made from a DAF to a charity) are also on a record-breaking pace. On Giving Tuesday (November 30), DonorsTrust announced it was on track to exceed 2020 grants to nonprofit organizations – both in amount and total grants. In 2019, DonorsTrust accountholders recommended $163 million in grants to 751 charities in nearly every U.S. state, representing an increase of 12% in grant recommendations compared to2018. In 2020, DonorsTrust paid out more than $186 million to charitable causes. With the expected surge in additional giving around the holidays and year-end, the amount in 2021 would break records again. December 2021 was the busiest month on record for grant-making in DonorsTrust’s twenty-plus year history with 2,905 total grants. Grants were up nearly 20% in 2021 over the previous year. In a recent Giving Ventures Podcast interview Bader stated that, “…We push donor-advised funds in general because they really are for anybody. They’re not just for trillionaire, millionaire, billionaires. It’s for anybody, and I’m encouraged by the growth of donor-advised funds across the entire industry these last many years…” “While we are pleased with so many new accounts and an influx of contributions into those accounts, we are even more excited that our payout rates are among the highest in the industry,” Bader said. “Our account holders are focused on addressing issues now and are active givers to organizations that need it most in these critical times.” “In previous years, DonorsTrust account holders requested more money to be dispersed from their DAFs than they contributed into the account,” Bader explains “New accounts are generating more money going into DonorsTrust for future donations, which will surely be utilized quickly. It is a great way to start the New Year, especially considering our account holders are active, not idle.” ### To learn more DAFs and DonorsTrust, please visit http://www.donorstrust.org and listen to the Giving Ventures Podcast here: https://www.donorstrust.org/podcast/. Established in 1999 as a 501(c)(3) public charity, DonorsTrust is a community of donors devoted to creating a better future. Our donors support charities they believe protect our Nation’s constitutional liberties and strengthen civil society through private institutions rather than with government programs. Our boutique size lets us offer our donors personal attention and advice that helps them achieve their philanthropic goals. We ensure that our donors’ intentions are protected and offer them a simple, effective and tax-advantaged way to give. Since inception, DonorsTrust has granted out over $1.6 billion to over 4,000 charities that protect our constitutional liberties and strengthen civil society without government funding. Contact Details kglobal Dan Rene +1 202-329-8357 daniel.rene@kglobal.com Company Website https://www.donorstrust.org/

January 13, 2022 01:56 PM Eastern Standard Time

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Surety Industry Launches Contractor Bonding Education & Mentoring Program

SFAA

The Surety & Fidelity Association of America (SFAA) and the National Association of Surety Bond Producers (NASBP) are pleased to announce they have jointly developed and launched the surety industry’s new Contractor Bonding Education & Mentoring Program. This free program helps small, new, emerging, minority-owned and other disadvantaged contractors learn how to qualify for construction surety bonds, thereby expanding their business opportunities and providing the services and benefits of these bonds. The Contractor Bonding Education & Mentoring Program includes two components: a set of eLearning modules available online 24/7, which can be taken on demand at the learner’s pace, and an optional mentor program with industry professionals who can provide practical advice and recommendations for the mentee to follow in their efforts to achieve bonding. “The surety industry has a longstanding commitment to providing resources and programs to new and emerging minority contractors. The Contractor Bonding Education & Mentoring Program was specifically designed by industry experts to provide the education needed to understand the bond qualification process,” said Lee Covington, president and CEO of SFAA. “By combining the modernized eLearning platform with a mentoring component, minority, and other contractors now have the opportunity to learn firsthand from professionals inside the industry, gaining valuable insight into the bonding qualification process to expand their business opportunities.” “Many small construction businesses simply are unaware of the value that surety relationships can bring to their business,” related Mark McCallum, CEO of NASBP. “This state-of-the-art educational program conveys those advantages and empowers them with knowledge.” SFAA and NASBP have been joined by several leading construction trade associations to spread awareness of the new educational opportunity including the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), and the National Association of Minority Contractors (NAMC). “We look forward to making this program available to our AGC members, specifically underserved or disadvantaged contractors,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, chief executive officer of the Associated General Contractors of America. “It provides a great foundation on the bonding application and qualification process and will help these contractors expand into new markets.” “The new Contractor Bonding Education & Mentoring Program is a valuable resource for underrepresented contractors,” said Michael Bellaman, president and CEO of Associated Building and Contractors. “The mentoring component is a critical piece, as these contractors can utilize the experience and expertise of professionals in the surety industry to gain practical knowledge about qualifying for a bond.” For more information about the Contractor Bonding Education & Mentoring Program, or to register, visit www.contractorbondinged.org. ### The Surety & Fidelity Association of America (SFAA) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan trade association representing all segments of the surety and fidelity industry. Based in Washington, D.C., SFAA works to promote the value of surety and fidelity bonding by proactively advocating on behalf of its members and stakeholders. The association’s more than 425 member companies write 98 percent of surety and fidelity bonds in the U.S. For more information visit www.surety.org. Founded in 1942, the National Association of Surety Bond Producers (NASBP) is the association of and resource for surety bond producers and allied professionals. NASBP members specialize in providing surety bonds for construction contracts and other purposes to companies and individuals needing the assurance offered by surety bonds. https://www.nasbp.org Contact Details SFAA Peter Roth - Vice President – Strategic Communications, Marketing & Research +1 703-401-0676 proth@surety.org Company Website https://surety.org/

January 13, 2022 09:55 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Velocity Global and Icelantic’s Winter on the Rocks gives respite and relief to Marshall Fire victims

Velocity Global

$30,000 donation to relief fund VIP tickets to Red Rocks for those affected by the fire Velocity Global has partnered with Icelantic’s Winter on the Rocks to donate $30,0000 to the Boulder County Wildfire Fund to assist with recovery from the Marshall Fire, as well as a special VIP Red Rocks experience for those affected by the worst wildfire in Colorado history. “Our hearts go out to our neighbors who lost all of their possessions and precious life in the blink of an eye,” said Ben Wright, Velocity Global founder and CEO. “Money helps in times like this, but so does a brief escape from the realities of recovery. We chatted with our partners at Icelantic’s Winter on the Rocks to find a way to provide that getaway, even for just a night at Red Rocks.” Denver-based Velocity Global, the leading platform for global talent solutions, is a presenting sponsor of Icelantic’s Winter on the Rocks, a partnership between Icelantic Skis, The Pinecone Project, and AEG Presents Rocky Mountain. The group is donating VIP tickets to those affected by the Marshall Fire. “Music and community can help heal and we’re thrilled to be in a position to offer both to those impacted by this tragedy,” said Sam Warren, director and founder of Winter on the Rocks. “We’re asking anyone who knows someone affected to let us know and we’ll give them a night at Red Rocks.” The only winter concert at Red Rocks is celebrating its 10-year anniversary this year with Diplo, Sofi Tukker, Talib Kweli, DJ Matt Cassidy, and JACOBY on January 28th. Velocity Global will distribute tickets to those affected through its social media accounts on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram starting today. 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/

January 13, 2022 07:01 AM Mountain Standard Time

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