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The National Anti-Corruption Commission in Thailand (NACC) noted Private sector must have clear details of bribery-prone activities

Integrity Way

BANGKOK THAILAND - Media OutReach - 28 April 2023 - The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) encourages the private sector not to offer bribes to government officers and advises them to impose internal measures to control bribery risks. NACC Secretary-General Niwatchai Kasemmongkol said bribery was a national problem and there were cases in which bribes were offered for business benefits across borders, affecting the country's credibility and efficiency of budgetary spending. The NACC, therefore, promoted good governance in the public sector to create the "No Gift" culture, he said. NACC has set up Anti-Bribery Advisory Service (ABAS) Center to provide knowledge and guidelines to the private sector concerning the laws on offering bribes to government officials and to have appropriate measures to prevent bribery. This will lead business to be transparent operations with good governance and sustainable growth. In addition, NACC also has rules for prosecuting private sector firms involved in bribing government officials and those working in international agencies. The rules have been issued to make private sector firms aware that they could be prosecuted if they are involved in corruption. Mr. Niwatchai stated further that bribery should be prevented at both ends – the private sector or the bribe giver and government officers or the bribe taker. Those who offered bribe to government officers were subject to penalty under Section 176 of the Anti-Corruption Act B.E. 2561. Juristic persons who bribed government officers would face large fines, said the Secretary-General. The NACC encourages juristic persons susceptible to public bribery to clearly identify their expenses for government agencies and impose measures to inspect these expenses. According to the NACC Act, the value of the gift given to government officers must not exceed 3,000 baht. The Secretary-General warned that juristic persons or businesses should not pay commissions to government officers for whatever reason to avoid risking breaking anti-bribery laws. The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) is a constitutional independent organization and supervised by nine commissioners selected from various professions. It is authorised to undertake work on the prevention and suppression of malfeasance, particularly in government agencies, on assets investigations, as well as on the monitoring of ethics and virtues of political position holders. It has the authority to file charges in court as well as support and build up awareness of the penalties for committing corruption. The NACC is supervised by the NACC Board and has the Office of the NACC as its administrative agency. Since 1997, Thai Courts have ruled against and punished politicians, former ministers, high-ranking government officials as well as executives of the private sector in the thousands of cases submitted by the NACC. Contact Details Media Contact The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) webmaster@nacc.go.th

April 28, 2023 11:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

AmeriLife’s LeadStar Announces Latest Platform Enhancement Backed by RGI Solutions, Combining Best-in-Class Leads Platform with Enterprise-Wide Direct Mail Leads Solution

AmeriLife

LeadStar, the proprietary, private leads platform created with and exclusively for AmeriLife -affiliated agents, announced today that it has partnered with data-driven business solutions company RGI Solutions to develop LeadStar Direct, the latest enhancement to LeadStar that will sit alongside its Marketplace platform and deliver agents fully compliant direct mail lead campaigns and a CRM solution. LeadStar Direct, which is slated to be launched later this summer, will initially allow agents to seamlessly order Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement and Final Expense lead mailers that are tested, fully compliant, and have 100 percent data availability with no territorial blackouts – all in one central location and without having to juggle multiple leads vendors. Leveraging the proven success of RGI Solutions, all lead cards in LeadStar Direct will be continuously tested and optimized to generate the performance required to deliver more sales at a lower cost for agents. Additionally, agents using LeadStar Direct will have access to award-winning customer support should they need it. This support, alongside LeadStar Marketplace’s seamless onboarding for real-time data leads and both inbound and warm-transfer customer calls, will provide agents with the tools they need to start selling quickly and confidently on all channels. “Our agents spoke and we listened, and with both cost and compliance being top of mind today, LeadStar Direct is coming online at the perfect time,” said William DeCourcy, senior vice president of Growth Marketing and Customer Acquisition for AmeriLife and founder of LeadStar. “We’re excited to deliver premier direct mail lead options to agents, through an Amazon-like storefront, which includes competitive pricing, worry-free compliance, and a best-in-class user experience that is the hallmark of the LeadStar platforms.” “We’re thrilled to join forces with LeadStar and AmeriLife to bring this much-needed program to market,” added Nathan Addesa, president of RGI Solutions. “RGI has been longtime partners with a number of AmeriLife’s affiliated companies. This enterprise partnership will drive end-to-end efficiencies and total compliance for everyone in the AmeriLife network.” Launched in October 2022 in partnership with Fluent and SalesRiver (formerly known as Leadrilla), LeadStar Marketplace delivers exclusive, real-time leads as well as inbound and warm-transfer calls – directly to field agents – at the industry’s best prices. With the ability to customize lead volume and types against individual agents’ needs, LeadStar Marketplace empowers agents with unmatched flexibility, reliability and performance to accelerate their sales and grow their businesses. Now, together with LeadStar Direct, agents will have access to one of the best one-stop-shop lead solutions in the market today. “The launch of LeadStar and LeadStar Marketplace was a major milestone not only for AmeriLife’s affiliated agents, but the industry as well,” said Ovi Vitas, Chief Marketing Officer for AmeriLife. “LeadStar Direct is yet another reminder to our partners that we remain laser focused on their needs, working tirelessly to deliver tools and technology that will truly move the needle for the growth of their business.” ### About RGI Solutions With over 40 years of experience, RGI Solutions has helped thousands of clients in the insurance industry. RGI’s focus is to help clients grow their top line revenue. Our innovative cost per lead program generates consistent flows of direct mail leads to agents, carriers and marketing organizations. RGI also helps companies grow thought its Agent Boost solution. This recruitment program cost effectively sources highly qualified agents for our clients. For more information, visit us at RGIDA.com. 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 advisors and 120 marketing organizations and insurance agency locations nationwide. For more information, visit AmeriLife.com, and follow AmeriLife on Facebook and LinkedIn. Contact Details Media Jeff Maldonado +1 321-297-1112 jmaldonado@amerilife.com Partnership Inquiries Patrick Nichols +1 727-726-0726 pnichols@amerilife.com Company Website https://amerilife.com/

April 26, 2023 01:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time

How AmeriLife is Unlocking the Power of Data to Drive Increased, Accelerated Growth

AmeriLife

If the fervor around ChatGPT and similar emerging technologies have taught us anything, it’s that technology is only as good as the data upon which it’s built – and the real, business-driving insights it can generate. Over the past two years, AmeriLife’s Enterprise Data & Analytics team has been assembling an industry-leading group of data scientists and business strategists who are working to fundamentally change the game for predictive analytics in insurance distribution. Leveraging the latest in machine learning and predictive modeling, the team’s efforts culminated late last year with the launch of Atlas for the 2023 Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP). Atlas is a best-in-class data platform that leverages proprietary internal and third-party external data to predict the most popular Medicare Advantage plans down to the county level, allowing AmeriLife affiliates to identify coverage gaps in their areas, build more performative and sustainable sales and marketing strategies, as well as support agent recruitment and carrier relations. “The incredible potential of a platform such as Atlas demands an intentional approach that brings together the right people, data and technology at the right time, all combined with continuous feedback we receive from our distribution partners,” said Tim Calvert, Chief Operating Officer for AmeriLife. “The success of Atlas proved that a true, cutting-edge data platform requires more than a ‘field of dreams’ strategy; it’s about delivering a bespoke experience with real value to our partners whose insights can also benefit all of our companies collectively.” “Data and our data scientists are at the core of Atlas. THL partnered with Tim, Mark Springett, and their team, along with our Chief Architect, Jagjit Singh, to create a model that drives insights across the full value chain, driving benefits previously unavailable,” added Mark Benaquista, Managing Director in THL’s Strategic Resource Group. “In its inaugural year, we have seen the impact and are excited for the next set of advancements.” As the team looks ahead to balance of 2023, it anticipates a number of new enhancements, dashboard expansions, and other forecasting tools will be added to its solutions suite for agency owners, marketers and agents to optimize their sales and marketing activities and grow their client bases. Most critically, though, will be the continued expansion of its proprietary dataset, which will arguably be the industry’s most comprehensive dataset of both proprietary internal and external third-party data for an unparalleled view of the evolving Medicare market. “Partnering with our agents, advisors and marketers, along with leveraging data, technology and data science, has allowed us – in a short amount of time – to provide the highest level of actionable insights to help them grow and sustain their businesses,” said Mark Springett, senior vice president of Enterprise Data & Analytics for AmeriLife. “We’ve only begun to scratch the surface of the transformative impact of these insights, and look forward to rolling out more resources in the coming months." ### 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 advisors and 120 marketing organizations and insurance agency locations nationwide. For more information, visit AmeriLife.com, and follow AmeriLife on Facebook and LinkedIn. Contact Details Media Jeff Maldonado +1 321-297-1112 jmaldonado@amerilife.com Partnership Inquiries Patrick Nichols +1 727-726-0726 pnichols@amerilife.com Company Website https://amerilife.com/

April 25, 2023 01:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

43-Year Printing Business Graphic Communications Converts to Minuteman Press Franchise in Shelby Township, Michigan

Minuteman Press International Inc

43-year printing business Graphic Communications has been sold by Dennis Wrobleski to new owners Nathan and Jane Kogan. Following the sale, the business is being converted to a full-service Minuteman Press franchise. The new Minuteman Press in Shelby Township is located at 50671 Wing Drive, Shelby Township, MI 48315. On buying the business, Nathan Kogan says, “My background was in finance and accounting. I held a position as an Assistant Controller for a privately owned wealth management company for almost 19 years. My wife and I decided to become business owners because we wanted to build something for ourselves and our kids. Our hope is that someday, our kids will join us and want to be a part of this wonderful company.” Seller Dennis Wrobleski shares, “My main objective in transferring the business was the security of my employees and the care of our clientele. I was happy to learn that Minuteman Press franchise owners are supported and trained to handle the print and marketing needs of local businesses. I believe this will be a huge benefit to our clients adding access to more products and services. The most likely prospect of growth with the expansion of products available to our existing clientele and new clients ensures a beneficial outcome for the employees.” History of the Business Graphic Communications began as a Michigan partnership in 1980. Dennis explains, “My former partner Bill Schulz and I worked together at Kux Manufacturing Company in Detroit, Michigan. In the early 1950s, Kux Manufacturing Company, founded by Richard Kux, became the largest manufacturer of decals and identification markings for cars and trucks in the country. Kux was set up for high volume production of fleet graphics, and worked mostly with national brands. Our goal was to provide this same level of high quality graphic products and service to local businesses. Kux was very helpful and supportive of our venture and continued to outsource work to us as our business grew.” Dennis continues, “Graphic Communications made the transition from manual tooling processes to digital graphics. We rely on the latest software, computerized cutting machines, large format printing, and mostly our talented staff of graphic designers and production artists, to serve our clients with professional graphic art solutions.” Selling the Business As he was exploring his options for selling the business, Dennis ended up meeting with Minuteman Press Regional VP Rich DeRosa, who explained the benefits of Minuteman Press International’s conversion program that connects sellers like Dennis with buyers like Nathan and Jane Kogan. Dennis shares, “When I met Rich DeRosa, my business was already listed for sale with a broker. As soon as the broker contract expired, I called Rich and we set up a meeting. Rich not only had a very good understanding of my business, he had a potential buyer in mind that he had been working with. Rich explained the straightforward process and I also learned a lot from the Minuteman Press website. “I think it’s great working with an organization that is interested in success for the buyer and the seller. Knowing that the new owner of Graphic Communications will be equipped with the knowledge and support from Minuteman Press to continue to serve our clients is a big relief for me. I am confident that the business and employees will be in good hands.” -Dennis Wrobleski, Selling Owner, Graphic Communications Buying the Business From his perspective as a new business owner, Nathan Kogan found the right fit in buying a well-established business while also being supported by Minuteman Press as a franchisee. Nathan shares, “We chose to buy an established business because it gave us comfort and a feeling of stability to come into something that is already a proven model, but would also have tons of upside for growth. We chose Minuteman Press due to its incredible reviews and a support system for the owners.” Nathan continues, “Working with Minuteman Press International was extremely easy and comforting. Rich DeRosa was extremely supportive and helpful throughout this whole process. And patient, especially with me. The training and support is extremely important; it's definitely one of the main reasons we were drawn to this particular franchise.” “I look forward to building on the legacy that Dennis created with Graphic Communications for 43 years while also beginning this new chapter with Minuteman Press, Shelby Township.” -Nathan Kogan, New Owner, Minuteman Press, Shelby Township, MI Transition & Advice for Others With the transition of the business from Graphic Communications to Minuteman Press, Shelby Township already in motion, Nathan shares the following advice for aspiring business owners: “I would highly recommend following your passion and dreams. But before jumping in, do your due diligence and be sure you are ready for all that is to come.” As this chapter closes for Dennis, he reflects, “It wasn’t easy starting a business with few resources besides time and determination. In many ways, it’s even harder to make an exit. I’m thankful for everyone I met through this business. I’m blessed that I was able to use my talent as a graphic artist to serve so many great people and businesses in the Metropolitan Detroit area. I know the business is being left in great hands with Nathan and Jane Kogan and Minuteman Press.” Dennis also offers the following parting advice for business owners looking to secure a sale of their printing businesses: “Call Minuteman Press. Also, having all bookkeeping and financial reports up to date helps for a smooth transition.” Minuteman Press, Shelby Township (formerly Graphic Communications) is located at 50671 Wing Drive, Shelby Township, MI 48315. For more information, call 586-566-5200 or visit their website: https://minuteman.com/us/locations/mi/shelby-township/ Learn more about #1 rated Minuteman Press franchise opportunities at https://minutemanpressfranchise.com. To learn about selling your printing business through Minuteman Press at no cost or broker fees to you, visit https://bit.ly/minutemanpressconversions Contact Details Minuteman Press International Chris Biscuiti +1 631-249-1370 cbiscuiti@mpihq.com Company Website https://minutemanpressfranchise.com

April 25, 2023 09:10 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Shareholder to Urge Warren Buffett to Relinquish Some Power at Berkshire Hathaway Annual Meeting

National Legal & Policy Center

Ahead of the annual meeting for Berkshire Hathaway Inc. on May 6 in Omaha, National Legal and Policy Center is sponsoring a shareholder proposal and will again call for a separation of powers between the Chairman and CEO – with both roles presently held by legendary nonagenarian investor Warren Buffett – to proceed on what the company says is inevitable, and to smooth the oncoming leadership transition. NLPC presented a similar proposal at last year’s meeting, where the organization’s Chairman, Peter Flaherty, said in a speech that since Mr. Buffett is “the face of capitalism, why don’t you do something to save it?” Flaherty will again present this year’s proposal, and plans to address the company’s flawed reasoning for delaying the preordained outcome. NLPC filed a proxy memorandum with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Friday, which explains why the transition from Mr. Buffett’s concentrated leadership and power should start now instead of waiting until he leaves. The Berkshire Hathaway board of directors oppose NLPC’s proposal in the company’s proxy statement, but state that “once Mr. Buffett is no longer Berkshire’s CEO, a non-management director should be named Board Chair.” “Warren Buffett turns 93 this year and his top advisor, Charlie Munger, is 99 years old,” said Flaherty. “We are not ageists, but Berkshire Hathaway has already designated who the next CEO and likely Chairman will be, so what are they waiting for?” Berkshire Hathaway has identified Gregory Abel, Chairman and CEO of subsidiary Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company, as Mr. Buffett’s future successor as CEO. NLPC argues in its report to the SEC that the company’s identity is inextricably linked with Mr. Buffett’s, and if there is not an immediate transition or “handoff” to the next generation of leadership, it will only be more difficult for Berkshire Hathaway to shift from its personality-driven image to a performance-based one. Also, NLPC calls into question Mr. Buffett’s reticence to provide guidance to CEOs of companies in Berkshire Hathaway’s portfolio, such as American Express, Apple, and Coca-Cola. All three companies have suffered a backlash over their involvement in divisive political issues, a practice the celebrated investor has warned against in the past. NLPC argues that Mr. Buffett’s influence could improve the performance of the companies owned by Berkshire Hathaway. “Warren Buffett clearly still has his mental faculties and his acumen,” Flaherty added, “but Berkshire Hathaway’s loyal investors need to see how the succession plan will work for the long-term interests of the company. He has been different from every other Chairman and CEO in history, he needs to recognize that, and he should give his successor Greg Abel a running start for the future.” Founded in 1991, NLPC promotes ethics in public life and government accountability through research, investigation, education, and legal action. ### 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. Contact Details National Legal and Policy Center Dan Rene +1 202-329-8357 drene@nlpc.org Company Website http://www.nlpc.org

April 24, 2023 12:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

The Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce (JFCCT) works closely with the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) to continued support its anti-corruption efforts

The Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce in Thailand (JFCCT)

BANGKOK THAILAND - Media OutReach - 24 April 2023 - Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce (JFCCT) advocates for zero tolerance, and works closely with the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), Anti-Corruption Organization of Thailand (ACT) and Thai Collective Action Against Corruption ( CAC) to support anti-corruption in Thailand. In 2017, JFCCT hold a seminar to Exchange Information on Corruption Prevention and Corruption Suppression with NACC and have formally met annually to share experience and learning. The Conclusions from that seminar, JFCCT reported that in just about all cases, corrupt practices always takes at least two parties. Private sector need to continue to do our part to reduce corruption. So JFCCT continue to: Make members aware of the various effects of corruption, and move away from the view that some corruption is OK as long as the economy continues to do well, or that someone may 'miss out' if they do not engage. Engage in meaningful and not just token ways in anti – corruption organisations. Take responsibility to achieve outcomes. Bring to members' attention legal and policy changes Provide recommendations on measures to reduce corruption. We are developing an anti–corruption Code of Conduct. However, JFCCT is not an enforcement body but we can (and do) aim to make an impact. For example promoting the Rule of Law and really understanding what it means is one way to support respect for the laws in force in Thailand. In addition, on 9th December 2022, JFCCT Chairwoman, Vibeke Lyssand Leirvag meet the NACC, alongside Prime Minister General Prayut, Pol. Gen. Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit President of the NACC and others related organization on the occasion of the Zero Tolerance "Ending Corruption: Key to Boosting Investment in Thailand" Leirvag was pleased to share the arguments from JFCCT on the negative effect corruption caused to Thailand and its competitiveness for both existing and new investment, as well as sharing a series of concrete recommendations for the government and private sector to work together to improve the ease of doing business. These steps included improved protection for whistle-blowers and witnesses, better education, stronger investigative powers as well as courts more empowered to enforce stronger penalties. "JFCCT try to share the relevant toolkits with our members and guide them as best we can, so that they embrace the information," Leirvag said. In an recent exclusive interview, Ms Leirvåg presented her point of view and suggestions about ways to anti-corruption. Of primary importance is doing away with the mindset that 'a little corruption is acceptable' Leirvåg suggested. Nowadays, Thailand has a long and difficult journey ahead to fight corruption. This will require the participation of all parties, the government, academia, the public and the private sectors, said Leirvåg. The current Thai government has worked to improve the issue of corruption, but the situation needs to be addressed more, and much remains to be done, said Leirvåg in an exclusive interview. Ms Leirvåg added that Thailand could do much better and it was time for the government and the political establishment to walk the talk, not only talk. "We also need to set goals and work as a team towards real and effective zero tolerance for corruption." According to Leirvåg, it is the general mindset that needs to be changed; without the change it will be impossible to increase transparency and rid the country of graft. "That mindset needs to change. There should be zero tolerance for corruption if we are serious in moving ahead." While public surveys have been held, many have answered that fighting corruption is impossible and therefore some grey zones are acceptable, also that a little corruption is OK as long as the wheels of business keep turning. Thailand's Corruption Perception Index (CPI) in the 2022 Report improved by nine places to 101st out of 180 countries and the overall score also improved from 35 to 36 out of 100. The CPI had been on a slide from 99th in 2019 through to 110th in 2021. Early education is key One of the points Ms Leirvåg raised is the fact that children are not taught from an early age that corruption is wrong. She believes that malfeasance can be stopped if people are educated starting in kindergarten. Ms Leirvåg hails from Norway where children are taught at an early age that stealing and telling lies are wrong. Norway ranked fourth and scored 84 out of 100 in the 2022 CPI report. Children look up to grownups as role models, but when role models don't play their role right, the educational system must step in and point the way. Ms Leirvåg is managing director and founder of Felicia Design, a high-end jewellery manufacturer in Thailand and has lived in the Kingdom since 1989. She was elected chairperson of JFCCT last year, becoming the first woman to hold the position. Asked to compare the difficulties of doing business in Thailand with other countries, Ms Leirvåg said she did not think doing business in Thailand was more difficult than elsewhere overall, as all countries have positive and less positive sides. Thailand still has a lot going in a positive direction and by working together it is possible to tackle challenges like corruption. The Thai premier made a commitment on International Anti-Corruption Day last December that Thailand would work towards zero tolerance for corruption. "The work towards zero tolerance has to be a joint effort by all parties. We have to work together to tackle graft problems instead of pointing fingers at each other or other stakeholders. Ms. Leirvåg encouraged success stories to be shared, not only wrongdoings. Stopping corruption is a gradual process but it must start now Rome was not built in one day, Ms Leirvåg said, "this is a journey and the journey needs to start at the top, meaning that the government must show serious willingness to fight malfeasance. It is impossible to expect Thailand to go from the current situation to the situation of a country being perceived as least corrupt. For many countries, including her native country Norway, this was a journey that took a century or more." The government needs to "walk the talk and not only talk." In the past, governments have focused their efforts on establishing policies, but now it is time to take action and implement what they have promised. The premier has promised to work towards zero tolerance but dealing with corruption is a task for everyone including politicians from all parties as well as government officials, and of course, the private sector, Ms Leirvåg said. A general election is to be held soon and a new government will take office, she recommended that everyone joins together to set expectations up front, so that changes and serious goals to fight corruption, which would also improve the corruption perception ranking. "We must accept that corruption exists, we must deal with wrongdoings and together find preventive solutions as well as educate and communicate the evils of corruption.", Ms Leirvåg said. "All firms, big and small, Thai and foreign, public and private, should be working together to tackle corruption. Efforts should go hand-in-hand with government initiatives to stamp out corruption." Willingness to pay, means willingness to collect With bribery, we usually point the finger at each other. "We say that it is the government, the firms and the public sector that made us pay tea money. However, if you pay the tea money, things will never change. It's teamwork; you are willing to pay, so they are willing to collect. It will definitely be embedded deeper in the Thai culture and society. So if you stop paying bribes, they will stop taking them. She also praised the new Anti-Corruption Law that criminalizes bribe-giving by legal entities and can make senior executives accountable under the new law, legal entities—including corporations—can be criminally liable for bribes paid to state officials, Thai and foreign, and officials working with intergovernmental organizations. "However, all stakeholders need to be made aware of the laws" Ms Leirvåg said, adding that the foreign business community in Thailand has a role to play in informing and training their staff in anti-corruption work including understanding of the legislation. Experiences with "tea money" Throughout her years of doing business in Thailand, she has been involved many situations where paying "tea money" would speed up her company's applications especially on permits and licenses. However, Ms Leirvåg has steadfastly refused to bow to pressure and to pay bribes for her firm to obtain what it wanted. "I have had somebody telling me that if I paid under the table or gave him the money, he could speed up the process. I said no, I can wait." Saying no to bribery resulted in her firm's applications taking longer time to process, but she is happy to wait. Understanding that her company would not agree to pay bribes, officials stopped asking. Many foreign companies have complained that some rules and regulations which delay or create administrative burdens to their business could be potential risks of corruption. This includes rules and regulations that give authority to the official to use their own judgement to process the request from companies. She suggested that processes should as much as possible be fully digitalized as digitalization is one way to reduce corruption. In Thailand, anti-corruption regulations and laws have been issued and are in place, but laws are not enforced, sometimes out of ignorance. The assumption is that paying a bribe can resolve the issue. It is important to emphasize the principle of rule of law and how to enforce the law effectively. Organizations like the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has prepared policies and guidelines including for example about implementing internal controls (an essential aspect of a company potentially avoiding criminal responsibility where the company leaders did not know about a corrupt act and had put in place procedures to prevent it, Thai Collective Action Against Corruption (CAC) also has training clinics, and recently, OECD launched a tool kit for SMEs The Anti Corruption Network (ACN) also has measures. These tools must be better communicated to both the public and agencies, with training and implementation. Most are available in English and other languages but if there is no communication about their existence, they are as good as useless, Ms Leirvåg said. Asked about the role of whistleblowers, Ms Leirvåg said that this was a major challenge as most do not feel they are protected and feel pressure to be silent instead of reporting the wrongdoing. The government has to do more to protect those who report wrongdoing, she said, as well as having witness protection schemes. The future workforce should be educated about zero tolerance for corruption. They should also be ensured that they will be protected if they decided to become whistleblowers. When they work in a business and they see malfeasance, only then will they feel safe enough to report it. The Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce in Thailand (JFCCT) The Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce in Thailand (JFCCT) is the umbrella body for various Thai- foreign chambers or business associations operating in Thailand. It was back in 1976 that the entire foreign community of business people joined in an idea where the American Chamber invited members of the British, French, German and Japanese chambers to attend a meeting with the Prime Minister. A foreign business organization which came to be known as the Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce in Thailand (JFCCT) was formed.We work with the Royal Thai government and various government agencies such as the Board of Trade, Board of Investment and the Federation of Thai Industries and many sector-specific agencies, and by way of advice and recommendation to foreign governments – for the benefit of the Thai economy. Contact Details The Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce in Thailand (JFCCT) Media Contact +66 2 018 6995 info@jfcct.org

April 24, 2023 11:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Freelance Creative Jobs Thrive Despite AI Surge

FREELANCER.COM

New data released today by Freelancer.com (ASX: FLN) (OTCQX: FLNCF), the world’s largest freelancing marketplace by number of users and jobs posted, shows an incoming startup boom amongst an unprecedented surge in freelance creative design and AI job growth. The Fast 50 Q1 2023 Index, the world’s largest forward indicator of freelance job trends, analyzes over 304,000 jobs posted to Freelancer.com between January and March 2023. The index finds that jobs for T-Shirt Design (up 33.1%, from 1,403 to 1,868), Covers & Packaging Design (up 27.3%, from 1,128 to 1,436), and Corporate Identity Design (up 24.2%, from 2,474 to 3,073) were the three fastest growing job types by total percentage growth when compared to Q4 2022. These were followed by Product Design (up 22.9%, 1,214 to 1,493) and 3D Design (up 22%, from 5,027 to 6,135) jobs. Design skills with the largest job counts on the platform also grew significantly this quarter. There were a whopping 7,495 extra Graphic Design jobs in Q1 (up 12.1%, from 61,709 to 69,204), followed by an additional 6,731 Logo Design jobs (up 20.4%, from 32,963 to 39,694) and 5,902 extra jobs requiring skills in Photoshop (up 15.4%, from 38,224 to 44,126). Design is both the most in-demand and the highest paying skill on Freelancer.com, as found in the Freelancing in 2022 Report. These types of jobs, particularly logo design, packaging design and t-shirt creation, are typically the starting point for many founders launching a new business. The sudden influx of design, eCommerce and marketing jobs are a key indicator of a boom in startups. Simultaneously, jobs requiring skills in Artificial Intelligence were the seventh fastest growing skill on Freelancer.com (up 20.62% in Q1 2023 from 1,038 to 1,252). Jobs demanding Generative AI skills, such as ChatGPT, Dall-E, Midjourney and Chatbots, grew by more than 325% from 286 in Q4 2022 to 1,216 in Q1 2023. “While many speculate whether AI will take design jobs, our latest data shows that this is certainly not the case. Design jobs are the most popular job type on the platform and continue to grow despite advances in hyper-realistic generative AI tools,” said Matt Barrie, Chief Executive at Freelancer.com. “What’s more interesting in this data is zooming out and looking at the main trend: the startup boom. The most in-demand jobs on the platform for this quarter are all related to the launch of new businesses. New logo, website and branding jobs. In fact, there were 75 extra logo design jobs posted each day last quarter, which could suggest the launch of 75 new businesses.” The data also shows an increase in Digital Marketing (up 12.8%, from 1,524 to 1,720) and Videography (up 14.2%, from 2,716 to 3,102) jobs which also suggests businesses are focusing more on their online marketing and content creation strategies to amplify their brands. Fastest Falling Jobs of Q1 2023 While design jobs dominated the fastest growing, the jobs that were in less demand in this quarter are related to tech, development and writing. Software Development, which was ranked as the fastest growing job in Q2 2022, began to decline this quarter and was down by 34.4% (from 2,001 to 1,311). Similarly, programming related jobs which were one of the fastest growing skills in Q4 2022 also declined this quarter by 20.9% (from 5,899 to 4,665). Demand for these types of jobs surged last year as many tech employees were laid off globally. However, the new data suggests demand is beginning to stabilize and return to pre-mass layoffs levels. Seasonality also plays into employers moving away from specific types of jobs quarter-to-quarter. Report Writing, Technical Writing, Research Writing and Business Plans were ranked as the fastest growing jobs in Q4 2022 as many employers traditionally turn to freelance support to help prepare end of year reports and 2023 plans. These types of jobs naturally reduce in the first quarter of the year. Fast 50 Q1 2023 - Data Analysis Startup Boom Fuels Creative Design Job Growth Historically, more businesses are started during a recession. Economic downturns have led to the creation of some of the world’s most well known brands, such as Microsoft, Uber and Burger King, just to name a few. Only a few years ago, the world witnessed this trend playing out as COVID sparked a startup boom, which saw a 24 percent increase in new business applications in the United States alone. According to the latest US Census Business Formation Statistics, the number of new business applications is beginning to grow in 2023 by an increase of 451,752, an increase of 4.5 percent compared to February 2023. Data from the latest Freelancer Fast 50 Index suggests there’s a sudden increase in the number of new businesses and startups being launched globally. The fastest growing skills, such as T-Shirt, Covers & Packaging, and Corporate Identity Design, as well as the growth of major jobs such as Logo Design, are all usually posted by founders at the starting point for a new business or venture. T-Shirt Design jobs, as an example, are growing as people hire freelancers to create t-shirts with their business logo as a way of promoting a brand or creating business uniforms. An uptick in Covers and Packaging Design jobs are the result of businesses turning to freelancers for new product labels and marketing brochures. Growth in website building jobs, such as Shopify (up 20.5%, from 2,302 to 2,775), Shopify Templates (up 16.1%, from 1,392 to 1,617) and eCommerce (up 15.5%, from 4,212 to 4,866), also support the rise of new businesses last quarter. Almost three quarters of the fastest growing jobs (72%) posted on Freelancer.com in the last quarter required skills in creative design or marketing. Serial entrepreneur Davuud Ghani, who recently founded Pivitt, a creative and branding support agency based in the United Kingdom, is just one example of how founders are turning to freelancers to support the growth of their business in 2023. “As a start-up, agility is our advantage over mature businesses with similar service offerings. It’s becoming easier for businesses to locate and leverage global talent, with platforms such as Freelancer.com. We are able to really finetune the skills needed on a project basis to drive excellence through our service offering to our partners, keeping us competitive in the market. That’s what our model is built from and has allowed us to secure partnerships with the likes of BMW & MINI,” said Davuud Ghani, founder of Pivitt. Generative AI Jobs Triple In Last Quarter Advancements in artificial intelligent and generative AI are impacting almost every faucet of business and creativity. Powerful AI tools, such as ChatGPT, Dall-E and Midjourney, are becoming smarter and more sophisticated by month, resulting in rapid leaps in capabilities and applications. In the first quarter of 2023, Open AI released GPT-4, introducing a more powerful and intelligent version of the application which could exhibit human level performance on several benchmarks. In the AI image generation space, research lab Midjourney also released the alpha iteration of its 5th version which allowed users to create photorealistic generations. Growing interest for AI is represented clearly in the Fast 50 Q1 2023 data which ranks jobs for Artificial Intelligence as the seventh fastest growing job on the platform, growing by 20.6% up to 1,252 jobs in total. Many projects posted in the first quarter aim to harness AI text generators or automate mass image generation, while some look for freelance experts who can help create their own AI models and applications. Generative AI skills (ChatGPT, Dall-E, Midjourney, Chatbots) grew the fastest over the quarter, recording a total percentage increase of 325% from 286 last quarter to 1,216 in Q1 2023. In total, there were 5,262 jobs requiring skills in AI, Machine Learning, Deep Learning, TensorFlow, ChatGPT and Dall-E. Digital Marketing & Content Creation Popularity of content marketing is growing amongst businesses. Major success stories, such as Netflix’s Drive to Survive series or Spotify’s Wrapped, are pushing businesses and marketers towards incorporating content marketing within their strategies. It’s a trend that was identified in the Fast 50 Q3 2022 Index and is continuing in Q1 2023. Videography (up 14.21%, from to 3,102), Digital Marketing (up 12.86% to 1,720), YouTube (up 11.30% to 1,576), and Video Production (up 10.25% to 5,401) were all in-demand skills last quarter. This finding suggests that businesses are increasingly focusing on online marketing and content creation strategies to reach their target audiences. While YouTube remains as the main platform people are turning to freelancers for support, employer interest in TikTok video creation is also growing, increasing by 25% in Q1 2023, from 405 projects in Q4 2022 to 507 total jobs Q1 2023. Product Design Jobs Apart from design projects specific to branding and new business ventures, the number of 3D Design, Product Design and general Design collectively grew over Q1 2023. ##### Freelancer Fast 50 The Freelancer Fast 50 index is the world’s largest forward indicator of trends in online jobs related to industries, technologies, products, and companies. The data is based on 304,000 jobs posted to the Freelancer platform between January 1 to March 31 2023. Fast 50 Quarterly Index – Q1 2023 About Freelancer Freelancer.com is the world's largest freelancing and crowdsourcing marketplace by total number of users and projects posted. More than 64 million registered users have posted over 22.3 million projects and contests to date in over 2,000 areas as diverse as website development, logo design, marketing, copywriting, aerospace engineering and manufacturing. Freelancer also owns Escrow.com and Loadshift. Freelancer Limited is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange under the ticker ASX:FLN and is quoted on OTCQX Best Market under the ticker FLNCF. Contact Details freelancer.com Marko Zitko +61 404 574 830 mzitko@freelancer.com

April 21, 2023 08:15 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Dear America, Mission Possible: Prevention and Cures Starts Now

The American Center for Cures

I hope this letter finds you and your family in good health. The exceptional leadership and resilience of this nation has been an inspiration to Dr. Rick Boxer and me, prompting us to embark on a vital mission that resonates with every American, regardless of wealth, race, or political affiliation: combating disease. Despite our nation's efforts, we have not achieved the level of prevention and cures necessary to alleviate the suffering and burden of diseases that affect us all. It is time for a paradigm shift, and we believe that every American is in a unique position to help drive this transformation. The American Center for Cures, which we co-founded, aims to establish a fully funded private-sector mission dedicated to preventing and curing the most devastating diseases, such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, various forms of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and all other diseases including orphan diseases. Our vision is to assemble the most successful CEOs in America to lead individual centers focused on these diseases, with each center receiving $36 billion in funding. By combining resources, leadership, focus, and a sense of urgency, we believe we can create a new era in disease prevention and cures. This effort has the potential to be the most significant legacy issue of our lifetimes, impacting not only American families but also the global community. We humbly request Corporate America’s public endorsement and the social support of the American People to provide hope to millions and promote a business-like model of accountability that is currently lacking. Furthermore, we encourage you to urge every member of Congress and the White House to expedite their support for this initiative. We are not merely asking for their backing; we are insisting on it. This mission is for you, your children, and future generations. It is likely that you and your loved ones have been personally affected by a disease that should no longer exist. By embracing this mantle of leadership today, we can make a lasting impact on the lives of countless individuals. Former Secretary of Health Tom Price has stated that the American Center for Cures could rival the greatest achievements in American history. My partner, Dr. Rick Boxer, was recently appointed to the National Cancer Advisory Board by President Biden. We need your voice and skills now more than ever. We commend the extraordinary work of researchers around the world and their commitment to delivering cures. However, a systemic issue exists within the medical use authorization and approval process, and it delays getting cures into the hands of the people who need them now. We’re on the cusp of curing pancreatic, breast, and brain cancer, as well as preventing heart attacks but the current model, because of economic- and process -related obstacles, does not accommodate success. The American Center for Cures is offering a solution to this problem by providing a mission, funding, responsibility, accountability, and leadership, will fundamentally restructure and speed the process of working with the FDA and all relevant parties for authorized cures. Just like the speed of getting the COVID vaccine approved and authorized for use, American Center for Cures is committed to bringing new cures and treatments to patients as quickly and efficiently as possible. We believe that now is the time to harness our global technological advances to establish a process and urgency that will bring these pieces together for the betterment of humanity. By acting today, we can create a lasting legacy in the fight against disease. We are Unity Strong! Best regards, Lou Weisbach Co-founder, The American Center for Cures About American Center for Cures The American Center for Cures (ACC) initiative is a fully funded mission to prevent, treat or cure diseases that plague every American family. The initiative will be funded by the sale of $750B bonds by the Federal Reserve, providing the capital needed to accelerate the current trajectory of medicine. Annual interest will be paid through the licensing of new compounds and drugs to pharmaceutical companies. The principal will be repaid by savings provided to the United States Government through successes in the areas of prevention and cures. The ACC business model will cost the government and taxpayers nothing, making this the single most impactful investment on behalf of the American people in the nation’s history. For more information, please visit https://theamericancenterforcures.org. Contact Details Rainier Communications Jenna Beaucage +1 508-340-6851 jbeaucage@rainierco.com Company Website https://theamericancenterforcures.org

April 19, 2023 01:33 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Lexion Raises $20M Series B, Expands AI-Powered Contract Management Solution to Broader User Base

Lexion

Lexion, the AI-powered contract management and operations workflow platform, today announced a $20 million Series B funding round led by Point72 Ventures, with participation from Citi Ventures, and existing investors Khosla Ventures, Madrona Venture Group, and Wilson Sonsini. This latest investment brings the total amount raised to more than $35 million, allowing the company to further enhance Lexion's core platform and AI capabilities to help every department close deals faster. Originally developed at the Paul Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence as a contract management system for lawyers, Lexion’s artificial intelligence and automation capabilities have accelerated legal work and streamlined processes across multiple disciplines, including sales, procurement, finance, and technology. Gaurav Oberoi, CEO of Lexion, explains how the new funding will be used to accelerate Lexion's AI landscape: "Lexion is all about helping every team do more business, faster. We’ve proven how award-winning AI and no-code automation can accelerate legal tasks, but we've also seen other divisions adopting the software. Now we're accelerating sales cycles, vendor agreements, security reviews, RFPs, and even employment offers for departments where legal is not directly involved." In 2022, Lexion experienced dramatic growth, tripling its revenue for the third year in a row and expanding its customer base to include hundreds of corporate clients from various industries, such as B2B technology, healthcare, consumer goods, manufacturing, and gaming. Lexion's easy implementation and intuitive interface take the stress out of adopting new software. “Our legal customers often comment how their sales teams don't even notice they're using a new technology because it integrates so well with their systems,” adds Oberoi. Sri Chandrasekar, Managing Partner at Point72 Ventures, will be joining Lexion's board. Chandrasekar supports Lexion’s vision to expand into a horizontal operations workflow solution: “Lexion’s investment in AI, paired with the team’s technical, product, and operations expertise, positions the company well for broader adoption and cross-departmental expansion. We're excited to support the team as they continue to innovate in the operations space.” Matt Carbonara, Managing Director at Citi Ventures, celebrates how easy the Lexion platform is for larger organizations to adopt: "During our investment process, Citi reviewed Lexion’s solution and was impressed with its capabilities, ease of use, and seamless integration,” he says. With this latest round of funding, Lexion is poised to transform not only the legal department, but the entire operational landscape for companies of all sizes and industries. “At Khosla Ventures, we invest early into bold ideas that could be impactful,” said Kanu Gulati, partner at Khosla Ventures. “Lexion’s team has made tremendous progress and is well positioned to take advantage of newer AI generative capabilities to bring greater automation across businesses.” About Lexion Lexion is a powerfully simple operations workflow platform that helps every team do more faster, by streamlining and centralizing the contracting process in a system that works the way you do. We built Lexion at Paul Allen’s artificial intelligence research institute, with an experienced team from Microsoft, Facebook, Google, and Amazon. Top AI investors (including A16Z, Sequoia, and Goldman Sachs) voted Lexion as one of the top 40 Intelligent Applications to watch in 2022. Most importantly, fantastic brands trust Lexion to help them close deals faster, such as Outreach, OfferUp, Blue Nile, and many more. Visit https://lexion.ai for more information. Contact Details Forrest Carman +1 206-859-3118 forrestc@owenmedia.com Company Website https://lexion.ai/

April 19, 2023 08:00 AM Pacific Daylight Time

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Professional Services

The National Anti-Corruption Commission in Thailand (NACC) noted Private sector must have clear details of bribery-prone activities

AmeriLife’s LeadStar Announces Latest Platform Enhancement Backed by RGI Solutions, Combining Best-in-Class Leads Platform with Enterprise-Wide Direct Mail Leads Solution

How AmeriLife is Unlocking the Power of Data to Drive Increased, Accelerated Growth

43-Year Printing Business Graphic Communications Converts to Minuteman Press Franchise in Shelby Township, Michigan

Shareholder to Urge Warren Buffett to Relinquish Some Power at Berkshire Hathaway Annual Meeting

The Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce (JFCCT) works closely with the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) to continued support its anti-corruption efforts

Freelance Creative Jobs Thrive Despite AI Surge

Dear America, Mission Possible: Prevention and Cures Starts Now

Lexion Raises $20M Series B, Expands AI-Powered Contract Management Solution to Broader User Base