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SFAA Elects Board of Directors, New Chair, and Officers

SFAA

The Surety & Fidelity Association of America (SFAA), a nonprofit, nonpartisan trade association representing all segments of the surety and fidelity industry, held its Annual Meeting and Board of Directors meeting on April 14 and 15, 2022. During the Annual Meeting on Wednesday, April 14 th the SFAA membership elected the SFAA Board of Directors and during the Board of Directors meeting on Thursday, April 15 th the Board elected the Officers and Executive Committee Members: Officers and Executive Committee Members Robert Murray, SFAA Chair, Head of Surety, Zurich North America Robert Raney, SFAA Vice-Chair, Head of Construction Surety, Travelers Companies John F. Welch, SFAA Past-Chair, President & CEO, CNA Surety Group Rick Ciullo, Chief Operating Officer, The Hartford Insurance Group Mike Keimig, President & CEO, Markel Surety Corporation Timothy Mikolajewski, President, Global Surety, Liberty Mutual Group Stephen Ruschak, Executive Vice President Surety, Arch Insurance Group Other Elected Board Members Antonio C. Albanese, Head of Surety, Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company Ken Bearley, President – Bond Division, Great American Insurance Companies Ken Chapman, Executive Vice President – Surety, IAT Insurance Group Stephen M. Haney, Division President, North America Surety & CUO, Global Surety, Chubb Surety James Kawiecki, President of Surety, Hanover Insurance Group Matt Lubin, President, Surety Division, Crum & Forster Alan Pavlic, President/COO, Old Republic Surety Group Sarina Puccio, Head of Credit and Surety, Munich Reinsurance America, Inc. Michael Seff, Head of Surety, Intact Insurance Specialty Solutions Gary Stumper, National Surety Leader, Westfield Group Larry Taylor, President, Merchants Bonding Company Group The board welcomed newly elected board members Steve Lubin (Crum & Forster) and Stephen Ruschak (Arch Surety) and recognized outgoing board members Steve Anderson (Swiss Re) and Nancy Giordan-Ramos (Main Street America) for their outstanding service on the board and to the industry. The board also thanked John Welch for his leadership and contributions to the industry during his two years of service as SFAA Chair. 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. Contact Details Peter Roth +1 703-401-0676 proth@surety.org Company Website https://surety.org/

April 21, 2022 12:27 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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REPSPERT ANNOUNCES IMPRESSIVE TAKEDOWN RATES, GROWTH, TO COINCIDE WITH UNITED STATES MARKET LAUNCH

RepSpert

RepSpert, the leading provider of online reputation management solutions and services, today announced record growth and industry-leading takedown and success rates for their existing clientele. Following its success in the Australian market, RepSpert has launched in the United States, providing small-to midsized and large enterprise customers in the US with leading reputation management and review takedown services. RepSpert has achieved industry-leading success rates on key consumer and employment review platforms, including Indeed and Glassdoor. RepSpert’s average success rates and review takedown rates have improved by 20 percent accuracy in 2022 alone, far exceeding industry standards. Additionally, RepSpert has solidified itself as one of the fastest and most effective providers of reputation management and review takedowns, improving its average takedown time to 14 days and increasing its total volume of reviews removed to over 4,000. Similar to its global customers, RepSpert offers United States customers with a content removal and optimization guarantee policy. This policy provides the customers with assurances that they pay only once their desired content and reviews are removed or optimized. Founded by Edmund Butcher and Edward Godfrey, RepSpert was established in Australia in 2020 and subsequently expanded to the United States. RepSpert has grown to become the leading provider of online reputation management solutions and services, having serviced more than 1000 SMEs, large-scale organizations and personal brands across a range of industries, including health care, education, retail, e-commerce and professional service organizations. Combining a technical and legislative approach with hands on customer service expertise, RepSpert provides clients with active monitoring, strategic counsel and 24/7 account management to optimize clients’ online reputation and ensure negative content and reviews are removed in a timely and effective manner. “We understand how critical it is for brands and employers to maintain an online reputation that is consistent with their values and operating principles,” said Edward Godfrey, CEO of RepSpert. “Our product has proven to be the most-effective reputation management and review takedown solution for customers across the world, and we are pleased that we are able to service customers in the United States with the same degree of accuracy, speed and quality that RepSpert customers across the world have come to enjoy over the previous years.” RepSpert’s suite of services optimizes critical online reputation channels for brands, including review sites, online forums, and search engines. RepSpert’s signature process includes a sound understanding of online platforms’ policies and guidelines to ensure each clients online reputation is protected to a world-class standard. For more information, visit www.RepSpert.com. ABOUT REPSPERT: RepSpert is the leading provider of online reputation management solutions and services. RepSpert provides a suite of services and technology solutions that empower brands to take ownership of the content that shapes the first impression they make online, conveying their brand in the positive light it deserves. RepSpert provides tailor-made online reputation management solutions for SMEs, large-scale organizations, personal brands, and public figures to protect and build an unblemished online presence. RepSpert has worked with more than 1000 SMEs, large-scale organizations and personal brands across a range of industries, including including health care, education, retail, e-commerce and professional service organizations. RepSpert’s suite of services optimizes critical online reputation channels for brands, including review sites, online forums, and search engines. RepSpert’s signature process combines advanced SEO methodologies, proprietary software and account service teams and strategies to ensure each client’s online reputation is protected in a world-class manner. Contact Details N6A (For RepSpert) +1 212-334-9753 repspert@n6a.com Company Website https://repspert.com/

April 21, 2022 11:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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CleverTap Appoints Anand Venkatraman as Chief Operating Officer

CleverTap

CleverTap, the world’s leading retention cloud, announced the appointment of Anand Venkatraman as the Chief Operating Officer. Anand has over two decades of experience in building and scaling global teams and P&Ls across various sales motions. He joins from Freshworks where he led the fast-growing Asia Pacific and Middle East and Africa business. He also played a key role in driving global partnerships to independently grow the business across 40+ countries, scaling the technology marketplace and embedded Freshworks deep into the worldwide startup ecosystem. Prior to that he held leadership positions at Akamai and Microsoft in APJ and India. “I warmly welcome Anand to CleverTap. His appointment underlines our ambitious growth plans to be the gamechanger for user retention. He has a successful track record in taking businesses global, building highly engaged teams, and establishing creative approaches for customer success. Anand will strengthen the CleverTap management team to help scale the company to the next level by bringing in excellence in execution,” said Sidharth Malik, CEO CleverTap Inc. “I am excited to join CleverTap as they emerge as the retention category market leader, in not just India and South-East Asia but also in markets like North America, Latin America, Middle East, Turkey, Africa and Europe. I am looking forward to being a part of CleverTap's journey in taking the Indian SaaS story to the world,” said Anand Venkatraman. About CleverTap CleverTap is the modern, integrated retention cloud that empowers digital consumer brands to increase customer retention and lifetime value. For brands that understand and value user retention, CleverTap drives context and individualization with the help of a unified and deep data layer, AI/ML powered insights and automation. Customers around the world representing over 10,000 apps, including Vodafone Idea, SonyLIV, Daimler, Gojek, Carousell, and Premier League, trust CleverTap to achieve their retention and engagement goals, growing their long term revenue. Backed by leading venture capital firms including Sequoia India, Tiger Global Management, and Accel, the company is headquartered in Mountain View, California, with offices in Mumbai, Singapore, and Dubai. For more information, visit clevertap.com or follow on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. Contact Details Sony Shetty sony@clevertap.com Company Website https://clevertap.com/

April 21, 2022 04:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Brian Carlson Joins College of DuPage as Dean of Arts, Communication and Hospitality

College of DuPage

As a former community college student, Brian Carlson knows first-hand the challenges that many students face. In his new role as Dean of Arts, Communication and Hospitality at College of DuPage, Carlson will focus on developing pathways for student success through dual credit and workforce development opportunities, academic programming and transfer pathways. “Having faculty and staff support me along the way was paramount to my success as a community college student,” he said. “Without that support I may not have ever transferred to a four-year university and continued my education. Being able to support the educational journey of students is near and dear to my heart as an educator.” For more than 10 years, Carlson has held various academic leadership positions at Milwaukee Area Technical College, including Manager of Teaching and Learning Technology, Associate Dean of the School of Media and Creative Arts, Interim Dean of the School of Business and School of Media and Creative Arts, and most recently, Dean of Creative Arts, Design and Media Pathway. He also was a member of the American Association of Community College Guided Pathways Oversight Committee and Steering Committee. In his various positions, Carlson developed academic programing through collaboration with district-wide administration and community partners to align programs and curriculum to the current labor market demands and to maximize opportunities for student success. “What I enjoy most about arts education is that each student possesses their own perspective of the arts based on their consciousness,” he said. “These perspectives lead to individual and unique works for each individual. I’m excited to strengthen and grow opportunities for the community to engage with arts education through curricula that celebrates and unites our diverse community.” Carlson earned his Ph.D. from DePaul University in Educational Leadership and his master’s degree from Michigan State in Educational Technology. “Carlson is an equity-minded leader with vast experience in higher education leadership,” said COD Provost Mark Curtis-Chávez. “He is a champion of excellence in teaching and has a proven track record of program innovation and faculty collaboration. He has a deep dense of how the arts prepare students for professional and personal fulfillment, and we welcome him to the COD community.” Carlson said he was drawn to COD due to its commitment to equity and inclusion. “My work serving students, faculty and staff comes with an equity-minded approach to learning and innovation which is grounded within a mission to provide high-quality educational services and support. In addition, COD’s pledge to support the arts is evident in the strategic objectives of the College and the outstanding facilities and resources within the Arts, Communication and Hospitality division. It is clear that student success is the number one priority at COD and I am honored to join the team in its commitment to the future of arts education.” ### Contact Details Angela Mennecke +1 630-942-3134 menneckea@cod.edu

April 20, 2022 12:00 PM Central Daylight Time

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Telos' Decentralization Rivals that of Bitcoin and Ethereum

Telos Foundation

Telos Blockchain (ticker: TLOS), the world’s most robust and decentralized ESG compliant layer 1 platform and home to the world's fastest, highest capacity EVM (tEVM), derives credible neutrality and decentralization from at least 42 equally distinct validating nodes compared to the much smaller number of major mining pools securing Bitcoin and Ethereum. After a thorough competitive analysis comparing Telos’ decentralization to the decentralization of many of the other top Layer 1 chains, the Foundation has confirmed its assumptions. Based on validator equality and crucial factors regarding architecture and finances, the team confirmed that Telos is indeed one of the leading chains regarding credible neutrality and decentralization. As mining pools lack equality, massive node counts become irrelevant: As depicted in the pie charts above, Telos, via its governance, has maintained an equitable distribution amongst all its active validators and Bitcoin and Ethereum have not. Instead, the mining pools of both Bitcoin and Ethereum have now become centralized. The hypothesis is that over the years the well-funded pools have overtaken the little ones. Despite the substantial number of nodes, to be a credibly neutral peer-to-peer network, the network must also sustain even splits in validator power / responsibilities. Without this equality, the insulating strengths of decentralized peer-to-peer networking becomes significantly degraded. A decentralized network made up of equitable validators adds a powerful layer of insulation against multiple scenarios. For example, a multi-government coalition could potentially implement disruptive regulations or restrictions on blockchain. If only a handful of validators / mining pools need to be targeted, it becomes much easier for those governments to impose their will and degrade the insulation that a peer-to-peer network is supposed to provide. In fact, an event far smaller than this could instantly interrupt some chains from operating as they intended. However, the problem is not just limited to government interference. It is also the potential of a coalition amongst the validator majority that threatens the decentralization and stability of a chain. Despite having many nodes, it appears that for Bitcoin it would take only ~5 large mining pools to form a majority, only ~4 for Ethereum and 22 for Telos (as depicted in the pie charts above). Aside from this significant (4x to 5x) difference, it is also worth noting that the community fairly votes the Telos validators into active slots vs Bitcoin / Ethereum in which the mining pool’s principles are anonymous and can simply buy their way into a majority position. Hence, the centralization and lack of credible neutrality that has now formed. Credible neutrality cannot exist in an environment in which control and influence is exerted by small groups of well-funded people. This move towards validator centralization also leads to neutrality questions that are impossible to answer. For example, are the validator majorities' ambitions in line with what is best for the chain or themselves? To put the potential gravity of this into perspective one needs to understand that the principal/s of a majority sized mining pool can easily be a crime syndicate, and no one would know about it due to the anonymity. In fact, all the major mining pools can hypothetically be owned by crime syndicates, and no one would ever know. In contrast to this, with chain-governed validator equality and ongoing fair community voting, these credibility and neutrality questions are simply non-existing issues. In fact, all these chain degrading scenarios are exactly what the Telos architecture and governance have insulated against. As a chain’s validator network becomes unequal in size; the more it will move towards centralization, the more its neutrality will become biased and the more these chain breakdown scenarios may become a reality. Insider allocation cost blockchain’s their credible neutrality: Being that Telos was a 100% bootstrap project (95% of the coins airdropped to the community, 5% were used as equal pay to the almost 150 contributors, no insider handouts, and no ICO), the team already knew that its insider allocation was at the same level as Bitcoin’s beginnings, zero. Telos is the only L1 chain besides Bitcoin to have ever reached this stage of maturity while still maintaining zero insider allocation. All the other L1 chains are believed to be centralized and unable to become credibly neutral public infrastructure due to their insider allocation (click here to see). With this being noted, these chains will most likely never be utilized by governments as a legal tender and dApps depending on this infrastructure will never be 100% insulated by the full power of credible neutrality and decentralization. Telos Decentralization: Since its inception, the validators of the Telos Blockchain are both equally sized and regionally / globally diversified. Plus, no ungoverned wallet is known to hold more than 2% of the chain. From chain architecture to finances, decentralization and neutrality are of the highest priority for the chain. Over the last 4 years, Telos has grown into a truly utopian blockchain option for both private and public infrastructure. It is ludicrously fast, very inexpensive, extremely energy efficient, credibly neutral, non-congested, super easy to deploy on and the only chain that fully insulates the public from the front running / MEV that is plaguing Ethereum. Decentralization Highlights: Telos is the only third generation layer 1 blockchain to have never done an ICO [initial coin offering] and this non-action alone insulates the chain greatly regarding insider collusion and the SEC security law suits. Telos, at its inception, electively chose to stay a bootstrap project and rise in the same fashion as Bitcoin. All other third generation layer 1 chains (including Ethereum) have done ICOs and will more than likely be forced to file with the SEC as securities. The former and current SEC Chairman have both expressed that every ICO [initial coin offering] they have seen are indeed securities, that they have jurisdiction, and that federal securities laws apply. The validating architecture of other networks might be structured via peer-to-peer architecture, but they are not credibly decentralized due to the distribution of monetary / voting / validating power. Again, insider allocation is non-existent and as you can see above in the pie charts depicting validator decentralization, Telos Validators are proportionally equal. Telos governance has the fairest voting system in existence, called Telos Decide. It is tamper-proof and secured by the Tlos coins that investors own. A coin holder can vote on behalf of the coins they hold and rely on outcomes that do not require any further human involvement. No other Layer 1 offers this level of automated community fairness. Especially because the Telos governance documents may be dynamically amended by the votes of the coin holders in a process that is entirely controlled by on-chain smart contracts. Governments, investors, dApp creators, and end users need not forget that the fundamental features which bring the most value to blockchain are credible neutrality and decentralization. With credible neutrality and decentralization the following attributes are all significantly enhanced: Utility Redundancy Security / Trust Individual Financial Independence dApp Sovereignty Fair Voting Legal Tender The actions and inactions of Telos are driven by the belief that the public and private sectors require credibly neutral blockchain infrastructure in a third-generation capable format. Credible neutrality, ludicrously fast speeds, energy efficiency, and super low-cost transactions make Telos the perfect crypto currency for the global internet and for the people. About Telos Live since 2018, Telos Blockchain (ticker: Tlos) is a third-generation smart contract platform that offers compatibility with Solidity, Vyper and Native C++ smart contracts. Telos provides full EVM/Solidity support with fixed low-cost gas fees and no front running. Uniquely, Telos also offers a path to fee-less transactions via its robust native C++ smart contract support. Utilizing less than 0.000002 kWh per transaction, the chain can sustainably support hundreds of millions of transactions per day, produce blocks in 0.5 second intervals on a first-in-first-out basis (eliminating front running on the network) and securely validate transactions via a credibly neutral and globally decentralized block producer network. The Telos Blockchain has the throughput needed to facilitate and scale the thriving Metaverse / Web 3.0 better than any other blockchain. Its performance is unrivaled in the industry and was purpose-built to offer speed, scalability, cost-effectiveness, credible decentralization, and end-user fairness. Telos, harnesses its power by utilizing tight C++ on the frontend and a custom WASM runtime environment on the backend. About The Foundation The Telos Foundation is a Decentralized Autonomous Organization established as a promotional and funding body to advance the Telos Blockchain Network and provide support to network applications. Contact Details The Team hello@telosfoundation.io Company Website https://www.telos.net/

April 20, 2022 10:07 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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LawPay Announces ClientCredit, Buy Now Pay Later Payment Option for Legal Industry, is Now Accessible for LawPay Customers

LawPay

LawPay, the leading online payment solution for legal professionals, has announced the new payment option, ClientCredit, is now accessible to all customers. Previously in beta testing, ClientCredit was officially announced by the leader in legal payments in September 2021. ClientCredit is exclusively available through LawPay and allows individual clients to pay for legal services over time, while firms receive 100% of their invoiced amount upfront. The ClientCredit option is available for individuals that are looking for more flexibility on payments and will allow them to select the attorney they want based on their needs. With a simple application process, ClientCredit users will receive an instant loan decision allowing them to proceed with legal payments. "It [ClientCredit] has been fantastic so far,” said the law firm that accepted the first ClientCredit payment via LawPay. “It lets us focus on the cases without the hassle of running our own collections. We are offering this to every new client." As the increase in online payments continues to rise, this flexible payment option through LawPay will allow law firms to: Get paid faster and more predictably Expand the payment options for the firm’s client base, offering flexibility when it comes to choosing how the clients pay Spend more time focusing on clients, and less time on chasing payments “ClientCredit allows our LawPay customers to make their services more accessible to their customers by providing the ability to pay over time for services. We’ve had nearly 1,000 law firms onboarded to our beta who are now able to offer ClientCredit to their clients, which shows the high demand of this BNPL solution,” said Dru Armstrong, CEO of LawPay. ClientCredit is now available to existing and new LawPay customers. For more information on how to sign-up for LawPay, visit: https://www.lawpay.com/sign-up/. About LawPay LawPay was developed specifically to help law firms streamline billings and collections, providing a simple, secure solution for legal clients to pay their bills. LawPay is the industry leader in legal payments, providing a cost-effective solution for more than 50,000 law firms around the country. It's available through all 50 state bars, 60+ local and specialty bars and the ABA as a vetted and approved payment solution for the legal industry. LawPay is also the ALA’s Exclusive VIP Partner for Payment Processing. Learn more at lawpay.com. LawPay was developed specifically to help law firms streamline billings and collections, providing a simple, secure solution for legal clients to pay their bills. Contact Details Keely Leonard +1 512-368-8988 kleonard@affinipay.com Company Website https://www.lawpay.com/

April 19, 2022 10:28 AM Central Daylight Time

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Five Pittsburgh-area Founders Pitch for Investments

Chloe Capital

Invest In Women x Pittsburgh, Founder Showcase scheduled for April 27, 2022 Chloe Capital, a Movement-driven venture capital firm, has selected five women-led technology companies to participate in INVEST IN WOMEN x PITTSBURGH ( chloecapital.com/pittsburgh ) this Spring. This unique fundraising experience for underrepresented founders is in partnership with Ascender, a nonprofit incubator for Pittsburgh’s entrepreneurs, and supported by the Richard King Mellon Foundation. Despite recent progress, a study by Boston Consulting Group shows that if men and women around the world were treated equally as entrepreneurs, our global economy would experience a $5 trillion boost. To help move the needle, five women entrepreneurs from the Pittsburgh area have now been chosen to participate in INVEST IN WOMEN x PITTSBURGH. Each receives the opportunity to connect with leaders across industries, hear critical feedback on how to grow their businesses, and pitch for investments from Chloe Capital and the Firm’s community of impact investors. By the end of the program, Chloe Capital will make at least one investment in a company located in, or willing to relocate to, Allegheny or Westmoreland counties. Investors and community members are invited to the Founder Showcase, which will take place April 27, 2022 at 5 p.m. (et) at the Kelly Strayhorn Theater, located at 5941 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh, PA. Space is limited. RSVP > InvestInWomenPittsburgh.eventbrite.com In addition to Chloe Capital, featured investors for INVEST IN WOMEN x PITTSBURGH include Silvia Mah (Stella Impact Capital), Gabriela Isturiz (The Fund XX), Brandon Greer (Hubspot Ventures), Matt Harbaugh (Mountain State Capital), and Lu Zhang (Fusion Fund). “Each investor has joined our Movement to Invest In Women by meeting the founders and exploring the investment potential of each company,” said Chloe Capital co-founder and partner, Kathryn Cartini. “On average, participants in a Chloe Capital program each go on to raise $2,000,000 within the year, catalyzed by visibility and introductions to our firm’s world-wide network.” The founders selected to participate in INVEST IN WOMEN x PITTSBURGH are: ALISON ALVAREZ, CEO & Co-Founder, BlastPoint BlastPoint.com Allegheny County, Pittsburgh, PA BlastPoint builds AI platforms for highly regulated industries so that they can better understand their customers and how to talk to them. HOLLY ADAMS, CEO, Go Well Benefits GoWellBenefits.com Philadelphia County, Philadelphia, PA Go Well Benefits makes health insurance enrollment and underwriting faster and easier with an end-to-end solution that links employee, employer, broker and insurance carrier. NEHAL BHOJAK, President & CEO, Lumis Corp. LumisCorp.com Allegheny County, Pittsburgh, PA Lumis is committed to democratizing healthcare education, and disrupting traditional clinical training through its immersive AR-based platform. JJ XU, CEO, TalkMeUp TalkMeUp.co Allegheny County, Pittsburgh, PA TalkMeUp uses AI to aid workforce communication development at the enterprise level. Employees use their mobile devices. Managers get measurable insights. LAUREN GOLEMBIEWSKI, CEO & Co-Founder, Voxable Voxable.io Westmoreland County, New Kensington, PA Voxable helps enterprise teams create and manage AI experiences at scale by automating conversational content creation, and streamlining collaboration. “Each year Ascender impacts hundreds of entrepreneurs across many industries,” said Nadyli Nuñez, executive director at Ascender. “Now with the help of Chloe Capital and the Richard King Mellon Foundation we’re highlighting some of our region’s top performing, technology companies, that are also women-led. The talent is impressive.” On top of hearing from the founders, INVEST IN WOMEN x PITTSBURGH will feature speaker Gabriella Gonzalez, program officer from the Richard King Mellon Foundation. Gonzalez is a senior thought leader in the future of work, workforce development, and economic development. SaLisa Berrien, trustee and graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, and founder of COI Energy, will also share insight on being a Chloe Capital portfolio company. Berrien participated in INVEST IN WOMEN x CLIMATETECH in October 2021. She received a Chloe Capital investment following that program. Berrien has over 25 years of experience in the energy industry assisting clients with process improvements, energy efficiency, grid reliability, clean technology, and big data analytics. Economic development has been a primary focus of the Richard King Mellon Foundation since its founding, and the Foundation’s new Strategic Plan includes a specific focus on entrepreneurship, as an essential pillar of its economic-development efforts. The Foundation’s plan notes that “small businesses are the backbone of our economy,” and the “Foundation’s investments aim to support efforts to allow entrepreneurship to thrive, to build the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, and to support efforts for under-represented groups to jumpstart or grow entrepreneurship efforts.” The Foundation’s funding of Chloe Capital’s “Invest in Women x Pittsburgh” initiative fits squarely within that plan. Investors and community members are invited to the Founder Showcase, which will take place April 27, 2022 at 5 p.m. (et) at the Kelly Strayhorn Theater in Pittsburgh. Space is limited. RSVP > InvestInWomenPittsburgh.eventbrite.com Contact Kathryn Cartini Partner, Chloe Capital kathryn@chloecapital.com About Chloe Capital Chloe Capital is a venture capital firm that invests in women-led technology companies. In addition to investing with a gender and diversity lens, Chloe Capital partners with universities, foundations and corporations to host programs that help catalyze fundraising efforts for underrepresented founders. This collaborative approach to early-stage investing has resulted in millions raised. Today, more than 20,000 people around the world have joined Chloe Capital’s Movement to #InvestInWomen. ChloeCapital.com About Ascender About Ascender: Ascender, a 501(c)3 and vibrant community of innovators located in East Liberty, helps entrepreneurs start and build their companies by offering educational programming, mentorship, expert coaching, incubation, and a collaborative coworking space. Annually Ascender touches 500 entrepreneurs across many industries and works with both venture track and small businesses. Ascenderpgh.com About the Richard King Mellon Foundation Founded in 1947, the Richard King Mellon Foundation is the largest foundation in Southwestern Pennsylvania, and one of the 50 largest in the world. The Foundation’s 2020 year-end endowment was $3.1 billion, and its Trustees in 2021 disbursed $152 million in grants and Program Related Investments. The Foundation launched a new ten-year Strategic plan in 2021, focusing funding on six primary program areas: conversation, economic development, economic mobility, health and well-being, organizational effectiveness, and social-impact investing. RKMF.org Contact Details Chloe Capital Kathryn Cartini kathryn@chloecapital.com Company Website https://chloecapital.com/

April 19, 2022 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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38-Year Printing Business Avante Print Center Converts to International Minute Press Franchise in Mesa, Arizona

Minuteman Press International Inc

For nearly 38 years, Carl Denti and his family operated their independent print shop Avante Print Center. In Feb. 2022, Carl sold the business to new owners Devin and John Weiss through Minuteman Press International’s conversion program, which connects sellers with qualified buyers. Carl says, “It was time for me to join my wife Patricia in retirement and I think the transition to International Minute Press has gone very well. I needed to like the people who bought the business and Devin and John are great. My daughter Renee has stayed on working in the business and we also have employees with 25 years of tenure, so it was important for us to be comfortable with everything.” Devin and John have rebranded as International Minute Press in Mesa, AZ, and are operating out of the same location at 218 West Hampton Avenue, Unit 13 that was home to Avante Print Center. Devin says, “We believe owning a business gives us a real sense of pride. By purchasing this established business, we strive to honor our clients, our community, and our staff with continued personalized service and outstanding support.” History of the Business On March 27 th, 1984, Carl Denti and his wife Patricia opened Avante Print Center in Mesa. Carl shares, “I had owned a previous business in Kansas City that I sold. We moved to Arizona and at that time I decided to invest in another business. I told my accountant I didn’t want anything in credit collections (which I did for 15 years) and I didn’t want to own a food-related business. One of the things he came up with was printing.” He adds, “Patricia was very influential in having us go into the printing industry as well. She previously had worked for Hallmark in Kansas City doing calligraphy, and she wanted something we could do together. In our first full year in business together, we made a 39.8% profit.” While printing proved to be a viable business for Carl and Patricia, he also appreciated the freedom it afforded him to pursue other passions. Carl says, “From 1992 – 2021, I also served as the pastor of a church in Arizona, which I never really considered to be work plus it didn’t really pay the bills. Printing was an easy business to market and sell, and I felt it had easier customer acquisition than other industries.” Over the years, Avante Print Center became a second-generation family business. Carl explains, “Patricia and I worked together in the business until she retired a few years ago, and my daughter Renee also worked with us and is still working in the business today even after it was sold.” Growing the Business For the 37-plus years he was in business, Carl operated on four key principles. He says, “No matter what business you own, for me the principles never change. We built Avante Print Center following these principles: Customer service was the apex. We decided that no one would out-service us. When we said we were going to do something, we did it. My goal was to get at least 98% (if not 100%) of all jobs out on time and done right. My definition of quality is that the job has to be accepted by the customer, that they will be happy with it and order it again, and that they will tell someone about the work that we did and refer our business. You have to be able to go after the market and you have to sell. One of the problems people run into when starting a business is that their goal is to simply unlock their doors. Instead, your goal needs to be to make a profit, which takes a lot more than turning the key and turning on lights. Know your numbers and live by your numbers. It’s as simple as that.” Selling the Business While Carl was thinking of retiring at some point, he actually wasn’t actively pursuing a sale of his printing business. He explains, “I did not have the business listed for sale but I’ve known Jack Panzer (Minuteman Press International Regional Vice President) for approximately eight years. When I received a letter and flyer in the mail that Jack could help sell my business, I thought that was very smart of Minuteman Press International do reach out. Jack was very laid back whenever we spoke, and he was always open and honest along with being knowledgeable about the industry.” At the beginning of 2021, the timing was right. Carl shares, “In January 2021, Jack approached me with a qualified buyer that he thought could be a fit for my shop. I told him what it would cost if someone wants to buy our business. I also consulted with my daughter Renee, who decided she didn’t want to take over the business. We started the sales process in March 2021 and it was finished by Feb. 2022.” As for the transition to the new owners, Carl says, “I think the transition has gone very well. I needed to like the people who bought the business and Devin and John Weiss are great. Renee has stayed on working in the business and we also have employees with 25 years of tenure, so it was important for us to be comfortable with everything.” “Jack Panzer is a terrific guy from top to bottom. He’s very transparent and open as is the team at Minuteman Press International. I don’t think there’s a better way to sell your business and here’s why: 1. You’re not paying any commission; 2. You’re working with a well-established 45-year company in Minuteman Press International; and 3. Your buyer is going to have a much better chance of succeeding with the support they are getting. If they succeed, then your employees will be taken care of… and that really means a lot to us.” -Carl Denti, Retiring Owner, Avante Print Center (now International Minute Press, Mesa, AZ Meet the New Owners Devin and John Weiss are no strangers to owning a business. Devin says, “ John and I have owned several diverse businesses but most recently I owned a dance studio for 25 years. When John and I met approximately 10 years ago, we started a business together shortly after, that we continue to operate.” When the opportunity came to buy an established business while also receiving additional support, Devin says, “Honestly, it was a no brainer. We had planned to open an International Minute Press in the area in 2020, just before the pandemic hit. A year and a half later, our Regional VP Jack Panzer, reached out with this opportunity to buy Avante Print Center and convert it to International Minute Press. It was such a great opportunity that we couldn’t pass it up!” When asked why they chose franchising, Devin answers, “We have looked at other businesses and franchises, and were completely impressed with Minuteman Press International by comparison. The amount of hands-on guidance and support are second-to-none. In the past, we have always done businesses independently, and having the support of this franchise in particular was a great draw.” “Jack Panzer and his team were with us every step of the way; they made the sale as easy as it could be. Since buying the business, the support has been great. From the training to the in-store training with the local field staff, it has superseded our expectations in every way. Their patience and knowledge gave us the confidence we needed to enter a new industry for us.” -Devin Weiss, Owner, International Minute Press, Mesa, AZ (formerly Avante Print Center) Entering the Printing Industry Now that Devin and John are operating their business, they are excited to hit the ground running and continue the legacy that Carl and family started. Devin says, “We believe owning a business gives you a sense of pride. By purchasing an established business, we strive to honor our clients, our community, and our staff with continued outstanding service and support.” As a full-service printing and marketing services provider, Devin and John are excited to help other local businesses and organizations with virtually everything they need to operate and promote themselves. Devin says, “Wide format printing is especially exciting right now. There is such a wide variety of custom printed products that we can provide to our clients – we haven’t found anything we can’t do yet in-house or with the help of our franchisor and vendors.” As she reflects on owning a business vs. having a job, one word comes to mind for Devin: “Freedom!” She elaborates, While you have to put in many hours as the owner of a business, they are on your own schedule and with your own priorities. You decide what your life entails every day, and we wouldn’t trade that for the world! We love to travel and the freedom makes that possible.” Advice for Others Devin shares this advice for others who are looking to buy a business right now: “Do your due diligence. A positive attitude is a must. Survey other business owners about their experiences, both good and bad. There is a lot of preparation that goes into buying a business, and having a successful franchise to guide you is a great option. Ultimately, no matter how prepared you are, it is a learning experience!” International Minute Press is located at 218 West Hampton Avenue, Unit 13; Mesa, AZ 85210. For more information, call 480-969-4888 or visit https://minuteman.com/us/locations/az/mesa21. Learn more about #1 rated Minuteman Press International franchise opportunities at https://minutemanpressfranchise.com. To find out how to sell your printing business through Minuteman Press International, visit https://bit.ly/minutemanpressconversions. Contact Details Minuteman Press International Chris Biscuiti +1 631-249-1370 cbiscuiti@mpihq.com Company Website https://minutemanpressfranchise.com

April 19, 2022 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Genomic Life to Present at Business Group on Health’s Annual Conference

Genomic Life

Genomic Life, a leading genome benefit management company with a mission of providing innovative benefit services to employers, will present at the Business Group on Health’s annual conference. The Business Group on Health’s annual conference brings together experts and employers related to health benefits and health care policies. This year’s theme is “Collaborating on the Future of Health and Well-Being,” and will be held between April 19-21, 2022 at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel. The company has an over-arching goal of making affordable clinical-grade genetic testing available to everyone, genetic testing plays an essential role in managing proactive health, informing individuals of their health risks and pre-existing conditions they would not have known about otherwise. Genomic Life helps facilitate the most appropriate testing at the highest quality labs with access to clear results and expert genetic counseling. These services help patients and their physicians turn those genetic insights into precise and timely actions. On Tuesday, April 19, 2022, from 9 – 11 a.m. CDT, Genomic Life will host an invite-only breakfast event panel at the nearby historic Union Station Nashville Hotel. Guests can also join virtually via Zoom. The panel will be focused on the future of proactive health and the power of genetic testing, hosted and moderated by WKRN-TV News anchor Nikki Burdine of “Good Morning Nashville,” and will feature Genomic Life executives, Karen Ferrell, MBA (Chief Executive Officer); Randy Scott, PhD (Executive Co-Chairman); Tod Klingler, PhD (Head of Product and Innovation); Robert Green, MD, MPH (Medical and Clinical Advisor); and Noël Rihm Obourn (Chief Commercial Officer). “Health technology is accelerating at a rapid pace and employers are looking for innovative ways to keep their employees healthy and engaged,” said Genomic Life CEO Karen Ferrell. “We are working with employers to take the guesswork out of genetic testing and services and help individuals and their own physicians be proactive and precise about their health and well-being.” On Wednesday, April 20, 2022 from 2-2:30 p.m. CDT, Genomic Life Executive Co-Chair Randy Scott, PhD will present a breakout session titled “Innovations in Cancer Screening and Genetic Testing” at the Business Group on Health’s annual conference. The discussion will cover how employers can leverage the power of genetic testing, precision medicine and clinical policy to strengthen their overall benefit strategy. Dr. Scott will be joined by Scott Osler, Vice President of Employer Partnerships at Grail, Inc. “Being in the field of genomics for more than 30 years, including leading the development of two revolutionary cancer diagnostic tests, I have learned a lot about how a preventive approach to healthcare can truly make a difference,” said Dr. Scott. “Our team at Genomic Life is hard at work offering comprehensive genetic testing services that span a lifetime of health benefits. We look forward to helping anyone and everyone we can make proactive, personalized and precise healthcare choices that positively impact their lives.” Genomic Life currently offers three types of genetic screenings to unlock precise and relevant healthcare insights, before illness occurs: Genetic Health Screen (GHS): A 147 gene panel that includes genetic predispositions to specific serious illnesses (cancers, cardiac, neurology, and more). Pharmacogenomics (PGx) Screen: With 25 biomarkers, this screen highlights drug-gene interactions and efficacy, informing the patient and physician which prescriptions and dosages are optimal, which are harmful, and which aren’t likely to do anything at all. Carrier Screen: A 289 gene panel that identifies critical recessive traits for those who are focused on family planning. The results include details about hereditary diseases that can be passed on to offspring and may compromise pediatric health. The results are coordinated with one’s OB-GYN to help take actions to understand and mitigate risks. Additionally, genomic insights are pivotal in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer; Genomic Life’s Cancer Guardian solution works with cancer patients and their own oncology team to facilitate best practices, ensuring that cancer patients benefit from the most precise, genomically-informed treatments. To learn more about Genomic Life and these events, please visit: https://info.genomiclife.com/lp/nbgh/. ### About Genomic Life Founded in 2017, Genomic Life is a leading genome benefit management company making affordable, clinical-grade genetic testing available to everyone, with a mission to provide innovative benefit services to employers. Genomic Life is helping close the gap in healthcare by working directly with employers to provide access to affordable genetic testing services that will enable them to seek better medical care and fill in the technology, innovation and healthcare gaps missed by health insurance companies.For more information, visit https://genomiclife.com. About Business Group on Health Business Group on Health is the leading non-profit organization representing large employers’ perspectives on optimizing workforce strategy through innovative health, benefits and well-being solutions and on health policy issues. The Business Group keeps its membership informed of leading-edge thinking and action on health care cost and delivery, financing, affordability and experience with the health care system. Business Group members include 72 Fortune 100 companies as well as large public-sector employers, who collectively provide health and well-being programs for more than 60 million individuals in 200 countries. For more information, visit www.businessgrouphealth.org. Contact Details The Hoyt Organization Cinnamon Thompson +1 310-373-0103 cthompson@hoytorg.com Company Website https://genomiclife.com/

April 19, 2022 09:00 AM Central Daylight Time

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