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AQ Studios: A New Architectural Vision for Louisiana and Beyond

AQ Studios

AQ Studios, the exciting new face in architecture, has emerged from the merger of Louisiana's architectural titans, ACSW (Lafayette) and Rozas Ward (New Orleans). This fusion is set to redefine the architectural boundaries in Louisiana and beyond, offering a blend of innovation, cultural richness, and urban sophistication. ACSW, renowned for iconic designs like River Ranch, Lafayette High School, and the University of Louisiana's Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium, brings its legacy of groundbreaking design and a focus on community-enhancing architecture. Rozas Ward complements this with its portfolio of culturally rich projects like the Gayle and Tom Benson Cancer Center and The Kalorama of New Orleans condominiums. This merger marks a pivotal moment in the architectural industry, combining decades of expertise and vision. AQ Studios will continue to operate out of their locations in New Orleans and Lafayette, as well as their satellite office in Lake Charles. Both firms celebrate the merger as a natural and symbiotic union. Eric Crozier, a principal architect at ACSW and the new AQ Studios, expresses enthusiasm: “This merger is a culmination of a growing relationship that has blossomed organically over two years. It’s an exciting new chapter that promises to amplify our capabilities, expand our geographic reach, and provide our talented staff with unprecedented growth opportunities.” Charlie Ward, of Rozas Ward and now a principal architect at AQ Studios, shares his excitement: “Our merger is a celebration of strength and adaptability. It’s about building on our legacy and ensuring our designs meet the evolving needs of our clients and communities.” AQ Studios is set to leave its mark across various sectors, notably in educational, healthcare, and civic architecture. The firm pledges to uphold the high standards and client-focused approach that defined ACSW and Rozas Ward while pushing the boundaries to create not just functional spaces but also sources of inspiration and community pride. As AQ Studios embarks on this new journey, it remains dedicated to transforming visions into architectural realities, crafting spaces that celebrate culture and community, and shaping the architectural landscape of Louisiana and beyond for generations to come. Based in the heart of Louisiana, with offices in Lafayette, New Orleans, and Lake Charles, AQ Studios is the result of a strategic merger between ACSW and Rozas Ward, two architectural powerhouses known for their innovation and community-driven designs. This newly formed architecture firm is poised to make a significant impact in educational, healthcare, and civic architecture while catering to a diverse range of clients.At AQ Studios, the commitment is not just to build structures but also to craft spaces that embody purpose, inspire communities, and resonate with the needs and aspirations of the people they serve. The firm stands as a beacon of architectural excellence, blending a rich heritage with a forward-looking approach to design.For further details and insights into the transformative world of AQ Studios or to schedule an interview or a discussion, please reach out to Madeline Williams at Madeline@AQTeam.com or 337-235-8016. Contact Details Emily Reynolds Bergh +1 518-321-3906 Emily@rprfirm.com Company Website https://introducingaq.com/

February 01, 2024 02:30 PM Eastern Standard Time

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The Best AI Girl Generator Apps You Must Try 2024

Summit Ventures BV

In today's technologically driven world, AI girl generator apps have gained immense popularity for their ability to create virtual AI companions. With a plethora of options available, we've curated a list of top-notch AI girl generator tools that you should explore in 2024. These applications offer innovative AI girl generation capabilities, providing unique and engaging experiences. Table of Featured AI Girl Generators 1. Introduction to AI Generated Girls 2. Featured AI Girl Generator Tools 2.1 GPTGirlfriend.online 2.2 GlamGirls.ai 2.3 ChaiApp.pro 2.4 AI-Girlfriend.co 2.5 AI-Companion.co 3. Frequently Asked Questions 4. Conclusion Top Five AI Girl Generator Apps The world of AI girl generators has seen significant growth, offering a variety of engaging options. While each application brings its unique features to the table, GPTGirlfriend.online stands out with its exceptionally engaging interactions and a wide range of capabilities. Girlfriend GPT: Your Gateway to AI Generated Girls Girlfriend GPT is an innovative AI-powered tool that brings your favorite AI girl characters to life, offering interactive experiences. This platform provides a wide array of activities, enabling you to create a virtual space for engaging conversations with your AI girl companion. Moreover, GPTGirlfriend.online offers unrestricted content for a diverse experience. Key Features: Empowers you to create your personalized AI girl companion. Allows unrestricted interactions and conversations. Offers affordable premium and deluxe subscription plans. Resumes conversations with long-term memory. Glam Girls AI: Generate your AI Girl in Seconds Glam Girls is renowned for having the best AI generated girls in the space. This platform is designed for those interested in crafting glamorous AI characters. Whether you're looking for AI girls with a sense of style or unique personalities, GlamGirls.ai has you covered. Key Features: Multiple scenarios for AI girl generation. Customizable interface to align with your preferences. Accommodates various interests and preferences in AI girl characters. Chai App: Create AI Girls for NSFW AI Images Chai App offers an intuitive platform for generating AI girls and companions, particularly suited for NSFW AI image generation. This application excels in providing realistic AI chatbot interactions and customization options for your AI girl companions. Key Features: Intuitive navigation for an immersive experience. Realistic chatbot interactions. Allows customization of AI girl companions. Features advanced capabilities for generating AI girls. AI Girlfriend: Personalized AI Girlfriends for Engaging Conversations AI-Girlfriend.co is the perfect choice for those seeking personalized AI girlfriends. This platform allows you to tailor your AI girlfriend according to your preferences. AI-Girlfriend.co creates engaging and realistic interactions with your ideal AI girlfriend character. Key Features: Provides realistic AI companion interactions with varied emotions and backgrounds. Abundance of features available for diverse AI girlfriend interactions. Offers budget-friendly pricing for personalized AI girlfriends. AI Companion: Engage with AI waifus and husbands AI-Companion.co is known for its wide range of character options in the AI girl generator domain. This versatile platform accommodates various conversations and interactions with AI chatbots, offering personalized experiences. Key Features: Support for multiple languages, enhancing accessibility. Personalization options to tailor the chatbot according to individual preferences. Broad spectrum of interests and character types for diverse user needs. Frequently Asked Questions Q: What is an AI girl generator? A: An AI girl generator is a software application that uses artificial intelligence to create virtual AI girl characters for various purposes, such as entertainment, interaction, or chatbot companionship. Q: How do AI girl generators work? A: AI girl generators work by utilizing advanced algorithms and machine learning techniques to generate AI girl characters with customizable traits, personalities, and conversation capabilities. Q: Can a AI girl generator be used for NSFW content? A: Some AI generated girls are designed to cater to NSFW (Not Safe For Work) content, offering options for more mature and adult-themed interactions. However, not all AI girl generator apps support explicit content. Q: Can I customize AI girl characters generated by these tools? A: Yes, most AI girl generator apps allow users to customize AI girl characters by selecting specific traits, appearances, and personalities to create personalized virtual companions. Q: Are there age restrictions for using AI girl generators? A: Yes, to use AI girl generators, users typically need to be at least 18 years old, as these tools may generate content that is intended for adults. Conclusion In the realm of technology, AI generated girls offer a gateway to interactive virtual companionship. These tools have transformed how we connect with AI characters, providing endless entertainment and personal interactions. Whether you seek customizable AI girls, engaging AI girlfriends, or glamorous AI characters, these apps cater to diverse preferences. They bridge the virtual and real worlds, offering a glimpse into the potential of AI companions. This guide has highlighted top AI girl generator apps in 2024, each with unique features. Some may include NSFW content, so choose accordingly. AI girlfriend apps pioneer technological innovation, enabling users to create, personalize, and interact with AI characters. Explore these apps for a distinctive experience in the world of AI companionship. Unlock the potential of AI girl generators today. GPTGirlfriend.online is the most advanced AI companion subscription service with a community of more than 1,000,000 Monthly Active Users. With more than 25,000 characters, it has transformed how people interact with and experience AI. Please refer to our detailed Terms of Use and Community Guidelines for comprehensive information on usage, safety, and ethical considerations on GPTGirlfriend.online Contact Details GPTGirlfriend Business hello@enias.io Company Website https://www.gptgirlfriend.online

February 01, 2024 08:30 AM Eastern Standard Time

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University of Dayton Law School Leads the Way in Contract Excellence with the Adoption of the NCMA Contract Management Standard™

National Contract Management Association

The University of Dayton School of Law (UDSL) proudly announces its commitment to advancing education in Government Contracting & Procurement through the adoption of the National Contract Management Association's (NCMA) ANSI-approved Contract Management Standard™ (CMS™) and Contract Management Book of Knowledge ® (CMBOK ® ). The Master in the Study of Law (M.S.L.) in Government Contracting & Procurement program at UDSL is dedicated to providing students with the highest quality education and ensuring they are equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary for success in the ever-evolving profession of contract management. By incorporating the NCMA CMS™ and CMBOK ® into its program and course curricula, UDSL reaffirms its commitment to academic excellence and aligns with contract management best practices. Kraig Conrad, CEO of the National Contract Management Association, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, "We commend the University of Dayton School of Law for taking this progressive step for their program. This standard is a recognized benchmark in the profession, and its incorporation into UDSL's program reflects the university's dedication to providing students with a competitive edge in their careers." The NCMA CMS™ and CMBOK ® will serve as the foundation for UDSL's M.S.L. program, guiding the development of curriculum that addresses the dynamic and complex landscape of government contracting and procurement. This strategic adoption ensures that students receive comprehensive and up-to-date education and prepares them for success in the workforce. In response to the adoption, Sabra Tomb, UDSL’s Director of Training Programs and Strategic Business Development stated, "UDSL’s Government Contracting & Procurement Program is committed to delivering excellence in education and preparing our students to excel in their professional pursuits. The integration of the NCMA Contract Management Standard™ into our program is a testament to our dedication to providing a top-notch education that meets the needs of the industry and empowers our students for success." As UDSL continues to strengthen its position as a leader in legal education, this decision underscores its commitment to staying at the forefront of profession advancements and provide students with a competitive advantage in the job market. The National Contract Management Association (NCMA) – www.ncmahq.org – stands as the premier contract management organization whose mission is to collaborate towards a globally recognized contract management profession that strengthens its nexus with related acquisition communities. Serving approximately 20,000 members in both the public and private sectors, NCMA propels the growth, advancement, and impact of practitioners through a steadfast commitment to serve through the open exchange of ideas in neutral forums. The School of Law offers a fully online master's program in government contracting and procurement designed by seasoned industry and government experts. The program is designed for contract professionals; a law degree is not required. Courses are taught in real-time to encourage active learning and provide opportunities for live feedback and interaction between faculty and students. Each class meets once a week, scheduled for working professionals. Financial aid, military, and veteran benefits; and corporate and government tuition deferment, assistance and reimbursement options are available. For more visit: https://udayton.edu/law/. Contact Details National Contract Management Association Holly DeHesa +1 281-865-3296 holly.dehesa@ncmahq.org Company Website https://www.ncmahq.org

February 01, 2024 05:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Comtrade 360 Appoints Technology Industry Veteran Chris Noordyke as Chief Revenue Officer and General Manager

Comtrade 360

Comtrade 360, a leading global software consultancy providing tailored software and full-stack product development services, today announced the appointment of Chris Noordyke as Chief Revenue Officer and General Manager. With an impressive track record in sales and technology, Noordyke’s primary mission is to expand Comtrade 360’s service offerings and market reach. Noordyke brings nearly 20 years of sales and technology industry experience to Comtrade 360, having served as Chief Revenue Officer at StorONE, a software storage company. Before that, Noordyke held senior roles at Rezillon, Diamanti, and Blue Medora. “Comtrade 360 is delighted to welcome Chris Noordyke as our Chief Revenue Officer based on his depth and breadth of experience helping technology organizations grow,” said Alexis Lope-Bello, CEO of Comtrade Group. “His proven leadership and strategic vision align seamlessly with our commitment to delivering exceptional services to our partners and clients.” In 2024, with leadership from Noordyke, Comtrade 360 is poised to extend its expertise within key software development services and solutions offerings related to Application Modernization, DevSecOps, DevOps, and Salesforce. “During my tenure in the software industry, I have observed Comtrade 360’s remarkable expertise and innovative approach, which are vital for any forward-thinking technology enterprise,” said Noordyke. “The company’s philosophy aligns tightly with my own belief that bringing software products to market swiftly is where competitive edge is born.” For more than 30 years, Comtrade 360 has specialized in developing customized technical solutions to meet the needs of leading enterprise infrastructures and systems software providers globally. The company’s service offerings include Application Modernization, Salesforce, Observability, Cybersecurity, Backup & Recovery, Data Management, DevOps, Cloud & Hybrid Cloud, Machine Learning, and AI solutions. Clients include HPE, Pointnext R&D, WorldRemit, Microsoft Azure, and CERN. To learn more about Comtrade 360 and its offerings, visit https://www.comtrade360.com/. About Comtrade 360 With a legacy spanning over 30 years, Comtrade 360 has been a trusted partner to the world’s leading software organizations. Specializing in tailored software and full-stack product development services, the company leverages new technological and innovative approaches. Services include Application Modernization, Salesforce, Observability, Cybersecurity, Backup & Recovery, Data Management, Fast file management based on CERN EOS, DevOps, Cloud & Hybrid Cloud, Machine Learning, and AI solutions. Clients include HPE, Pointnext R&D, WorldRemit, Microsoft Azure, and CERN. Contact Details Trust Relations Jennifer Mirabile comtrade@trustrelations.agency Company Website https://www.comtrade360.com/

January 31, 2024 08:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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American Paper Plate Coalition Petitions for Relief from Unfairly Traded Imports from China, Thailand, and Vietnam

American Paper Plate Coalition

The American Paper Plate Coalition (“APPC”), representing the majority of American paper plate production, today petitioned the U.S. Department of Commerce (“Commerce”) and the U.S. International Trade Commission (“ITC”) to investigate unfairly priced and subsidized paper plate imports from China, Thailand, and Vietnam. The antidumping (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) petitions detail unfair trade practices to sell paper plates at less than fair value and allege dumping margins up to 279%, as well as numerous subsidies. The petitions detail the injury suffered by the U.S. industry and its workers, and request relief in the form of special duties on all associated imports to offset unfair pricing and unfair subsidies. “Imports from these countries have used dumped prices and subsidies to continue to grow in the U.S. market at the expense of American producers and workers,” said Bill Biggins, President and Co-owner of APPC member Aspen Products, Inc. “Over the past three years, unfairly priced and subsidized imports have harmed American producers and taken jobs away from hard-working Americans.” The cases filed today cover all types of plates produced from any type of paper, regardless of color, decoration, shape and size. “American producers can compete with anyone in the world, as long as we’re all playing by the same rules,” said Robert Epstein, President and CEO of APPC member AJM Packaging Corporation. “Fortunately, our country’s trade laws are set up to support fair trade. On behalf of our employees, customers, and colleagues, we look forward to seeing those laws enforced and those who violate our laws held accountable.” The next steps in these investigations will be the initiation of Commerce antidumping and countervailing duty investigations by February 14, 2024, and a preliminary ITC determination by March 11, 2024. About the American Paper Plate Coalition The American Paper Plate Coalition, representing the leading U.S. producers of paper plates, is comprised of AJM Packaging Corporation of Bloomfield Hills, MI; Aspen Products, Inc. of Kansas City, MO; Dart Container Corporation of Mason, MI; Hoffmaster Group, Inc. of Oshkosh, WI; Huhtamaki, Inc., of De Soto, KS; and Unique Industries, Inc. of Philadelphia, PA. For more information, visit https://www.ajmpack.com/, https://www.aspenpro.com/, https://www.dartcontainer.com/, https://www.hoffmaster.com/, https://www.huhtamaki.com/en-us/north-america/, and https://www.favors.com/ The American Paper Plate Coalition is represented by Adam H. Gordon of The Bristol Group PLLC, a Washington, DC international trade law firm committed to defending American industry, agriculture, and manufacturing jobs. Contact Details EAH Strategies Elizabeth Posthumus +1 202-445-9858 elizabeth@eahstrategiesllc.com

January 25, 2024 01:05 PM Eastern Standard Time

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The best generative AI solutions of 2024

AIport

January 25, 2024 — Ever since ChatGPT burst onto the scene in the fall of 2022, generative AI (GenAI) solutions have continued to disrupt industries with their surprising and never-before-seen features. Many of the generative AI solutions we hear about today are based on large language models (LLM), which allow them to successfully communicate with end users. Every such model has to be pre-trained on vast amounts of data and then fine-tuned using a variety of different methods. As we’re approaching the end of January, let’s look at the list of the most noteworthy of these models and explore the generative AI solutions they power. Compiled by the AIport newsletter team, this list is by no means exhaustive, but it is a review of what we believe are the LLM-based generative AI solutions and tools that are likely to make headlines this year. GPT (OpenAI and Microsoft) Expectedly, the first LLM on our list with some of the highest expectations this year is at the core of ChatGPT from OpenAI. GPT wasn’t the first LLM out there (there had been others like BERT ), but it was certainly the first one that resulted in a market-ready GenAI product. The original GPT model (Generative Pretrained Transformers) had 170 billion parameters, while the latest version, GPT-4, boasts over 1.75 trillion. The model’s applications are far and wide, being the basis not only for ChatGPT, but also Microsoft’s Bing Chat, which is now part of the Copilot infrastructure. While ChatGPT remains arguably the most impressive text-producing GenAI tool, Bing Chat (unlike ChatGPT) has internet access, making it ideal for web browsing. In addition, the same core GPT model is being utilized by other entities — from Panasonic Connect in Japan, OCBC Bank’s ChatGPT in Singapore, and KPMG’s KaiChat in Germany to the UK government’s upcoming GOV.UK chat. Notably, GPT is also a vital part of OpenAI’s DALL-E suite — a solution that generates images based on descriptions from text. PaLM and Gemini (Google) The next one on our list is Google’s PaLM (Pathways Language Model). The model, boasting 540 billion parameters, was first successfully tested in the spring of 2022. A year later, PaLM 2 was announced and subsequently integrated into Bard — Google’s GenAI chatbot — becoming available to test users around the world. Bard is considered among the finest solutions for productivity, having internet access like Bing Chat, but being less about navigating the web and more about answering burning questions. Bard was seriously bolstered at the end of last year with Google’s highly anticipated launch of the multimodal LLM, Gemini, which had been trained on images and audio/video files, not just text. The jury is still out on how far this update will take Bard, but the expectations are very high indeed. LLaMA (Meta, Microsoft, and Hugging Face) LLaMA (Large Language Model Meta AI) from Meta was released in February last year. However, the 65-billion-parameter model was leaked online as a downloadable torrent only a week later. While the model did not lead to any ChatGPT-like products at Meta, another AI company — Hugging Face — picked it up and released Hugging Chat. Offering internet access, this GenAI solution has been praised as “the first open source alternative to ChatGPT” with a snarky sense of humor. Not to be outdone, Meta partnered with Microsoft to produce LLaMA 2 in July of last year. Following that, the company announced a beta release of Meta AI at the end of September — a GenAI chatbot, currently available in the US, that can “provide real-time information and generate photorealistic images” from text prompts. This solution is expected to reach Meta users across the rest of the globe later in the year. Claude (Anthropic) Our next LLM is made by Anthropic, and it’s named Claude. Founded in 2021, the company along with its language model may be a less familiar name to most non-geeks. But this is likely to change in 2024. That’s the case not only because the latest version of the namesake GenAI chatbot released last year can now process long PDF files of up to 75,000 words, taking moments to summarize entire books. But also because this has already caught the attention of both Google and Amazon who are keen to invest $2 and $4 billion respectively. While Claude doesn’t offer internet access, its processing power, namely input character memory, outpowers every competitor by a wide margin, including ChatGPT. And the company is said to be working on yet more handy features as we speak. HyperCLOVA X (Naver) HyperCLOVA X is both the LLM and the namesake GenAI chatbot released by the South Korean search engine giant, Naver, last August. Boasting over 200 billion parameters, the LLM is being used mainly for AI-assisted web browsing, much like Bing Chat. While HyperCLOVA X doesn’t speak English, the chatbot’s proficiency in Korean is impressive, having learned 6,500 more Korean words than ChatGPT. In addition to answering user queries, HyperCLOVA X has been designed to offer AI assistance to businesses across numerous sectors — from finance to gaming. Naver is also presently working to make HyperCLOVA X multimodal, following in the footsteps of Google’s Gemini, so another big international headline is likely on the way. Pangu (Huawei) Last spring, Huawei, one of the global tech leaders, unveiled Pangu — an LLM with 1.085 trillion parameters in over 40 natural and programming languages. This LLM now powers the Chinese company’s GenAI assistant called Celia, which resides within Huawei’s HarmonyOS 4 operating system. Supposedly, Celia has already outperformed both Siri and Google Assistant as a phone-based virtual assistant in terms of prompt execution accuracy, such as finding specific photos and documents stored on a device. And as more Huawei smartphones are being churned out, Celia is expected to reach more global users this year with further refinements to the Pangu model. In addition, Pangu is available through Huawei Cloud for commercial use. According to a statement from the company’s leadership, the newest Pangu 3.0 utilizes hierarchical architecture, allowing it to be quickly fine-tuned for a wide range of downstream applications (including Huawei’s autonomous vehicle solutions ), which we’ll surely see more of in 2024. MiLM-6B (Xiaomi) Next up is another Chinese company, Xiaomi — one of the largest phone manufacturers in the world. The company made an entry into the LLM race last summer with its MiLM-6B, a lightweight model created for mobile devices. Boasting 6.4 billion parameters, MiLM-6B has reportedly outperformed rivals in its category and achieved notable scores from evaluation platforms like C-Eval and CMMLU. Xiaomi’s leadership has been vocal for some time about integrating LLMs into its smartphones. It appears that the company’s virtual assistant, Xiao AI, has now finally become a fully fledged GenAI chatbot, generating over 11 words per second. By this metric, despite operating locally on the phone, Xiao AI has matched the performance of some LLMs running on cloud computing services. It’ll be interesting to see whether Xiao AI gets assimilated into the company’s other products, as the rumors suggest, including the recently announced Xiaomi SU7, an autonomous-enabled electric sedan. YandexGPT (Yandex) The final entry on our list is an LLM named YandexGPT from the Russian search engine Yandex. The namesake GenAI solution with 100 billion parameters was beta-released in May last year. The more recent release of YandexGPT2 has demonstrated a 65% improvement in response quality, with a 1.5-fold increase in training data. Interestingly, this GenAI solution was tested and scored enough points to enter a Russian university. YandexGPT was also integrated into Yandex’s flagship virtual assistant named Alice, as well as the company’s smart speakers. Furthermore, the LLM has allowed the company’s e-shoppers to view summarized customer reviews in one place. With YandexGPT at the core, the company now also offers visual GenAI solutions, YandexART and Shedevrum, that can generate images from text, much like Open AI’s DALL-E. Currently, the LLM is also being merged with Yandex Search to offer the end user something similar to Bing Chat and HyperCLOVA X. It’s likely that we’ll see a new announcement pertaining to this development later in the year. New kids on the block Apart from the above entries on our list, several brand new LLMs along with their GenAI solutions are expected to arrive any day from other big players. Among them are Samsung from South Korea, Tencent from China, as well as Amazon and Apple. In fact, Apple already has an internal AI chatbot for employees, but its much-talked-about AppleGPT based on the company’s LLM, Ajax, is said to be around the corner. Amazon began to offer a service for building AI chatbots called Lex a while ago, but more notably, the company recently announced its upcoming GenAI solution tailored for commercial use. Japan doesn’t intend to be left behind either — at least three major LLM initiatives are currently being played out. Among them is a joint project between Fujitsu, RIKEN, Tokyo Tech, and Tohoku University who are developing a series of LLMs using one of the world’s most powerful supercomputers, Fugaku. In addition, both NTT and SoftBank are reportedly in the final stages of developing their “homegrown” LLMs. While much remains unclear and covered in mist (or is it gray goo 😉), one thing is certain — 2024 is going to be the most AI-intense year we have seen yet! If you enjoyed this listicle, visit AIport for more exclusive insights into the latest tech trends, with a focus on the global ML landscape. All trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. Contact Details NettResults PR Nick Leighton +1 949-478-5880 nick.leighton@nettresultsllc.com Company Website https://aiport.substack.com/

January 25, 2024 09:53 AM Pacific Standard Time

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IMA Financial Group and Vouch Establish Strategic Partnership To Offer Specialized Insurance to Tech Enterprises at Every Growth Stage

IMA Financial

IMA Financial Group and Vouch, leaders in insurance for technology, life sciences and web3, have today announced the formation of a strategic alliance, merging IMA's brokerage expertise with Vouch's innovative coverage. The alliance disrupts the landscape for innovative tech companies underserved by legacy insurance products. Until now, Vouch has operated exclusively as a managing general agent (MGA), distinguished by its proprietary coverages and direct-to-startup distribution model. IMA is its first retail brokerage partner. To merge its expertise with Vouch’s proprietary insurance products, IMA launched IMA Next.Gen, a new program offering specialized insurance products crafted for venture-backed startups in technology, life sciences and web3. This program fills a crucial market gap, offering unique coverage enhancements and access to 10 exclusive Vouch coverages designed to meet these sectors' rapid innovation and growth needs. Through this partnership, IMA broadens its insurance solutions, providing comprehensive, tailored coverage for the specific challenges tech enterprises face. IMA clients gain exclusive access to Vouch's specialized tech industry products, with preferred pricing and custom coverage options combining standard and specialized insurance products. Mark Ware, EVP at IMA, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership: "Partnering with Vouch enables us to enhance our insurance offerings significantly, ensuring our clients, from startups to IPO-ready companies, have access to the best possible solutions." Sam Hodges, Co-Founder & CEO of Vouch, also remarked on the synergy: "IMA's recognized technology practice and track record with innovation economy clients make them an ideal partner. This collaboration is focused on delivering purpose-built insurance products and experiences for tech businesses." The IMA-Vouch partnership represents a holistic approach to insurance management, catering to companies across their development spectrum. It provides startups with essential insurance products at competitive rates and evolves with them to offer a more comprehensive suite of services as companies grow. The IMA Next.Gen program allows clients to leverage Vouch's proprietary insurance and benefits, including exclusive coverage enhancements developed by IMA, as well as the Vouch technology platform. This digital brokerage tool streamlines the insurance process, offering a seamless, user-friendly experience for managing coverage. As clients grow, the program supports their expanding risk management needs, ensuring continuous, tailored insurance support. "We aim to provide founders with products and services uniquely designed for their specific risks," said Hodges. "Our partnership with IMA is a testament to our commitment to serving technology businesses at every stage of their growth." About IMA Financial Group IMA Financial Group is an independent broker defining the future of insurance through comprehensive and consultative risk and wealth management services. A majority employee-owned and managed company, its 2,300-plus associates in offices across the country are empowered by a shared mission to manage risk, protect assets and make a difference. Learn more at https://www.imacorp.com. About Vouch Vouch is a US-based provider of business insurance to thousands of high-growth companies that has raised $160 million from top-tier Silicon Valley institutions and investors, including Ribbit Capital, Redpoint Ventures, Y Combinator and Index Ventures. Since its inception in 2018, the company has empowered clients to get risk management right through niche expertise, a proprietary approach to pricing and underwriting, fast, digital-first procurement and coverages that scale as the company grows. More information on Vouch can be found at https://www.vouch.us. Vouch Insurance Services, LLC (NPN # 19039391) and Vouch Specialty Insurance Services, LLC (NPN # 19926463) are licensed in the states in which they conduct business. Detailed license information is available at https://www.vouch.us/licenses. Contact Details IMA Financial Group Ruth Rohs +1 303-615-7513 ruth.rohs@imacorp.com Vouch Cassidy Clawson +1 831-247-3750 cassidy.clawson@vouch.us Center Reach Communications Alexandra Campbell alexandra@centerreachcommunication.com Company Website https://imacorp.com/

January 25, 2024 12:00 PM Eastern Standard Time

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Premier Design-Build Construction Firm Kingham Dalton Wilson (KDW) Announces Executive Leadership Changes

Kingham Dalton Wilson, Ltd.

Kingham Dalton Wilson, Ltd. ( KDW ), a renowned leader in the construction industry specializing in design-build industrial and commercial construction, has announced it will expand its executive leadership team to support a growing range of projects. The design-build firm will add two longtime team members to its C-suite. Effective Jan. 1, 2024, Jay Kingham, who joined KDW in 2006, will serve as President, a role formerly held by Keith Dalton, who will remain Chief Executive Officer. Eighteen-year veteran Rolf Scheffler has been named to the new role of Chief Operating Officer. Previously, Kingham was KDW Principal and Construction Manager, while Scheffler served as Director of Special Projects. “Clients rely on us as a single-source solution that excels in every stage of a commercial development,” said Scheffler. “As COO, I will work to optimize efficiency in processes, implement risk management practices and champion quality control initiatives to meet our 2024 operational excellence goals.” Former Project Manager Michael Mann replaces Scheffler as Director of Special Projects, and KDW’s Preconstruction Manager Mark Camilli has become Director of Preconstruction. With over 128 years of combined experience and a track record of more than 2,000 successful projects, KDW has an established reputation for providing the highest-quality construction services with a dedicated team of professionals who prioritize customer satisfaction and deliver projects within scope, within budget and on time. In 2023, the company launched nearly 40 projects, including Sovereign Flavors’ Kyle, Texas, headquarters, Balcones Resources’ San Antonio-based material recovery facility, Elin Energy’s Waller County, Texas, solar panel manufacturing facility and Newton Nursery’s Spring, Texas, nursery. The momentum continues into 2024, with additional projects slated for completion throughout the year. "As KDW expands in and beyond Texas, we need additional leaders to serve our growing client portfolio and employee base,” said Dalton. “The new structure recognizes and supports our employees’ dedication and professional development and provides a strong foundation for our future.” Kingham Dalton Wilson, Ltd. ( KDW ) is a full-service design-build firm specializing in customized industrial and commercial construction. With a team of more than 100 in-house designers, architects and multidisciplinary building professionals, the company is a single-source, one-contract solution for global and domestic companies, designing and building facilities that meet complex client specifications, often in niche industries such as cold storage, clean technology, food manufacturing and oil and gas. With headquarters in Houston and an office in Austin, KDW has completed more than 2,000 projects across Texas since its founding in 2004. For more information, visit www.kdw.com. Contact Details Jessica Poulalier jessica@centerreachcommunication.com Company Website https://www.kdwltd.com/

January 25, 2024 09:00 AM Central Standard Time

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Start the Year Investing in Yourself

YourUpdateTV

Following a busy holiday season, now could be the time to shift from shopping and gift giving to setting the stage for a financially rewarding future. In the new year, you can reflect on how you have been managing your finances, set a strong tone for the year ahead, and even start investing as a first step towards your future goals. The team behind Plynk, an app designed to help people manage and grow their money through investing, spoke with customers about how to begin investing at their recent “Investing Dollar Store events in Austin and New Orleans. Maya Sudhakaran, Plynk’s Head of Growth and Acquisition, and the rest of the Plynk team were able to connect with customers on important strategies to manage financial stress from the start of the holidays through the new year– and highlight the tools that can help. An example of one of these tools is Plynk, which can help you kick off investing with just $1, and has tools like automatic contributions, a sign-up bonus*, and expert ratings to support your investing journey. Maya Sudhakaran conducted a media tour discussing why the new year could be a great time to start investing. She emphasized how a small investment (even a single dollar) can help prepare for a brighter financial future. Topics that Maya discussed during her media tour included: How you can start investing with as little as $1. First steps that someone could take if they are thinking about investing. How the Plynk app works. Ways that even small investments can help set you up for a successful financial future. For more information, visit plynkinvest.com Keep in mind that investing involves risk, including the risk of loss. The value of your investment will fluctuate over time, and you may gain or lose money. *Limited time offer. Terms and conditions apply. The Plynk® app provides access to two different types of accounts, brokerage and crypto. Brokerage accounts and related information and services are provided by Digital Brokerage Services LLC (DBS), member of FINRA, opens in new window and SIPC, opens in new window. 499 Washington Boulevard, Fidelity Internal Information Jersey City, NJ 07310. Crypto accounts and related information and services are provided by Paxos Trust Company (Paxos), a New York State-Chartered limited liability trust company (NMLS #1766787). The information herein is not intended to serve as a basis for any investment decision or recommendation. Digital Brokerage Services LLC does not provide financial or investment advice, and you should conduct your own due diligence and alaysis based on your specific needs. © 2024 FMR LLC. All rights reserved. #1128006.1.0 Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

January 23, 2024 02:30 PM Eastern Standard Time

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