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ContraForce Joins Microsoft Intelligent Security Association

ContraForce

ContraForce, a leader in Open XDR for small and medium businesses, today announced that it has been nominated to join the Microsoft Intelligent Security Association (MISA). ContraForce was nominated for membership due to their Microsoft Azure Sentinel API integration. ContraForce delivers the Azure Sentinel API integration to customers with their Open XDR solution targeted towards MSSP’s and SMB’s. The membership will allow ContraForce to work more closely with Microsoft security product teams in order to build-in additional security for end users. Tighter integrations into the Microsoft security stack will allow ContraForce to deliver a more powerful yet simplified Open XDR experience to customers who are struggling with rapid incident response, generating more visibility across their security environment while reducing their costs. MISA is an ecosystem of independent software vendors and managed security service providers that have integrated their solutions with Microsoft security products to better assist end users defend against the world of increasing threats. Founded in 2018 MISA now has more than 245 members, more than 250 integrations and 165 service offerings some of which are available in the Azure Marketplace. “I am extremely excited to expand our relationship with Microsoft in order to better serve our customers who are battling adversarial threats that impact their capacity to deliver business outcomes to their customers”, stated Stan Golubchik, CEO ContraForce. “With ContraForce’s integrations into the Microsoft security stack we are able to simplify security outcomes through an innovative Open XDR experience for our customers who are on-premises or in the cloud eliminating manual tool configuration, mitigating false positives and automating rapid incident response for reducing risk across all attack vectors,” he added. “Microsoft Intelligent Security Association members leverage Microsoft's security products to better defend against cyber security threats with identity and access management, threat protection, information protection, and security management,” said Rob Lefferts, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft Defender. While ContraForce has integrated deeply with the Azure Sentinel API, they have also extended their solution’s integrations with Defender for Endpoint, Microsoft Cloud App Security, Defender for Microsoft 365, and Defender for Identity to provide a comprehensive Open XDR platform for customers who believe in the Microsoft vision as much as ContraForce does. About ContraForce ContraForce is the New XDR Company. We focus on securing the digital estate and help Security and IT teams work smarter, allowing them to implement extended detection and response to combat cyberattacks in a timely manner. Our team is passionate about understanding our customers and their security requirements. Our expertise is in designing and deploying security for hybrid and multi-cloud environments, and being able to manage the difficult implementation and optimization typically associated with complex security controls. Our expertise spans the areas of solution development, security integration, governance, risk and compliance and security data analytics. ContraForce is headquartered in McKinney, Texas and was founded and built by industry security and cloud experts from Armor, McAfee, and Intel. ContraForce's mission is to empower Security and SOC teams and enable them to be more efficient. Contact Details ContraForce Donna Estrin +1 415-470-1204 donna.estrin@contraforce.com Company Website https://www.contraforce.com/

July 28, 2021 06:05 AM Eastern Daylight Time

CSG Partners with Cape Innovation & Technology Initiative to Empower Female ICT Entrepreneurs to Defy Social Norms in South Africa

CSG

CSG ® (NASDAQ: CSGS) today announced new growth in its partnership with Cape Innovation & Technology Initiative (CiTi), one of Africa’s oldest tech incubators, to broaden the organisation’s Women in Business program nationwide as part of CSG South Africa’s commitment to making tech skills accessible and the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE). The Women in Business program supports female entrepreneurs to implement and adopt digital platforms and programs that up-skill their technological acuity to drive business growth and promote inclusion. This year, 30 female information and communications technology (ICT) entrepreneurs will participate in a ten-week course before three finalists are ultimately selected to continue in a ten-month entrepreneurial program that includes opportunities to connect with CSG women in leadership. “Creating space for women and underrepresented voices across the innovation and technology ecosystem is critical to driving economic impact in our communities and diversifying the tech talent pipeline,” said Channing Jones, chief diversity and social responsibility officer, CSG. “We are committed to supporting work that builds capacity and offers access to leadership skills crucial to success in entrepreneurship to foster a more inclusive economy. CSG is proud to partner with the Cape Innovation & Technology Initiative to expand the Women in Business program across the region.” Established in 1999, CiTi works at the intersection of business, government, and society. Its mission is to build a future-fit, inclusive community and shape the future economy through innovation and technology. CiTi's Women in Business initiative is a flagship programme aimed at strategically supporting and developing female entrepreneurs. More than 1,700 women have gone through the program, and over 1,500 more have applied to join. "In Africa, women business owners are defying social norms in the face of systemic obstacles including limited access to funding, inadequate scaling resources, and challenges with work-life balance," said Lara Rosmarin, head of incubation and entrepreneurial development, Cape Innovation & Technology Initiative. "Through the Women in Business programme, we help women overcome these hurdles with strategic support, mentoring, peer to peer learning, and networking opportunities that enable them to navigate tough competition and thrive. With CSG’s support, we are thrilled to now accept nationwide requests and provide female business owners across all of South Africa with the powerful tools they need to grow their businesses." The program is open for submissions from Wednesday, 28th July 2021 to Thursday, 12th August 2021. Applications can be submitted at https://bit.ly/3yBL1RK. For more information on the CiTi Women in Business programme, email wibapps@citi.org.za. # # # About CSG For more than 35 years, CSG has simplified the complexity of business, delivering innovative customer engagement solutions that help companies acquire, monetise, engage, and retain customers. Operating across more than 120 countries worldwide, CSG manages billions of critical customer interactions annually, and its award-winning suite of software and services allow companies across dozens of industries to tackle their biggest business challenges and thrive in an ever-changing marketplace. CSG is the trusted provider for driving digital innovation for hundreds of leading global brands, including Airtel Africa, América Móvil, AT&T, Charter Communications, Comcast, DISH, Formula 1, Hutchison 3 Indonesia, Inmarsat, Mastercard, Maximus, Microsoft, Mobily, MTN, New Leaf Service Contracts, State of California DMV, TalkTalk and Telstra. To learn more, visit our website at csgi.com and connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter. About Cape Innovation & Technology Initiative The Cape Innovation & Technology Initiative (CiTi) is a Non-Profit Company with a mission to build a futureproof, inclusive society through technology and innovation. CiTi was established in 1999 and operates at the intersection of business, government and society to positively shape the future of the economy and society through the use of innovation and technology. We see this model as the key driver of systemic regional change and progression. CiTi achieves its mission through the following interventions: Entrepreneurial development, support and incubation; Digital job readiness and skills development - training young people to enter the digital economy; Open innovation clusters - picking industries of the future and supporting and stimulating their growth. CiTi continues to look at areas that will be transformative in 20 years and have an impact in five years. We are scaling our work throughout the continent to stimulate and build inclusive transformation within the digital economy. For more than 21 years, CiTi has helped businesses become more sustainable through the implementation of customised incubation, acceleration, training and support programmes for entrepreneurs, SMMEs and corporate businesses. Copyright © 2021 CSG Systems International, Inc. and/or its affiliates (“CSG”). All rights reserved. CSG® is a registered trademark of CSG Systems International, Inc. All third-party trademarks, service marks, and/or product names which are referenced in this document are the property of their respective owners, and all rights therein are reserved. CSG Contacts Kristine Østergaard Europe / Middle East / Africa Public Relations +44 (0)79 2047 7204 kristine.ostergaard@csgi.com John Rea Investor Relations +1 (210) 687-4409 john.rea@csgi.com CiTi Contacts Marietjie Engelbrecht Head of Marketing +27 82 822 8399 marietjie.engelbrecht@citi.org.za Contact Details Kristine Østergaard +44 7500 518412 kristine.ostergaard@csgi.com Company Website https://www.csgi.com

July 28, 2021 01:00 AM Mountain Daylight Time

Replicated Raises $50M Series C to Double Down on Multi-Prem Software Delivery

Replicated, Inc.

Replicated, which enables software vendors to operationalize and scale the delivery of their applications into complex enterprise multi-prem environments (on-prem, airgap, private cloud, etc), today announced closing a Series C funding round of $50 million led by Owl Rock, a division of Blue Owl Capital, with participation from Lead Edge Capital, Headline and existing investors including Two Sigma Ventures, Amplify Partners, BoldStart, Ridgeline, and Heavybit. Replicated plans to use this round to accelerate growth and expand into more global markets. “We believe the future of enterprise software delivery is multi-prem, the ability for software vendors to offer their applications to any customer environment with ease,” said Grant Miller, Replicated co-founder and CEO. “Securing this funding will allow Replicated to continue revolutionizing how software is delivered and how enterprises manage it.” Multi-prem software delivery is a means of delivering 3rd party software entirely agnostic of the environment it will be deployed to. With a significant rise in the need for enterprise data privacy, security, and regulatory compliance, multi-tenant SaaS poses more challenges than benefits for organizations with sensitive data concerns. Taking advantage of containerized architecture and software development pipelines brings automation, uniformity, scalability, and observability to software deployment and management. This enables the packaging of cloud-native applications for multiple customer environments, including on-premises, private clouds, and air gapped servers. Replicated’s customers include HashiCorp, Puppet, UiPath, Rocket.Chat, CircleCI, PluralSight, and Tripwire. Currently, more than half of the Fortune 100 uses Replicated to manage applications. “Software vendors want to focus on building and pushing differentiated product features, rather than on the complexities of delivering their applications into customer-controlled environments,” said Albert Koh, Vice President, Owl Rock, a division of Blue Owl Capital. “We saw many of our portfolio companies already using Replicated to address their customers’ constantly evolving security, compliance, and regulatory requirements to manage workloads and applications in their own environments, whether on-prem, private or public cloud, or air gapped. We are thrilled to partner with Replicated to continue building and pioneering their multi-prem application delivery platform.” "We're big believers in helping teams focus on their own differentiation and Replicated helps us do that,” said Rob Zuber, CTO, CircleCI. “Replicated mobilizes our engineering teams to focus on our core competencies while staying connected to customer needs and requirements without distraction." What used to take customers months and significant engineering time is now a faster, frictionless delivery of enterprise-grade applications, and the need is only growing. According to a recent survey conducted by Dimensional Research and sponsored by Replicated, out of 400+ global participants, over 90 percent reported growth in on-prem sales over the past five years, with 86% using Kubernetes. The demand for on-prem software continues to be as strong, if not stronger, than the public cloud option. “Software vendors continue to partner with Replicated to grow their businesses, save money, and quickly deliver the modern applications their customers demand,” added Sunil Dhaliwal, General Partner, Amplify Partners. “We've been very impressed by their rapid expansion and are thrilled to extend our investment in the company." Replicated was founded in 2015 by Miller and Marc Campbell, CTO, who previously founded Look IO, a mobile live-chat program that was acquired by LivePerson. About Replicated: Replicated is the modern way to ship multi-prem software. Replicated gives software vendors a container-based platform for easily deploying cloud native applications inside customers' environments to provide greater security and control. Learn more at Replicated.com. Contact Details Forrest Carman +1 206-859-3118 forrestc@owenmedia.com Company Website https://www.replicated.com/

July 27, 2021 09:00 AM Pacific Daylight Time

Harmons to Accept Mobile Driver’s Licenses as Part of Utah Pilot Program

GET Group North America

GET Group North America and The Utah Driver License Division (DLD) jointly announced today that Harmons Grocery has signed on as the first grocer in Utah to participate in the state’s mobile driver’s license (mDL) pilot program. As a pioneer of Utah’s mDL, Harmons will accept mobile credentials to verify identity for pharmacy purchases, as well as for age-based purchases, at select locations. It will initially accept mDLs at its City Creek and Traverse Mountain locations, with plans to expand to additional stores. Utah is the first state in the U.S. to pilot an mDL that is fully compliant with international standards that ensure mDLs are accepted globally as a legal form of identification. Mobile driver’s licenses allow for information such as name or age to be confirmed contactlessly by a retailer with a simple tap or scan at point-of-sale -- without a physical credential or a mobile phone ever changing hands. It does not rely on visual inspection of an ID, therefore taking the subjectivity out of verifying its authenticity. Unlike with a physical driver’s license which discloses all personal information, with an optional mDL, the citizen has complete control of the data they choose to share -- limiting it to what is relevant for a specific transaction. mDLs can be verified using an International Standard and apps such as GET Mobile Verify. “Convenience and superior service for our customers is our primary focus and bringing mDL verification, a more secure and convenient form of ID that gives customers greater control over their identity information, is an ideal match,” said Mark Jensen, Harmons president and CEO. “We commend Harmons for embracing the future of ID and becoming a frontrunner in supporting their customers’ use of mDL technology at point-of-sale,” said Chris Caras, Director of the Driver License Division for the State of Utah Department of Public Safety. “The security, privacy and convenience of mobile IDs is something we anticipate the public will really be pleased with, and Harmons is enthusiastic about providing the best experience for their customers.” The pilot includes over 100 Utah residents and is expanding now to 10,000 participants including the broader public. Members of the public and media are invited to Harmons’ City Creek and Traverse Mountain locations between 10am-2pm on August 3 rd and 4 th to get an mDL; a valid driver’s license must be presented. About GET Group North America GET Group North America and its partners develop, manufacture, and implement end-to-end solutions for secure physical and mobile credentials that enable government agencies, motor vehicle departments, municipalities law enforcement organizations, and other entities to leverage the latest in secure identity management technologies. From photo ID cards, driver’s licenses and passports, to mDLs and mIDs, GET Group NA delivers advanced issuance, verification and personalization capabilities that prevent identification fraud, accommodate diversified customer needs, and support the future of ID use cases. About Harmons Since 1932, Harmons passion for innovation, commitment to its associates, and contributions to the community have provided the building blocks to help the company expand from a single fruit stand to 18 thriving locations spanning from Northern to Southern Utah. Harmons is known for its unique grocery industry approach, which provides a high-quality experience to its customers by offering fresh foods prepared in-store by chefs, artisans and experts; local Utah products; and an aggressive sustainability program. For more information about our stores, please visit harmonsgrocery.com. Contact Details Jordan Bouclin +1 401-490-9700 jordan.bouclin@svmpr.com Company Website https://getgroupna.com/

July 27, 2021 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Provana Partners with REPAY for Integrated Payment Processing

Provana

Provana, the unified platform for credit and collections process management, today announced a technology partnership with REPAY, a leading provider of vertically integrated payment solutions. Provana customers can now leverage REPAY’s processing solution within IConnect247 ®. Provana’s all-in-one debt repayment and customer service application – the first of its kind within the industry. The integration helps lenders and agencies automate previously time consuming and tedious processes while supporting compliant electronic payment standards, including Regulation E. As the one-stop-shop for lenders and agencies looking to digitally transform their operations, Provana is continually adding new features and capabilities to support automation. The news was announced from the ACA International Convention & Expo in Las Vegas. “Unifying disconnected processes and disparate data sources provides huge value to our clients in accounts receivable management,” said Sean Clark, Senior Vice President of Platforms at Provana. “This integration between REPAY and Provana gives users even more control over workstreams and customer success management.” In addition to partnering with REPAY, Provana added new clients in the first half of 2021 that have already seen tangible benefits from gaining a holistic view into their ARM operations and controls. With Provana’s one-stop-shop for digital transformation, including IConnect247 and ICAP Analytics, credit and collections companies can actively monitor for compliance while boosting productivity. “With Provana, we have streamlined the electronic payment authorization process, enabling our agents and consumers to communicate with the technology already in the palm of their hands,” said Nikki Noyes, Director of Compliance at Logicoll, LLC. “Provana stitches together the delicate balance of compliance with operation efficiency to help us better serve both consumers and our clients.” As Vice President of master servicer, The Bureaus, Inc., Marian Sangalang has also seen the value of Provana’s unified platform first-hand. “Because our network of collections agencies is broad and dispersed, having the ability to dynamically share and track large volumes of documents with efficiency is essential to our core business. Working with Provana enables us to work at speed, while providing a secure and compliant platform for our ARM operations.” To learn more about the benefits of IConnect247 and ICAP, see our infographic, Use Data Analytics to Improve Your Call Center Performance. About Provana Provana is a SaaS platform that gives leaders control over process-intensive operations. We serve law firms, insurance companies, accounts receivable agencies and networked enterprises in the US market that are tightly regulated by the CFPB and other authorities. Provana is built on decades of experience in machine learning and natural language processing and helps customers manage sensitive interactions, analyze unstructured data, process personal information and ensure compliance. Provana is backed by a NYC-based Fintech PE, most recently raising funds in November 2020. Learn more at www.provana.com. About REPAY REPAY provides integrated payment processing solutions to verticals that have specific transaction processing needs. REPAY’s proprietary, integrated payment technology platform reduces the complexity of electronic payments for merchants, while enhancing the overall experience for consumers and businesses. Contact Details Provana Britney Schaeffer britney.schaeffer@provana.com REPAY Kristen Hoyman khoyman@repay.com Company Website https://www.provana.com/

July 27, 2021 08:05 AM Central Daylight Time

Kirobo launches 'P2P Swap Button', making slippage-proof, direct token swaps possible for first time

Kirobo

Token prices set by users independent of exchange algorithm-based slippage The service is zero-fee, and allows traders to avoid peak gas prices The innovative authentication mechanism removes risk of error and fraud from token swaps Kirobo, a blockchain technology developer, has announced the release of the 'P2P Swap Button'. The platform enables cryptocurrency holders to execute direct token swaps without the need to use an exchange or custodial OTC party. Kirobo, a blockchain technology developer, has announced the release of the 'P2P Swap Button'. The platform enables cryptocurrency holders to execute direct token swaps without the need to use an exchange or custodial OTC party. The solution allows users to avoid slippage by setting their own token prices and finding their own buyers off-exchange. Asaf Naim, Kirobo co-founder and CEO, said: "The P2P Swap Button is the first decentralized, non-custodial solution allowing people to swap tokens without losing money. Exchanges will lower the price of your token according to how much you're selling, raise it according to how much you're buying, and charge you a fee for the privilege. Our new button lets users trade directly with each other, with their own prices, and with complete safety." The P2P Swap Button uses a mechanism that executes simultaneous two-way transfers while securing transactions with an innovative authentication key, the component parts of which are divided between the initiator of the transaction, the Kirobo server, and the smart contract. This means that a breach is practically impossible. The token swap market helps power the blockchain ecosystem by bringing investment to new projects and letting people diversify their portfolios. However, until now, the only way to protect against wrongdoing in a two-way cryptocurrency transfer was to use an exchange or custodial OTC party. One of the problems with an exchange is that the act of selling cryptocurrency causes the value of that cryptocurrency to go down. As a result, sellers are forced to sell at a “discount”. The P2P Swap Button is an extension of Kirobo's innovative Undo Button, the world's first retrievable transfer service. It protects the first party with an authentication key that the second party must enter in order to complete the transfer of funds. With the P2P Swap Button, the process is similar, except that the second party must also sign the transaction, and the final stage is a two-way transfer executed by smart contract. Both parties have full custody of their funds until the transfer is finally executed, and the first party can cancel the trade and retrieve their funds until the correct passcode is received. The two parties have to agree upon a price before the swap is finalized, so they both avoid the exchange-dictated slippage that ultimately makes trades less lucrative. In addition, the platform allows the traders to agree upon a time to execute the swap, so they can avoid high gas fees by selecting off-peak trading hours. Built on top of the Ethereum blockchain, the service is compatible with Ethereum and ERC-20 tokens. Kirobo does not charge for use of the P2P Swap Button. Tal Asa, Kirobo co-founder and CTO, said: "The P2P Swap Button allows users to benefit from better prices when swapping, while also enjoying the security of a bulletproof, non-custodial authentication mechanism. We expect the mechanism to give a real boost to the token swap market worldwide." Tel Aviv-based Kirobo has received two grants from the Israel Innovation Authority, something that no other blockchain company has achieved. Its retrievable transfer mechanism has already processed more than $1.5 billion worth of cryptocurrency transfers, and helped users retrieve more than $6 million via hundreds of cancelled transactions. Kirobo's mission is to make cryptocurrency an everyday tool that everyone can use with confidence. We achieve this with user-friendly products that remove the risk of human error and fraud from cryptocurrency transactions, making crypto management as safe as can be. Kirobo is the proud recipient of two grants from the Israeli Innovation Authority --- the only blockchain technology company to achieve this. Contact Details Kirobo Ltd Adam Phillips +972 53-285-7017 adam@kirobo.io Company Website https://www.kirobo.io

July 27, 2021 09:05 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Emax Launches #LevelUp with A Modern PC Campaign

Emax

Emax is the largest electronics retailer in the GCC. It has the widest selection of electronics in the UAE, with over 200 brands and 20,000 products all under one roof. The award-winning brand offers a diverse product range that includes photography, IT, mobiles, accessories, drones and robotics, sound and vision, personal audio, gaming, personal care, home appliances, health, and fitness. The brand provides solutions to enhance people's lifestyle and homes with the latest electronics, appliances, and gadgets from trusted brands such as Samsung, Apple, Microsoft, LG, Panasonic, Sony, HP, Bose, Siemens, Lenovo and more. Emax’s latest campaign, “#LevelUpWithAModernPC” encourages consumers to share their #LevelUp Story and win a Modern PC. The campaign further brings forth the promise, "You've got the talent, We’ve got the tech”. So, if technology is the driving force behind your success story, share with us how a Modern PC will help you do what you’re good at better and faster. Innovate and churn out your best creative works. And stand a chance to win a Modern PC ”. Providing impetus to this campaign is Microsoft – a valued partner supporting empowered consumers to achieve more using modern devices. Redington is yet another pillar of strength and technological partner without whom this endeavour would be incomplete. Keeping in mind the changing dynamic of consumer experience when it comes to sophisticated gadgets, Redington offers a plethora of devices for new-gen youth and professionals. The #LevelUpWithAModernPC campaign allows users to post their stories online and get an opportunity to win a Modern PC. The campaign is open to residents in Gulf. Speaking on the campaign, Emax commented, " The rationale of the #LevelUpWithAModernPC is to encourage consumers to explore and consider technology upgrades via modern devices. With the changing paradigm, a cross-section of students, working professionals, businessmen who spend several hours on PC are constantly looking for faster, smarter and tech-savvy products to enhance their deliveries while discovering a new dimension in them." Hence whether you are already on top or are gearing to reach the top, a Modern PC is the perfect, realistic and readily available solution for all! To make this campaign a huge success, the company has roped in renowned influencers from Dubai, viz. Nimmy, Big Rossi, Faith, Ines, Nikita and many more. They will share their interesting #LevelUp stories and encourage their followers to do the same. Furthermore, to inspire the audience to share their #LevelUp stories, Emax will give a Modern PC to all the winners. These stories can be viewed on the Emax campaign website (https://emax-ms.emaxme.com/), and audiences can like and share them and leave their comments. Though the campaign has just taken flight, we expect an overwhelming reach of 12-13M impressions and some exciting entries from our audience. Contact Details Pulp Strategy Ambika Sharma ambika@pulpstrategy.com

July 27, 2021 01:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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News Release

Jeremy Ostermiller, CEO & Co-founder of Edison Interactive is accepted into Forbes Business Council

Edison Interactive

Jeremy Ostermiller, CEO & Co-founder of Edison Interactive, a connected mobility platform that focuses on enhancing the customer experience in trains, planes and automobiles and everything in between, has been accepted into the Forbes Business Council, the foremost growth and networking organization for successful business owners and leaders worldwide. Ostermiller was vetted and selected by a review committee based on the depth and diversity of his experience. Criteria for acceptance include a track record of successfully impacting business growth metrics, as well as personal and professional achievements and honors. “We are honored to welcome Jeremy Ostermiller into the community,” said Scott Gerber, founder of Forbes Councils, the collective that includes Forbes Business Council. “Our mission with Forbes Councils is to bring together proven leaders from every industry, creating a curated, social capital-driven network that helps every member grow professionally and make an even greater impact on the business world.” As an accepted member of the Council, Jeremy has access to a variety of exclusive opportunities designed to help him reach peak professional influence. He will connect and collaborate with other respected local leaders in a private forum and at members-only events. Jeremy will also be invited to work with a professional editorial team to share his expert insights in original business articles on Forbes.com, and to contribute to published Q&A panels alongside other experts. Finally, Ostermiller will benefit from exclusive access to vetted business service partners, membership-branded marketing collateral, and the high-touch support of the Forbes Councils member concierge team. “I am honored to join this amazing group of global business leaders as we make value-added contributions to the markets we serve,” said Ostermiller. “The Forbes Business Council community is among the very best in business and I am proud to bring my experience to such an elite group of professionals.” ### ABOUT FORBES COUNCILS Forbes Councils is a collective of invitation-only communities created in partnership with Forbes and the expert community builders who founded Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC). In Forbes Councils, exceptional business owners and leaders come together with the people and resources that can help them thrive. To learn more about Forbes Councils, visit forbescouncils.com. Edison Interactive is a connected mobility platform that focuses on enhancing the customer experience in trains, planes, automobiles and everything in between. Edison provides drivers and fleet owners with unprecedented control and continuous communication between vehicles, devices and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). The company is headquartered in Denver, Colo. with remote locations throughout the nation. For more information on Edison Interactive, please visit edisoninteractive.com. Contact Details Edison Interactive Frankie Cervantes +1 720-837-7421 frankie@edisoninteractive.com Company Website http://www.edisoninteractive.com

July 26, 2021 08:30 AM Mountain Daylight Time

Rebecca and Kirk Treece Open Minuteman Press Franchise in Missoula, Montana

Minuteman Press International Inc

Rebecca and Kirk Treece are the new owners of Minuteman Press in Missoula located at 2100 South Avenue West. They bought the long-running independent printing business Advertiser Montana Printing, which has a 40-year history in Missoula, and are now operating as a Minuteman Press franchise. Rebecca says, “It is a real honor to become part of Missoula’s thriving business community. The Palmers (former owners) had a 40-year long relationship with this community and their loyal customers have welcomed us and trusted us with their service, which has given us a great start here in Missoula.” She continues, “We are enjoying the opportunity to help others promote and grow their business. Getting the word out to the community that we are so much more than just a copy center has been key! We have been out meeting new people, marketing, and making connections through the Missoula Chamber of Commerce and BNI groups. Over the course of these six months, people have been welcoming and genuinely happy for us when we tell them about our new venture. Many have stopped by for a tour and have been responsive to learning more about the services we provide.” One of the ways Rebecca is looking to stand out as a new business owner is by expanding on the products and services offered by Minuteman Press and educating clients on what is in high demand right now. She explains, “Our high-demand products are business cards, menus, point of sale products like invoices and forms, and medical facility materials. As businesses open up, the demand for envelopes, letterhead, and other consumables has grown. Being part of Minuteman Press family has given us a huge opportunity to share with customers our expanded line of products like mailing, signage, apparel, and promotional items. It has really given us the ability to help people promote their business.” “Missoula is a growing, vibrant, and diverse community that includes the University of Montana. We are sitting on the confluence of three beautiful rivers, between two amazing national parks. Owning a business for me is all about making connections. My goal is to help people market their business so they can use their unique skills to serve their clients. These growing businesses make our community stronger and I am proud to be part of that.” -Rebecca Treece, owner, Minuteman Press Missoula (formerly Advertiser Montana Printing) Career Transition Prior to Minuteman Press, Rebecca and Kirk had varying careers. Rebecca shares, “Before owning my own business, I was utilizing my teaching degree as a vision therapist at an optometry office in Missoula, working with children and adults to improve their visual skills. My husband Kirk was previously a financial and operational manager for a large company. He and I also own a franchise of Fish Window Cleaning and Sunbelt Business Brokerage. We are familiar with business and the franchise concept, but were really drawn to the Minuteman Press structure, training, support and record of success.” While Rebecca and Kirk have experience owning a business, they had never been involved in the printing industry before. Minuteman Press really helped them fill those knowledge gaps and was crucial in finding the right business for them to buy through their special conversion program that connects sellers of independent print shops with qualified buyers. Rebecca says, “Advertiser Montana Printing was an independent print shop that had been in business for 40 years and they had a very loyal base of long-standing customers. An established customer base was the opportunity we were looking for when buying a new business. Our goal is 100% retention and we have worked diligently to meet and develop relationships with each customer. We hit the ground running and it gave us an opportunity to get experience across the board. Our local Minuteman Press field representatives were able to train us on every aspect of the business, which gave us the confidence to meet the demands of our customers.” “The support from Minuteman Press has been exceptional. The training was very comprehensive, and we felt like we were well-prepared for starting up and getting straight to work. We also know exactly who to call when we have a question or issue to manage. The network of Minuteman Press is amazing in the way that everyone is there for you at any time and in any capacity that you need. The expertise of the training and the continual mentoring are the powerful tools we need to succeed.” Owning a Business vs. Having a Job Reflecting on her experiences as an employee and as a business owner, Rebecca shares her insights on the key differences between the two. “As an employee, you work hard and serve the customer. However, you have very little control over the direction of the business. As business owners, we have the power to create the type of business we want and control its presence in the community.” As for Minuteman Press in Missoula, Rebecca and Kirk know exactly where they want to go. She says, “Our goal is to become the premier printing and advertising design company in Missoula and the Greater Northwestern Montana area. We want to develop the reputation for supplying the highest quality products and having superior customer service. We strive to make Minuteman Press in Missoula the place to go for all advice and services. The main lesson Minuteman Press impressed upon me is that if you do not like the current state of your business, change it! Get up, get out there, market, make connections, and grow your business. We have been given the tools and the support to create something great and that is extremely exciting for us.” When asked about the rewards of owning her own business, Rebecca answers, “We are truly fortunate to have a highly skilled and dedicated staff and I love coming in every day to work side-by-side with these incredible people. It is personally rewarding to create a workplace that fosters teamwork and allows employees to create and take pride in their work. It is also very satisfying to develop quality relationships with customers and members of the community.” She continues, “Professionally, our goals are to grow this business significantly over the next year and become more involved members of the community. Business ownership has many challenges but the rewards are well worth it. Owning our own business allows us to balance our work and home lives and gives us the power to make the right decisions for our future.” Minuteman Press in Missoula is located at 2100 South Avenue West, Missoula, MT 59801. For more information, call (406) 728-5200 or visit their website: https://missoula-mt.minutemanpress.com. Learn more about #1 rated Minuteman Press franchise opportunities at https://minutemanpressfranchise.com. Independent printers looking to sell their printing business can learn more about Minuteman Press International's conversion program at http://bit.ly/minutemanpressconversions. Contact Details Minuteman Press International Chris Biscuiti +1 631-249-1370 cbiscuiti@mpihq.com Company Website https://minutemanpressfranchise.com

July 26, 2021 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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