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Thirty-one Contract Managers Graduate from North Carolina Procurement Academy Certification Program

National Contract Management Association

CONTACT INFORMATION: Dominick Belfiore, Director of Operations and Special Projects Phone: (571) 382-1121 Email: dominick.belfiore@ncmahq.org Jody Cleven, Ph.D. Deputy State Purchasing Officer/Chief Learning Officer Phone: (984) 236-0251 Email: jody.cleven@doa.nc.gov Thirty-one contract managers graduated from the North Carolina Contract Manager (NCCM) certification program in 2022. The program is run by the North Carolina Department of Administration’s (NCDOA) Division of Purchase & Contract as part of the North Carolina Procurement Academy. Officially launched in 2019 in response to a legislative mandate, the NCCM program provides state employees key training and best practices on contract administration and negotiation strategies. More than 200 contract managers have participated in the program. “North Carolina procurement and contract managers play a critical role in bringing efficient and effective government to the people of North Carolina,” said North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper. “Earning professional certification reinforces the public trust and their dedication to public service improves lives across the state." The six-course certification program is based on the National Contract Management Association (NCMA) Contract Management Body of Knowledge® (CMBOK®) and the Contract Management Standard™ (CMS™), which are nationally recognized programs used by contract managers across federal and state government agencies, universities, and other organizations nationwide. NCMA Chief Executive Officer Kraig Conrad delivered the graduation address at the NCCM graduation ceremony held in Raleigh, NC, in June 2022. NCDOA State Purchasing Officer David O’Neal said, “Our NCCM program seeks to develop critical thinking public procurement professionals, while introducing a common language that helps to ensure effective communication across all levels of procurement and contracting.” Graduates of the North Carolina Purchasing Academy program are required to recertify their credential every five years. Earlier this year, the academy also launched the North Carolina Purchaser Certification Program that focuses on the entire procurement process. Already, plans are underway for another certification level, the North Carolina Purchasing Officer, with an anticipated release in 2023. For more information about the North Carolina Procurement Academy certification program, visit https://ncadmin.nc.gov/. The North Carolina Procurement Academy (NCPA) promotes professional competency and growth for individuals performing procurement and contract management roles with the state. Operating within the Department of Administration's Division of Purchase & Contract, the academy provides rigorous and relevant certification pathways based on national standards of competence in public procurement, as well as a variety of professional development opportunities to help procurement personnel improve their practice. To learn more, please visit https://ncadmin.nc.gov/. The National Contract Management Association (NCMA), which was founded in 1959 and is the world’s leading association in the field of contract management. The organization, which has over 18,000 members, is dedicated to the professional growth and educational advancement of procurement and acquisition personnel worldwide. NCMA strives to serve and inform the profession and industry it represents and to offer opportunities for the open exchange of ideas in neutral forums. To learn more, please visit www.ncmahq.org. ### The National Contract Management Association (NCMA), which was founded in 1959 and is the world’s leading association in the field of contract management. The organization, which has over 18,000 members, is dedicated to the professional growth and educational advancement of procurement and acquisition personnel worldwide. NCMA strives to serve and inform the profession and industry it represents and to offer opportunities for the open exchange of ideas in neutral forums. To find out more, please visit www.ncmahq.org. Contact Details Dominick Belfiore +1 571-207-5151 dominick.belfiore@ncmahq.org Company Website https://www.ncmahq.org/

November 17, 2022 11:45 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Minuteman Press Franchisees Dawn and Dean Seifert Celebrate 15 Years in Youngstown, Ohio

Minuteman Press International Inc

Dawn and Dean Seifert, owners of two Minuteman Press franchises in Youngstown and Warren, Ohio, are celebrating 15 years in business for their Youngstown location, which opened in May 2007. Minuteman Press in Youngstown is located at 3200 Belmont Avenue, Youngstown, OH 44505. In January 2020, Dawn and Dean purchased Minuteman Press in Warren located at 2460 Elm Road NE, Unit 500, Warren, OH 44483. Prior to franchising with Minuteman Press, Dean grew up in a family-owned print shop while Dawn worked in banking. They decided to own a business “to set our own destiny,” says Dawn. When asked about their success and longevity over the past 15 years, Dean says, “There are 4 keys to our business: Being able to have two of our four children work with us in the family business. Our customer service – we never tell a client that something can’t be done. We update our equipment when needed to make sure we operate efficiently. Following the Minuteman Press franchise system and marketing to our clients and community.” Dawn adds the following insights on how they have successfully marketed the business. She says, “There are 4 primary ways we have grown our business: Getting involved in the community and sponsoring various local events. Visiting our clients on a regular basis. Providing customers with our branded promotional items. Utilizing email marketing campaigns.” For Dawn and Dean, their high-demand products from clients include “custom printed brochures, branded promotional products, and full-scale direct mail marketing campaigns that include graphic design, printing, and mailing.” Dean says, “People still like to have something to hold onto and printing is the perfect way to put your brand in their hands and make a lasting impression.” Today, the local business community is looking bright. Dean shares, “We are excited to be part of a community along Liberty’s Belmont Avenue Business Corridor, which is the Mahoning Valley’s home base for many family-owned businesses. We are local businesses supporting each other and our customers. One of the biggest rewards of owning this business is building real relationships with our clients and having them become part of our family.” As part of the Minuteman Press franchise system for 15 years, Dawn and Dean share their three key benefits of franchising: “The corporate and local regional offices are always just a phone call away. The training was perfect for us and laid the foundation for how we operate our business. The Minuteman Press FLEX software helps us manage our business – it is easy to learn and operate/maintain.” As for what advice they would give to other businesses owners right now, Dean says, “Don’t try to do everything yourself. Also, treat your employees right and share your growth with them.” For more information about Minuteman Press in Youngstown, Ohio, visit https://minuteman.com/us/locations/oh/youngstown/ For more information about Minuteman Press in Warren, Ohio, visit https://minuteman.com/us/locations/oh/warren/ Learn more about #1 rated Minuteman Press franchise opportunities and to see Minuteman Press franchise reviews, visit https://minutemanpressfranchise.com Contact Details Minuteman Press International Chris Biscuiti +1 631-249-1370 cbiscuiti@mpihq.com Company Website https://minutemanpressfranchise.com

November 17, 2022 10:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Passwordless Is All The Rage — But There Are Considerations To Be Made

BIO-key International, Inc.

It has long been known that passwords are vulnerable to hacking. Organizations around the world have acknowledged this risk over the years by introducing more stringent controls around password security and by creating awareness among their staff. Despite the rising awareness of the risks associated with weak passwords, data breaches have revealed that not enough attention is paid to the creation of secure passwords –- the most popular passwords around the world are still passwords like “password” and “123456.” According to Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT), 579 attacks to hack a password occur every second, which adds up to a monumental 18 billion attacks per year. But many common practices for making passwords stronger through complex requirements like including symbols, case sensitivity, and disallowing previous passwords only make it harder on users. Passwords become incredibly inconvenient to create, remember and manage across the various accounts a person owns. Because using passwords can create a poor user experience, many people often end up ignoring even basic password protocols – leaving themselves and their organizations defenseless against phishing schemes, brute-force attacks, and other tactics cybercriminals use to hack passwords. Is Passwordless Authentication The Solution? An ideal scenario seemingly might be one where no passwords are required, and several alternative options have emerged for the passwordless authentication of users. While many people and companies focus on the convenience of going passwordless, the security considerations of passwordless authentication are often overlooked. The most commonly used passwordless authentication methods focus on replacing the password as a single method, or as one of the methods used for multi-factor authentication. Authentication methods that are most commonly used are either possession factors, which require the person to use a smartphone or hardware token, or device-based biometrics, such as Apple Touch ID or Windows Hello. These options present their own challenges. Possession factors, such as smartphones or hardware tokens can be stolen, shared, lost, or damaged, resulting in users being locked out or allowing unauthorized access. And the costs and investment in purchasing multiple tokens or separate mobile devices with data plans for staff could be very high for large organizations. Not to mention there are large portions of people who do not have access to a smartphone. Finally, there are scenarios that make these factors implausible to use. For example, manufacturing floors, contact centers, banking locations, and others have people working who need to authenticate but where it may not be safe or practical for them to carry an additional device. Identity-Bound Biometrics Removes the Need for Phones and Tokens One method of passwordless authentication that could effectively address these challenges is the use of I dentity-Bound Biometrics (IBB) for access management, which is offered by cyber security companies like BIO-key International Inc. (NASDAQ: BKYI). Identity-bound biometrics creates a centralized unique biometric identity that can be used to verify a person anywhere. Some of the most common identity-bound biometric authentication methods are fingerprint scans, palm scans, face scans, iris scans, and voice recognition. Passwordless authentication with IBB can be as simple as the scan of a finger at any device in any location, making it a safe, efficient, cost-effective, and secure option for a range of common use cases, including shared workstations, remote access, and scenarios where mobile devices are not permitted such as manufacturing floors and contact centers as mentioned previously. BIO-key says its IBB process centrally stores biometric data in a nonreversible way to create a unique biometric identity for each user to verify the person taking action, which serves to establish trust and accountability based on a person's biometric identity. The benefits of using IBB include: Positively identifying the user intended to gain access Auditability of activities through a log that records all logins and tracks users' system access Ease of use with a quick and easy user experience requiring only single-touch authentication for a passwordless login Reduced overall cost by installing just one fingerprint scanner per desktop as a one-time investment as opposed to multiple tokens or mobile devices IBB is part of BIO-key's unified identity and access-management platform PortalGuard, which provides a range of authentication methods as part of its robust multi-factor authentication, as well as single sign-on and self-service password reset capabilities. PortalGuard is the only platform on the market that offers all these business-critical solutions using identity-bound biometrics as a key differentiator when it comes to implementing stronger authentication, according to Bio-key. To learn more about BIO-key’s IBB passwordless authentication products visit its website. BIO-key is revolutionizing authentication and cybersecurity with biometric-centric, multi-factor identity and access management (IAM) software managing millions of users. Its cloud-based PortalGuard IAM solution provides cost-effective, easy to deploy, convenient and secure access to devices, information, applications, and high-value transactions. BIO-key's patented software and hardware solutions, with industry-leading Identity-Bound Biometric (IBB) capabilities, enable large-scale Identity-as-a-Service (IDaaS) solutions, as well as customized on premises solutions. This post contains sponsored advertising content. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Catalyst IR- William Jones, David Collins +1 212-924-9800 BKYI@catalyst-ir.com Company Website https://www.bio-key.com/

November 15, 2022 08:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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