News Hub | News Direct

Professional Services

Architecture CRM/Customer Service Consulting Government & Policy Human Resources Intellectual Property/Trademark/Patent Law Legal
Article thumbnail News Release

EY Report: Surety Bonding Provides Strong Economic Value and Strengthens Performance for Public and Private Construction Projects

SFAA

A new study released today, The Economic Value of Surety Bonds, finds public and private construction projects protected by surety have lower rates of contractor default, lower cost of completion in the case of default, and are finished faster than non-bonded projects. For a bonded portfolio of construction projects, the overall value of surety bonds more than covers their cost. The study, by Ernst & Young’s (EY) Quantitative Economics and Statistics Group (QUEST), was conducted in collaboration with the Surety & Fidelity Association of America (SFAA) which released the findings. EY’s analysis quantified the benefits surety bonding generates throughout the lifecycle of a portfolio of public and private construction projects – including benefits extending beyond the financial protection surety companies provide when contractors default. As a result, EY’s research found that bonded project portfolios modeled perform better than unbonded portfolios, even when considering conservative default rates. “The report exposes the risks of unbonded construction projects, including project delays and higher costs, especially in the case of default, and shows that state and federal laws requiring surety bonds are sound. It’s just good public policy,” said SFAA president and CEO Lee Covington. “EY is a trusted, data-driven firm, and their analysis makes clear surety bonds deliver exceptional economic value for vital American infrastructure projects. EY’s report highlights the economic value and protections surety bonds deliver for both public and private construction projects,” continued Covington. Based on a survey of public and private developers, interviews with experts on construction project defaults, and an assessment of project portfolios, the analysis identified three areas where surety bonds have a significant impact on public and private construction projects. Lower cost of completion upon default and necessary completion expertise – Unbonded construction projects on which the contractor defaults were found to have a cost of completion 85% higher than projects protected by surety bonds. Experts on construction project defaults also unanimously indicated the surety is generally more able to provide the expertise and resources needed to promote a successful transition or re-procurement process than an owner. Over 90% of these experts reported public and private owners/developers generally do not have the expertise and resources to complete the project. Lower rate or likelihood of default – Unbonded projects are more likely to default than bonded projects, perhaps by as much as ten times. This analysis assessed portfolio performance using a default rate of 2.5 times, 5 times, and 10 times a bonded portfolio’s default rate, and generally found unbonded projects are more likely to default than bonded projects. This is in large part because unbonded projects lack the various types of support bonding provides to projects (e.g., prequalification of a contractor’s expertise and financial strength, greater project oversight). Improved or lower contractor pricing – 75% of owners/developers surveyed reported that surety bonding reduces contractor pricing. Respondents cited increased confidence in the general contractor to complete the project and pay subcontractors and payment protections for subcontractors as some of the factors that impact contractor pricing. The analysis demonstrates that any level of improved contractor pricing will only increase the cost benefits of a portfolio of bonded projects. “This report provides a comprehensive examination of the economic benefits and protections of surety,” said Principal & Co-leader, Ernst & Young (EY) Quantitative Economic and Statistics (QUEST) Group, Robert Carroll. “Based on our analysis, the multiple benefits surety delivers help manage risk and provide strong economic and performance value to construction projects," continued Carroll. The EY report found additional benefits surety bonds bring to both public and private construction projects, including: More rigorous prequalification and review – Prior to construction, prequalification was more likely to occur for bonded projects (96% of respondents reported that pre-qualification was performed for bonded projects as compared to 61% for non-bonded), and during construction, contractors provided more information for bonded projects - general contractors were nearly twice as likely to share more than one financial update for bonded projects as for non-bonded projects. Higher priority placed on bonded projects and greater project oversight – Respondents reported that contractors prioritize bonded projects when experiencing financial challenges. Nearly 5 times as many respondents indicated that contractors place a higher priority on bonded projects as compared to unbonded projects when facing financial difficulty. Greater project oversight with more involvement by construction managers is likely to help prevent losses. Greater timeliness of completion – 5 times as many public and private owners reported, bonded projects are more likely to be completed on time or ahead of schedule than non-bonded projects. And when a project does default, an unbonded project will take nearly 2 times longer to complete than a bonded project. Necessary experience and resources when defaults occur – 100% of construction default experts surveyed/interviewed for this analysis said sureties have the expertise, tools and resources necessary to complete a project in the most cost and time-effective manner as compared to an owner who does not have the same expertise and experience as a surety. To read the EY report and get additional information visit www.surety.org/suretyprotects. The Surety & Fidelity Association of America (SFAA) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan trade association representing all segments of the surety and fidelity industry. Based in Washington, D.C., SFAA works to promote the value of surety and fidelity bonding by proactively advocating on behalf of its members and stakeholders. The association’s more than 425 member companies write 98 percent of surety and fidelity bonds in the U.S. For more information visit www.surety.org. EY exists to build a better working world, helping to create long-term value for clients, people and society and build trust in the capital markets. Enabled by data and technology, diverse EY teams in over 150 countries provide trust through assurance and help clients grow, transform and operate. Working across assurance, consulting, law, strategy, tax and transactions, EY teams ask better questions to find new answers for the complex issues facing our world today. EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. Information about how EY collects and uses personal data and a description of the rights individuals have under data protection legislation are available via ey.com/privacy. EY member firms do not practice law where prohibited by local laws. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com. Contact Details Peter Roth +1 703-401-0676 proth@surety.org Company Website https://surety.org/

November 17, 2022 09:40 AM Eastern Standard Time

Article thumbnail News Release

Volatus Aerospace Introduces All-Terrain Robotic Crawler, Hydra

Volatus Aerospace Corp.

Today, Volatus Aerospace Corp. (TSXV: VOL) (OTCQB: VLTTF) ("Volatus" or "the Company") introduces the robotic crawler, Hydra. Outfitted with wear-resistant all-terrain treads and built on a solid metal chassis, the Hydra is a robotic crawler platform controlled with a rugged dual-screen remote and equipped with an easy-to-use customizable switch layout. Designed for use in a variety of applications with a wide range of payloads, it can handle challenging terrains and dangerous situations with ease, prioritizing the safety of human life. “The Hydra was built to withstand tough conditions, like those you would encounter at mining sites and wildfires,” explained Pedram Nowroozi, CTO of Volatus aerospace. “In fact, we began development on the Hydra based on a need from one of our mining clients. They wanted to be able to go into tight and rugged spaces with a LiDAR sensor for surveying and mapping projects that would otherwise be dangerous for their crew. We are proud of what we accomplished and very excited to be making these units available commercially.” “ According to Future Market Insights, smart mining technologies alone are predicted to reach $9 B by 2032 US with a CAGR of 14%,” said Glen Lynch, CEO of Volatus Aerospace. “The Hydra was designed to capture that market and has the capability to expand into other diverse markets like firefighting. In fact, we’ve already developed a model that can provide fire suppression so that firefighters can multiply their workforce when fighting complex and dangerous fires.” Customizable to fit client’s exact needs, the Hydra can handle up to 120 kilograms with a standard three-hour runtime in a 2-kilometer range, with optional upgrades to increase range, including a 5G 4 SIM LTE module and a larger 6-hour battery. Volatus’ mining client has already taken delivery of their first Hydra unit. The Company is now making it available to more clients as off the shelf or a specifically customized product. About Volatus Aerospace: Volatus Aerospace Corp. is a leading provider of integrated drone solutions throughout North America and growing into Latin America and globally. Volatus serves civil, public safety, and defense markets with imaging and inspection, security and surveillance, equipment sales and support, training, as well as R&D, design, and manufacturing. Through our subsidiary, Volatus Aviation, we are introducing green and innovative drone solutions to supplement and replace traditional aircraft and helicopters for long-linear inspections such as pipeline, energy, rail, and cargo services. Volatus is committed to carbon neutrality; the fostering of a safe, equitable and inclusive workplace; and responsible governance. Forward-Looking Information This news release contains statements that constitute “forward-looking information” and “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs, and current expectations of the Company with respect to future business activities and operating performance. Often, but not always, forward-looking information and forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “plans”, “expects”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates”, or “believes” or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or statements formed in the future tense or indicating that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” (or other variations of the foregoing) be taken, occur, be achieved, or come to pass. Forward-looking information includes information regarding: (i) the business plans and expectations of the Company; and (ii) expectations for other economic, business, and/or competitive factors. Forward-looking information is based on currently available competitive, financial, and economic data and operating plans, strategies, or beliefs as of the date of this news release, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors may be based on information currently available to the Company, including information obtained from third-party industry analysts and other third-party sources, and are based on management’s current expectations or beliefs. Any and all forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking information is not based on historical facts but instead reflects expectations, estimates or projections concerning future results or events based on the opinions, assumptions and estimates of management considered reasonable at the date the statements are made. Forward-looking information and forward-looking statements reflect the Company’s current beliefs and is based on information currently available to it and on assumptions it believes to be not unreasonable in light of all of the circumstances. In some instances, material factors or assumptions are discussed in this news release in connection with statements containing forward-looking information. Such material factors and assumptions include, but are not limited to: the commercialization of drone flights beyond visual line of sight and potential benefits to the Company; and meeting the continued listing requirements of the TSXV. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. The forward-looking information contained herein is made as of the date of this news release and, other than as required by law, the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Source: Volatus Aerospace Corp. TSXV: VOL Contact Details Pedram Nowroozi +1 647-887-1448 pedram.nowroozi@volatusaerospace.com Company Website https://volatusaerospace.com

November 17, 2022 06:30 AM Eastern Standard Time

Image
Article thumbnail News Release

New Alvarez & Marsal Fall 2022 Consumer Sentiment Report - Highlights Impacts of Inflation, Weak Optimism

Alvarez & Marsal Consumer and Retail Group

Category spend down y-o-y for basic needs, experiences, gifts & indulgences 7 in 10 Consumers plan to spend less on holiday shopping Rising prices create concern across all age groups New York, NY —November 16, 2022— Global professional services firm Alvarez & Marsal’s Consumer and Retail Group (A&M CRG) today released its newest consumer report, Consumer Sentiment Survey Fall 2022, which looks at the impacts of inflation and resultant changes in consumer spending over the last year, as well as spending expectations into the holidays and for the coming six-month period. This is the third chapter of its bi-annual Consumer Sentiment Report, based on a survey of 1,500+ consumers matching the U.S. adult population according to gender, age, ethnicity, region and income. The report covers various changing behaviors in response to inflation, including around consumers’ holiday spending plans, shopping priorities by category, concerns over rising prices, other factors that will affect holiday purchase decisions, and more. “Our objective was to understand how inflation is affecting the American consumer in terms of their optimism or lack thereof, their buying patterns and expectations, and their preferred shopping channels – especially as we go into the holiday season” noted Jonathan Sharp, Managing Director at Alvarez & Marsal’s Consumer and Retail Group, and lead author of the study. “What we found is that extended inflationary pressures are causing U.S. consumers to retrench further and curtail even more their discretionary spending – even categories that had seemed somewhat immune in spring 2022 are now under pressure.” Additionally, many fear that inflation has yet to peak, with 65% of consumers expecting prices to continue to rise in the next 6 months. The study found that: Almost 9 in 10 consumers have adopted new habits in response to inflation; 7 in 10 are altering their holiday shopping habits Among shopping priorities by category, only grocery was up, vs. dining out, which was down by 40% Concerns over rising prices rise with age, as do plans to spend less on indulgences Consumer expectations on things getting better, saving more, having more money, and plans to spend the same or more on basic needs were all down year-over-year This year’s holiday season looks like it will also be impacted by consumer spending reticence. The most significant changes people are making is a reduction in their overall gift spending; 1 in 3 shoppers plan to spend less on gifts this holiday season. The report provides insights into the factors that will have an impact on purchase decisions this holiday, including shipping fees, more limited return policies, potential upcoming sales, holiday availability, and Buy Now Pay Later options. “Smart retailers will remain agile in responding to deal-hungry, penny-pinching consumers,” added Jonathan Sharp. “Inventory management, pricing and cost management will continue to be severely challenged.” To download a pdf of Consumer Sentiment Survey Fall 2022, please visit: https://alvarezandmarsal-crg.com/insight/am-crg-consumer-sentiment-survey-fall-2022/ The Alvarez and Marsal Consumer and Retail Group (CRG) is a management consulting firm that tackles the most complex challenges and advances its clients, people, and communities towards their maximum potential. CRG combines the best of A&M’s broader firm's bias toward action and practicality with deep consumer and retail industry experience. CRG partners with businesses across a wide range of categories including Food & Beverage, Beauty & Personal Care, Grocery, Mass Merchandise, and Apparel & Footwear to drive significant performance improvement. Contact Details David Schneidman dschneidman@alvarezandmarsal.com Company Website https://www.alvarezandmarsal.com/industries/retail/retail

November 16, 2022 11:47 AM Eastern Standard Time

Article thumbnail News Release

Goodera raises $10M to bring employee volunteering to workplaces around the world

Goodera

As organizations navigate hybrid work environments and seek greater opportunities to be good corporate citizens, employee volunteering programs are becoming a favorite for combining social impact and employee engagement. Scaling with this trend, Goodera, the leading employee volunteering company, is today announcing a $10M series A funding round to bring employee volunteering to every workplace. Investors in this round include Elevation Capital, Zoom Ventures, Xto10X, Nexus Venture Partners, Omidyar Network, Binny Bansal, and others. “ Goodera has reimagined volunteering to meet the needs of the evolving workforce. Their inspiring growth makes me hopeful about a future where employers embrace action on important causes like diversity, equity, and climate change. I am excited to support Goodera in this mission of engaging millions of employees in volunteering. ” said Ursula Burns, the former CEO of Xerox. Ursula is an investor and mentor to Goodera. Goodera executes virtual, hybrid, and in-person volunteering experiences for employees in 100+ countries and 20+ languages across multiple causes - education, climate change, diversity and inclusion, accessibility, etc. benefitting 50k+ nonprofits. Goodera brings much-needed technology and innovation to the volunteering space. Goodera has grown into the market leader with over 400 customers like IBM, Target, EY, Amazon, and other leading brands, including 60 from Fortune 500. Goodera eliminates the friction and overhead of volunteering management for enterprises. Through Goodera, enterprises can provide on-demand, impactful and engaging volunteering experiences to employees worldwide. Some volunteering experiences include – reviewing resumes of BIPOC youth, assembling solar lamps for the homeless, planting trees, and cleaning up parks, among others. This important combination of social impact and employee engagement has seen adoption by companies in novel ways. New use cases include volunteering as a new employee onboarding activity, celebrating Holidays, as an agenda in town halls, and even as leadership and team-building exercises. “ Volunteering has become mainstream across companies of sizes, sectors, and geographies. It is the most meaningful employee engagement, especially for Gen Z and millennials. Goodera solves a massive need that was underserved and overlooked, especially in the remote and hybrid working environment. We are proud to be a customer and now an investor in their ambition to bring volunteering to every workplace,” said Sanjay Rao, Head of Corporate Development, M&A Strategy, and Zoom Ventures. “ Every team in the world wants to volunteer, but there is insane friction in the process. From finding the right nonprofit to finalizing the volunteering activity, logistics, and impact measurement, there are a lot of overheads. We simplify volunteering and eliminate these overheads. Millions of employees can now volunteer without spending time and effort on volunteer management. We are proud of the social impact we have created for thousands of nonprofits and relish the joy and empathy we bring to millions of employees. This fundraise will help us scale our infrastructure to enable millions of employees to volunteer,” said Abhishek Humbad, Founder and CEO of Goodera. As of today, Goodera’s platform provides access to 10M+ employees through their customers, and they aim to reach 100M+ employees by 2025. Goodera will invest the funds to scale its team, technology, and activity catalog. About Goodera Goodera is the world’s leading platform for employee volunteering. Goodera curates volunteer opportunities across causes from 50K+ nonprofits and hosts them as an engaging experience for employees. With presence in 100+ countries, their volunteering programs are making social impact accessible and engaging for employees in every workplace - in-person, remote, and hybrid. Goodera powers corporate volunteerism programs for 400+ enterprises, 60 of which are from Fortune 500. About Abhishek Humbad Abhishek is the Founder & CEO of Goodera, a leading employee volunteering platform. He has spent more than a decade building enterprises focused on social and environmental impact. Goodera aims to be the Airbnb of employee volunteering with Goodera and engage every workplace on the planet with their volunteer experiences Contact Details Goodera Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com Company Website https://www.goodera.com/

November 16, 2022 09:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

Image
Article thumbnail News Release

Hoonartek Expands its Presence into US

Hoonartek

Hoonartek a global data, lending and analytics service provider today announced its expansion in the US market with the opening of its first US center located in New Jersey. The launch comes along with the setting up of a new dedicated Ab Initio Centre of Excellence (COE) for the US, focused on innovation and solutions for existing and new clients in the region. This reinforces Hoonartek’s positioning as a preferred Ab Initio solution partner providing a full spectrum of offerings, including architecture & planning, program management, turnkey implementation, devops, and assurance, along with innovative managed services. The COE has been launched as part of Hoonartek’s larger strategy of extending their leadership capabilities in Ab Initio delivery and forging strategic collaborations in the US market focused on metadata automation, self-service, governance, cloud deployment, legacy transformation capabilities, and turnkey solutions. Speaking on the US expansion, Peeyoosh Pandey, CEO, Hoonartek, said, “The US is the centerpiece of the growth plan we have charted for ourselves. With a dedicated and skilled talent pool, robust infrastructure, and an estimated integration software market value of US$ 19.5bn by 2032, the US epitomizes the world’s most promising market for our services. We remain committed to contributing to this vast market by expanding our presence in the region. We offer innovative US businesses (and their offshore subsidiaries) excellence in delivering end-to-end solutions leveraging Ab Initio technology. With this launch, we are building on out over decade-long special relationship with Ab Initio in making our mutual US customers successful and replicating our success from the UK, Asia, Europe, and South Africa.” The Ab Initio Delivery COE will help Hoonartek drive actionable banking and digital-specific solutions and insights to help enterprises fully realize the potential of their data infrastructure. An 800+ consultants-strong boutique organization, Hoonartek is actively augmenting its talent in the US to scale its operations and drive technology solutions through the COE. Congratulating Hoonartek on the launch of the Ab Initio Delivery COE and US expansion, Ab Initio Head of International Operations, Alan Parker said, “For over a decade, Hoonartek has been a trusted Ab Initio partner and has deployed transformative Ab Initio centric solutions for many customers. We believe their focus on innovation, delivery and quality will continue to make our mutual customers successful. With exciting new releases coming from Ab Initio in cloud, data fabric, and active metadata our customers will have more opportunities than ever to benefit from Hoonartek’s expertise and add value to their operations.” The new center will leverage Hoonartek’s innovative accelerators and frameworks for Ab Initio to drive automation, self-service, governance, cloud deployment, and legacy transformation. The suite of accelerators will help customers and their business stakeholders rapidly deploy modern data fabric-centric architectures. “We are constantly looking to help our customers be successful. We aim to do this by helping our customers make more out of their existing investments in Ab Initio and complementing our background in lending, cloud, and building data/metadata products,” Pandey further added. Hiren Thakkar, CTO, Hoonartek said, “High-performance data platforms are increasingly becoming necessary for the growth of complex organizations. These platforms are critical for business agility, automation and self-service and should have the potential to adapt to new realities in the ever-evolving world of business computing. Our capabilities in true transformative data engineering and our skilled devops teams put us in a strong position to help clients understand huge amounts of changing data, enabling them to make insightful decisions and automate solutions leveraging the power of Ab Initio. The launch of Hoonartek US Ab Initio Delivery COE will position us closer to our customer teams onsite and help us leverage our market expertise with them in their journey of excellence.” Contact Details Consocia Advisory Som Sengupta +91 88618 22111 ssengupta@consociaadvisory.com Company Website http://www.hoonartek.com/

November 16, 2022 08:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

Article thumbnail News Release

Stagwell (STGW) Agency Assembly joins The Attention Council

Assembly

Omnichannel media agency Assembly, part of Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW), has joined The Attention Council as an agency member, further bolstering its commitment to meet the mixed media demands of its burgeoning global client cohort. The Attention Council is a coalition of advertising technology companies committed to promoting attention as a primary metric for understanding advertising and increasing advocacy for the wider adoption of cross-platform attention metrics in the planning, buying, and selling of media. Andy Brown, CEO of TAC, commented, “I am delighted to welcome Assembly to The Attention Council. They join at a time of major growth for use of attention metrics in the media and marketing industry. I look forward to them playing an important role in the evolution in the coming years”. Joel Coppersmith, Global Head of Measurement & Effectiveness at Assembly, added, "The media landscape has evolved and so have the ways in which consumers and media interact. There is a lot still to learn as we seek ways to improve the effectiveness of media and advertising at driving business outcomes.” “The value and use of attention and attention-based metrics is a fascinating, and hotly debated, topic that may shed light on how we can deliver better advertising, and Assembly is delighted to be part of driving that conversation forward". ABOUT ASSEMBLY: Assembly is the modern global omnichannel media agency, bringing data, talent, and technology together to find the change that fuels growth for the best brands on the planet. Our approach connects big, bold brand stories with integrated, global media capabilities that deliver performance and drive large-scale business growth. Our work is powered by our proprietary, in-house technology solution, STAGE, and led by our global talent base of over 1,600 people around the world. We’re purpose-driven at our core and pioneers in social and environmental impact in the agency world. Assembly is a proud member of Stagwell, the challenger network built to transform marketing. Visit www.assemblyglobal.com Contact Details Assembly Gunilla Huddleston, VP of Marketing, EMEA gunilla.huddleston@assemblyglobal.com Company Website https://www.assemblyglobal.com/

November 16, 2022 04:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

Article thumbnail News Release

Elsevier and Council of Australian University Librarians sign agreement to support transition to open access publishing alongside continued research access for Australia and New Zealand researchers

Elsevier

Elsevier, a global leader in research publishing and information analytics, today announced that it has signed an agreement with the Council of Australian University Librarians ( CAUL ) – the negotiating body representing universities in Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) – to provide immediate open access to ANZ research for the world and continued access to global research for ANZ readers. The three-year agreement addresses CAUL’s goals for a rapid and sustainable transition to open access publishing and represents the largest transformative agreement for both countries. Under the agreement, which takes effect from January 2023, ANZ researchers at CAUL-affiliated academic institutions that participate in the agreement can make their research articles immediately available via open access publishing in Elsevier’s journals. Robert Gerrity, Board Director of CAUL and University Librarian at Monash University, said: “We see this agreement with Elsevier as a vital step in providing greater value to researchers in Australia and New Zealand through the inclusion of open access publishing. While this agreement provides opportunities for authors to share research more widely, we will continue to work with Elsevier to evolve this agreement to meet the needs of individual universities and their different research profiles. This agreement is an important first step in that journey.” Gemma Hersh, SVP of Global Academic & Government Sales, Elsevier, said: “We are delighted to continue building on our long-standing relationship with CAUL with an agreement that supports the priorities of the ANZ research community to transition to open access. We are grateful to CAUL for their partnership and pragmatism in reaching what is now the largest transformative agreement across Australasia and we look forward to continuing our partnership with ANZ institutions.” As one of the fastest-growing open access publishers in the world, nearly all of Elsevier's 2,800 journals enable open access publishing, including 600 fully open access journals. We now support over 2,000 institutions globally to publish open access through transformative agreements. In 2021 Elsevier published 119,000 gold or pay-to-publish open access articles, an increase of more than 46% over 2020. For more on how Elsevier supports open access, please visit our website. Notes to editors About Council of Australian University Librarians (CAUL) The Council of Australian University Librarians (CAUL) is the peak leadership organisation for university libraries in Australia and New Zealand. CAUL members are the University Librarians or equivalent of the 39 institutions that have representation on Universities Australia (UA) and the 8 University Librarians or equivalent of the institutions that have representation on Universities New Zealand (UNZ) and who form the Council of New Zealand University Librarians (CONZUL), a committee of UNZ. CAUL makes a significant contribution to higher education strategy, policy and outcomes through a commitment to a shared purpose: To transform how people experience knowledge – how it can be discovered, used and shared. CAUL’s vision is that society is transformed through the power of research, teaching and learning. University libraries are essential knowledge and information infrastructures that enable student achievement and research excellence. About Elsevier As a global leader in information and analytics, Elsevier helps researchers and healthcare professionals advance science and improve health outcomes for the benefit of society. We do this by facilitating insights and critical decision-making for customers across the global research and health ecosystems. In everything we publish, we uphold the highest standards of quality and integrity. We bring that same rigor to our information analytics solutions for researchers, health professionals, institutions and funders. Elsevier employs 8,700 people worldwide. We have supported the work of our research and health partners for more than 140 years. Growing from our roots in publishing, we offer knowledge and valuable analytics that help our users make breakthroughs and drive societal progress. Digital solutions such as ScienceDirect, Scopus, SciVal, ClinicalKey and Sherpath support strategic research management, R&D performance, clinical decision support, and health education. Researchers and healthcare professionals rely on our 2,700+ journals, including The Lancet and Cell; our 43,000+ eBook titles; and our iconic reference works, such as Gray's Anatomy. With the Elsevier Foundation and our external Inclusion & Diversity Advisory Board, we work in partnership with diverse stakeholders to advance inclusion and diversity in science, research and healthcare in developing countries and around the world. Elsevier is part of RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. www.elsevier.com Contact Details Elsevier Communications Jason Chan +65 6349 0240 j.chan@elsevier.com Company Website https://www.elsevier.com/

November 14, 2022 05:00 PM Eastern Standard Time

Article thumbnail News Release

CORRECTING AND REPLACING: Ryan VanDePutte Joins Inspirant Group as Sales Director

Inspirant Group

Inspirant Group, the award-winning disruptive management Consulting firm, has appointed Ryan VanDePutte as Sales Director. With a multi disciplinary background, VanDePutte has deep experience in project delivery, enterprise, and mid-market sales, assisting companies in simplifying their unique business and technology challenges. In his new role, VanDePutte will drive transformation initiatives and business development for the fast-growing Chicagoland company. “We’re thrilled to welcome Ryan to our team of Unconsultants. It is the exact right time to have his leadership and expertise at this stage of Inspirant Group ’s growth as we continue to expand our service offerings,” said Meighan Newhouse, Co Founder and CEO, Inspirant Group. “I’m delighted to join Inspirant Group and the talented team of Unconsultants in developing the Appian practice area,” VanDePutte shared. “This will allow us to draw upon the team’s collective knowledge base and experience in delivering best in class transformation initiatives to our clients.” VanDePutte holds a Bachelor of Science degree in operations management and information systems from Ball State University - Miller School of Business. He resides in the Chicagoland area with his wife and three children. Founded in 2017, Inspirant Group is the award-winning, remote-first management “UNconsulting” firm that takes companies from inspiration to transformation. By stripping away the bureaucracy and complexity associated with the traditional “big 4” and mid-tier consulting firms, Inspirant ’s team of UNconsultants delivers high touch service and advises clients in three service lines: strategy & operational agility, talent & organization, and technology & data. This mirrors the company’s approach to any engagement: optimize processes, ensure the right people are in the right seats, and make the tech and data work for the client (and not the other way around). Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Inspirant is Certified™ by Great Place to Work ®, the employee experience award, and was honored with two 2022 Built In awards including Best Remote-First Places to Work in the US and 22 StartUps to Watch in Chicago. For more information, visit: Inspirantgrp.com and follow us on LinkedIn. Contact Details Julie Livingston +1 347-239-0249 julie@wantleverage.com Company Website https://inspirantgrp.com

November 14, 2022 09:30 AM Central Standard Time

Article thumbnail News Release

Political and Public Affairs Consultants Gather in London for 55th Annual International Association of Political Consultants Conference

International Association of Political Consultants

With the US midterm, Israeli, and Brazilian elections recently completed, international political and public affairs consultants from around the world will gather in London, UK for the 55 th annual International Association of Political Consultants (IAPC) conference to share, learn and discuss democracy, election strategy and the latest trends in campaigns. The conference will take place at the Royal Horseguards Hotel (2 Whitehall Court) from Monday November 14 th to Wednesday, November 16 th. The conference will feature speakers including: · Dame Arlene Foster PC – Former First Minister of Northern Ireland · Frances O’Grady – General Secretary of the Trades Union Council (UK) · Feyi Akindoyeni – President, Australian Professional Government Relations Association · Hakan Svenneling MP – Left Party of Sweden · Christopher Hope – Associate Editor (Politics) of the Daily Telegraph · Guy Benson – Fox News contributor and Political Editor of Townhall.com · John Zogby – Founder of the Zogby international poll Among the topics for discussion: · Diversity in politics – What does it really mean · How do governments communicate to stakeholders · European future borders and internal divides · US midterms – What happened and what does it mean · The role of the media in shaping political discourse Established in 1968, The International Association of Political Consultants is committed to fostering democracy and the democratic process throughout the world. Members span a variety of political backgrounds and activities fostering the growing and diverse profession of political consulting as well as the practical aspects of democratic elections. Contact Details International Association of Political Consultants Marcel Wieder - Vice President Communications +1 416-907-2126 marcel@aurorastrategy.com Company Website https://www.iapc.org

November 11, 2022 12:18 PM Eastern Standard Time

1 ... 6061626364 ... 165