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Auto Theft on The Rise: Surge in Both Auto Theft and Carjacking's

YourUpdateTV

There is a new warning for anyone who owns or leases an automobile: Auto Theft and Carjackings are on the rise. An analysis by the National Insurance Crime Bureau shows auto theft took a dramatic leap upward in 2020 compared to 2019, reversing two years of auto theft declines. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/PnrnGr-_fXc According to this initial study, NICB found that there were 873,080 auto thefts in 2020, a 9.2 percent increase over 2019, and recorded the most thefts for a single year the past decade. Further, every month from June through December 2020 saw theft increases ranging from 11 to 18 percent over 2019. Overall, 38 states witnessed increases in auto thefts in 2020 over 2019. NICB CEO David Glawe conducted a nationwide media tour in conjunction with Your Update TV and D S Simon Media to discuss the rise in auto thefts and the fight to stop the criminals who commit them. Mr. Glawe shared tips on what actions car and truck owners should take to prevent theft and offered insights on macro trends surrounding insurance crimes during a time of COVID-19. During the TV interviews across the country Glawe also highlighted: Recent numbers NICB released when it comes to auto theft After two consecutive years of declining theft, whether these new numbers are the start of an upward trend or merely an aberration Why we are seeing such an increase What can people do to protect themselves from these types of thefts, and what should you do if you are a victim of any of these crimes REPORT FRAUD: Anyone with information concerning insurance fraud or vehicle theft can report it anonymously by calling toll-free 800.TEL.NICB (800.835.6422)or submitting a form on our website. Media: Tully Lehman 925.758.0744 tlehman@nicb.org Brooke Kelley 847.544.7085 bkelley@nicb.org About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

April 05, 2021 02:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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NEW SUMMER DATES ON SALE FOR MUST-SEE INSTALLATION OMEGA MART

Meow Wolf

Planning your summer vacation? Due to popular demand, Meow Wolf has just released additional tickets for their explosive new installation in Las Vegas, Omega Mart through July 31st. Combining eye-popping art with a rich, detailed narrative, Omega Mart is “America’s Most Exceptional Grocery Store” and Meow Wolf’s most ambitious project to date. World-renowned musical and visual artists such as Amon Tobin, Shrine, and Android Jones are among the 50+ collaborators who worked to create this mind-bending experience. Come for the summer essentials such as Americanized Beef, Impact Corn, and Omega Cola and stay for the immersive journey into other dimensions. Who knows, your shopping experience might be out of this world... Located at AREA15, the exhibit has consistently sold-out since its grand opening in February and is the perfect stop for a summer break adventure including 4 anchor spaces filled with over 60 unique environments to explore. Opening during a pandemic is no easy feat, but Omega Mart has executed its launch in style. The exhibit is currently operating at 50% capacity and adhering to all Nevada COVID safety standards. Operating with extended hours to accommodate demand, Omega Mart invites visitors to discover a world beyond anything they’ve seen before. Who knows - you might uncover more than you bargained for. Omega Mart ’s current operating hours are: Monday-Thursday - 12:00PM -10:00PM Friday: 12:00PM - 12:00AM Saturday: 10:00AM - 12:00AM Sunday: 10:00AM - 10:00PM Tickets for the installation are currently available through July 31st online at www.omegamart.com. Connect with Omega Mart on Instagram and Twitter @OmegaMartUSA and on Facebook @omegamart.us Connect with Meow Wolf on Instagram @meow_wolf, on Twitter @MeowWolf, and on Facebook @meowwolf.sf. Additional press materials including photos and video can be found here. About Omega Mart Omega Mart is not your typical grocery store. It's a viscerally satisfying, psychedelic, and totally unpredictable immersive art experience. This begins with hundreds of products that have the ability to fulfill desires beyond expectations and leads beyond into new worlds of inspiration, play, and transformation. More than 325 creatives are working on 250+ unique projects inside the exhibition, which will have 4 vast anchor spaces and 60 additional unique environments, such as installation-filled rooms, terrains, and portals to other worlds. About Meow Wolf Meow Wolf was recognized in Fast Company's 2020 list of The World's 50 Most Innovative Companies. It is a Santa Fe-based arts and entertainment company that creates immersive, interactive experiences to transport audiences of all ages into fantastic realms of story and exploration. The company's first location in Santa Fe opened in 2016 and showcases the THEA Award-winning, international sensation, House Of Eternal Return, where two million visitors have now discovered a multidimensional mystery house with secret passages, portals to magical worlds, and surreal, maximalist and mesmerizing art exhibits. In 2019, Meow Wolf expanded beyond Santa Fe and opened Kaleidoscape, the world's first artist-driven ride at Elitch Gardens in Denver. Meow Wolf recently opened their second permanent installation, Omega Mart, at AREA15 in Las Vegas and their third permanent installation in Denver slated to open in late 2021. Meow Wolf is proud to be the only certified B-Corporation in the themed entertainment industry, with a team dedicated to social impact and building a more inclusive and sustainable economy. Contact Details Jacki St. Thomas +1 310-625-7799 jacki@jiveprdigital.com Company Website https://meowwolf.com/

April 05, 2021 08:00 AM Pacific Daylight Time

Minuteman Press in Philadelphia Boosts Local Business Recovery With Essential Print and Marketing Services

Minuteman Press International Inc

Jude Arijaje is the owner of the Minuteman Press franchise in Philadelphia. He also owns a second franchise in Bala Cynwyd with his son Mejire. Since printing is an essential business, Jude and his team have been open and operating throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, providing everything from signs and menus for restaurants to full-scale direct mail and outreach programs for elections including the upcoming state primaries in May. Jude has been running his business since 2008 and is a member of the Minuteman Press International President’s Million-Dollar Circle for achieving yearly gross sales of at least $1 million. By focusing on supporting local businesses and organizations at this critical time with products and services they need to reopen safely, Minuteman Press in Philadelphia is playing a crucial role in getting the local economy back on track. Jude says, “All in all, people are very receptive to local and small businesses. We are proud to do our part in the local economic recovery. We also have been helping non-profits with their marketing strategies and making sure that are maximizing their reach for their budgets.” He continues, “Right now, many local businesses need to get the word out to their customers that they are open and operating. We have seen high demand for direct mail postcards, directional signs, and signs in general that say ‘WE ARE OPEN’ or ‘WE ARE HIRING’, which is encouraging to see. Custom branded apparel is another capability of ours that continues to be big for us.” During the 2020 election season, Minuteman Press in Philadelphia was able to help many campaigns nationwide adapt their printing and marketing strategies during the pandemic. Jude explains, “We do a tremendous amount of political printing for elections, right now in Pennsylvania there is a primary coming up in May. At the height of the pandemic, we were printing signs and banners as well as many different mailers for the 2020 election. With traditional events not being allowed to take place, we were able to help our clients adapt their marketing and outreach efforts. I am grateful to be able to help local businesses and organizations successfully pivot during this crucial time.” “Print is never going to go away, and the pandemic affirms this. For example, to look professional at Zoom meetings, we will produce the signs, the backdrops, the branded apparel, anything you need. Another example is that local restaurants have come to us for new custom disposable menus. We might have to do business in different ways, but printing is always able to adapt.” -Jude Arijaje, owner, Minuteman Press franchise, Philadelphia It is inspiring to see how Jude has been able to overcome the challenges of COVID-19 and keep his business healthy. He states, “The two most important things that we are doing are marketing while also making sure our existing customers are happy. We have reached out to all of our previous clients as well as prospects with special offers via direct mail, and we do everything we can to make sure they have a positive experience with us.” Jude adds, “My biggest lesson learned during the pandemic and my message to other local business owners would be to work harder, work smarter, and try to connect with customers in a different way. If you don’t adapt to the current needs (and communication tools) of your customers, then they won’t know who you are or how you can help. The climate has changed with the pandemic and we help our clients understand that. We then help them effectively market their business.” Because Jude is part of the Minuteman Press franchise family, he has also received ongoing support that really makes a difference. He says, “The support from Minuteman Press International has been great. When everyone needed a lift, the corporate team and my local regional team were always there for us. I’ve been in constant contact with my Philadelphia Regional Vice President Rich Hornberger and he has been really supportive of us throughout the pandemic.” Rich Hornberger says, “Jude is a consummate professional who cares about his community. I am proud of his efforts in supporting local businesses both before and during the pandemic. Hard work pays off, and Jude is a prime example of that.” When asked what advice he would give to others right now, Jude answers, “My advice is simple: We are in this together, and we all have to work together. Keep your dollars in the community, and employ people in the community. That’s what we strive to do and we are proud to help others recover as we continue to build back our local economy.” For more information on Minuteman Press in Philadelphia and Bala Cynwyd, PA, visit https://www.philly.minutemanpress.com. Learn more about #1 rated Minuteman Press franchise opportunities and read Minuteman Press franchise reviews at https://minutemanpressfranchise.com. Contact Details Minuteman Press International Chris Biscuiti +1 631-249-1370 cbiscuiti@mpihq.com Company Website https://minutemanpressfranchise.com

April 05, 2021 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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NO DOGS LEFT BEHIND ANNOUNCES JACQUELINE FINNEGAN AS NEW VICE PRESIDENT

No Dogs Left Behind

No Dogs Left Behind (NDLB), a global animal welfare organization that rescues dogs from slaughterhouses, has announced that Jacqueline Finnegan has been promoted to the newly created position of Vice President of the nonprofit group. “She’s a true activist who is dedicated to change in animal welfare,” said Jeffrey Beri, Founder and President of NDLB. “As Vice President, she brings a breath of fresh air, a laser-vision focus, and attention to detail that enables the foundation to grow to the next level. The sky’s the limit with Jackie on board as the Vice President of No Dogs Left Behind.” Beri noted that “should anything ever happen to me, knowing that Jackie is at the helm, I know that the foundation is – and will continue to be – in good hands. The foundation needs to be sustainable and not reliant on a single person so that the movement can continue until change happens and every slaughter cage is emptied!” “I been a huge animal rights activist since I was a young girl. I have known about the dog meat trade in China for a long time and have a golden retriever who was rescued from there. To now be able to be part of the movement and part of the solution is so rewarding to me,” said Finnegan, a married mother of three from Old Brookville, NY. This Virginia native started out as a transport volunteer with NDLB more than a year ago. She has participated in over 8 transports, including during the Covid pandemic, when survivors are flown to the US from China to meet their adoptive or foster families. Prior to becoming Vice President, Finnegan, who has both a nursing and law degree, worked as the NDLB Volunteer Coordinator. In her new role, she will be “working with Jeff to ensure that the dogs in our sanctuaries in China get the absolute best treatment and care possible, that we have regular communication with our adopters and regularly share updates and videos with them, and that the entire process, from rescue to transport, is 100% transparent.” In her new role, Finnegan’s first priority will be to establish a fundraising initiative to establish a new sanctuary wing in China for the rescued dogs who have Brucellosis, a non-curable infectious disease that transmits from animals to humans. This wing will have all of the creature comforts of home and a beautiful courtyard for them to play in together. She wants these survivors to be as comfortable as possible, she said, “since they will never be able to leave our sanctuaries in China.” Finnegan, an avid animal lover, explained what NDLB and working with Beri means to her: “It’s not just about saving an individual dog, and getting an individual dog to a person in the United States. It is so much more than that. No Dogs Left Behind is a different type of animal rescue: it all stems from Jeff and how he runs the foundation … he goes into the slaughterhouses and wet markets and shuts them down and rescues the dogs; he cordons off dog trafficking trucks and intercepts them and rescues the dogs. He goes after breeders, demanding health certificates and paperwork, and when they can’t produce them, he rescues the dogs. And in all of these cases, he does not pay a dime for any of the dogs he rescues. Buying a dog to save that one dog’s life will allow the butchers to purchase ten more for slaughter.” In addition to rescuing the dogs, she explained that Beri tries to instill change by trying to persuade the butchers to change to another type of job. He visits schools in China to educate the young about animal welfare and companionship. “He’s a true hero, going out there, witnessing atrocities that most could not even imagine, and doing everything he can to not just rescue the dogs, but raise awareness about what’s going on.” Finnegan has 14 chickens, three dogs, and two horses. Out of all of the NDLB survivors Finnegan has helped, there is one dog she will always remember: Ichabod, an Alaskan malamute who was adopted and flown to the US in February 2021. “Even though he was disabled and crippled, (he) followed Jeff around everywhere.” Ichabod had been on a dog meat trafficker’s truck on its way to slaughter when Jeff’s team intercepted the truck and rescued him and all of the other dogs on the truck. “Watching how Ichabod followed Jeff around at the transport, and seeing his total and complete happiness when he had Jeff’s undivided attention, I knew then that each and every one of our dogs views Jeff as their savior. Not only is Ichabod a story in and of himself, but he’s a testament to what Jeff does day in and day out for these dogs.” About No Dogs Left Behind: No Dogs Left Behind operates boots on the ground in China, fighting on the frontlines to rescue dogs from the illegal dogmeat trade. They work hands-on with local activists through emergency response, pulling dogs directly from slaughterhouses, dogmeat trucks, wet markets and traffickers. Their mission extends beyond borders, advocating for the creation and enforcement of animal welfare laws, and raising awareness for a cruelty-free, sustainable world in which no animal is violated, exploited, tortured or slaughtered for commercial goods or profit. With nearly 500 survivors in their care, No Dogs Left Behind operates sanctuaries in Dayi and Gongyi, China. Contact Details No Dogs Left Behind Sherry Chen +1 855-665-0888 sherry@nodogsleftbehind.com Company Website http://www.nodogsleftbehind.com

March 30, 2021 04:05 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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No Dogs Left Behind Opens its Adoptions to Hong Kong Residents

No Dogs Left Behind

No Dogs Left Behind (NDLB), a global animal welfare organization, is opening its adoptions to residents of Hong Kong and expanding its initiatives and efforts in this Asian region. For National Pet Day this year on April 11, NDLB will attend a charity event to raise animal awareness at the only vegan restaurant in Hong Kong’s Discovery Bay. Hong Kong families may now apply to adopt survivors from NDLB, which alongside Chinese activists and volunteers rescue dogs from slaughterhouses, then flies the adopted and fostered ones out to meet their families. New York native Jeffrey Beri, founder and president of NDLB, will be at Hemingway’s to share his nonprofit organization’s visionary goals. Attendees will receive a free reusable NDLB facemask. “We are expanding into Hong Kong for an outreach and awareness program for animal welfare,” said Beri, “(and) to grow the plant-based sustainable movement.” Dog owners are also invited that day to bring their dogs to join a dogwalk at a nearby park. Every participating dog will receive a leash from NDLB. With the help from hundreds of activists in China and the US, Beri rescues dogs – from slaughterhouses, dogmeat trucks, wet markets, the Yulin meat festival and illegal dogtraffickers – and then transports them to safe havens where they receive medical care, nutritional support and rehabilitation on an ongoing basis. Fighting on the front lines to end the reckless slaughtering of animals, this movement will also put an end to the serious threat to human health as wet markets breed infectious diseases. While the majority of the population in China does not eat dogmeat, it is estimated more than 20 million dogs are still barbarically slaughtered each year. To adopt, foster or donate to NDLB, please visit http://www.nodogsleftbehind.com. About No Dogs Left Behind: No Dogs Left Behind operates boots on the ground in China, fighting on the frontlines to rescue dogs from the illegal dogmeat trade. They work hands-on with local activists through emergency response, pulling dogs directly from slaughterhouses, dogmeat trucks, wet markets and traffickers. Their mission extends beyond borders, advocating for the creation and enforcement of animal welfare laws, and raising awareness for a cruelty-free, sustainable world in which no animal is violated, exploited, tortured or slaughtered for commercial goods or profit. With nearly 500 survivors in their care, No Dogs Left Behind operates sanctuaries in Dayi and Gongyi, China. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, TikTok and Pinterest. Contact Details No Dogs Left Behind Sherry Chen +1 855-665-0888 sherry@nodogsleftbehind.com Company Website http://www.nodogsleftbehind.com

March 30, 2021 12:45 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Utah Launches Pioneering Pilot on Mobile Driver’s License

GET Group North America

Waltham and Boston, Massachusetts, Salt Lake City, Utah (March 30, 2021 ) – The Utah Driver License Division (DLD) has launched a mobile driver license (mDL) pilot for offering driver’s licenses and ID cards on mobile phones. The pilot will demonstrate improvement in citizen privacy and security, while highlighting the convenience and safety of tap and go transactions. It will use a fully ISO 18013-5-compliant mobile app, following the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) mDL Implementation Guidelines. The new mDLs are a secure, contactless digital form of ID that give citizens control of their identity data. They choose the personal information they share with businesses. The pilot will build public acceptance of mDL in real-world scenarios such as banking, travel, traffic stops, and restaurant and liquor store transactions that require age verification. Building an open ecosystem during the pilot where mDLs are accepted at many businesses will pave the way for making mDLs viable for all of Utah’s more than two million licensed drivers. Utahns may be able to leave their wallet at home soon. Unlike other pilots, Utah will fully utilize the ISO 18013-5 standard for mDL, which provides the benefit of cryptographic proof of identity that prevents forgery and cannot be achieved by simply showing your phone screen to a clerk at a business. “Our Driver License Division is committed to working with residents and stakeholders to implement a solution which provides the highest value to Utahns: one which is accepted anywhere and provides enhanced privacy, security and personal control,” said Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Jess L. Anderson. “Utahns’ privacy is of the utmost importance to us and the mDL gives them control over their data. They choose what information to share when their identification is requested.” For mDL, Utah DLD has tapped GET Group North America and its technology partner, Scytáles, to provide GET Mobile ID, an ISO 18013-5-compliant application that puts an official driver’s license or ID Card on a citizen’s smartphone. The Contactless ID document can be verified with a tap or scan and is accepted worldwide using any ISO 18013-5-compliant reader, such as GET Mobile Verify. The GET/Scytáles mDL technology was the first to pass the formal conformity assessment testing, meant to ensure compliance to the stringent standards that allow for global acceptance. “Utah DLD has incredible foresight and timing to lead the world with standardized mDLs. We are proud to support Utah DLD as they begin launching a full-scale mDL program,” said Alex Kambanis, President and Managing Director of GET Group North America. “COVID has accelerated the importance of Contactless ID for both citizens and the businesses that accept ID. Utah DLD is providing Utah residents a huge benefit with financial, security and health-related impacts." “Utahns will now lead the country in having the benefit of a completely secure, privacy-centered, standardized form of mobile ID. Our team looks forward to supporting Utah in its pioneering role in implementing the very first fully ISO-compliant mDL,” said Geoff Slagle, President & Chief Business Development Officer at Scytáles, Inc. The pilot will begin with approximately 100 select participants and expand to 10,000 participants including the broader public during 2021. Utah businesses can participate in the pilot to accept mDLs now and prepare for when mDL is available to all Utahns. 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 Scytáles Scytáles is breaking new ground by developing and offering ISO-compliant Mobile Driver Licenses, Mobile IDs and derived Mobile IDs as a complement to Security Printed Documents, and Validation mechanisms in realtime in online and offline modes. The company participates as experts in Mobile Identity through the standardization body (SIS) and participates on the Task Force 14 on Mobile Driving Licences within ISO/IEC JTC1/SC17/WG10. Scytáles is also providing a Credential Service Provider (CSP), an ICAO 9303/PKD PKI, supporting multiple Mobile DLs/IDs and online identity validation providers. Scytáles lays the foundation for a comprehensive lineup of online digital services, serving billions of users, as well as enabling high-security printed documents and banknotes to go digital and mobile. Contact Details SVM Public Relations Jordan Bouclin +1 401-490-9700 jordan.bouclin@svmpr.com Scytales Anna Seddigh +46 70 988 60 48 aseddigh@scytales.com Company Website https://getgroupna.com/

March 30, 2021 12:25 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Major League Baseball becomes latest league to join Jock MKT

Jock MKT

Jock MKT (Jock Market), the company turning sports into a stock exchange, announced Major League Baseball will be part of their innovative platform starting with MLB’s Opening Day on April 1, 2021. The announcement marks the fifth league on Jock MKT, which allows users to buy and sell shares of NFL, NBA, NHL, PGA Tour and now MLB players in real time for real money. “Our users have told us Jock MKT is making sports more interesting – and for a sport like MLB that's looking for more ways to engage with fans, I think we offer that perfect second screen type of experience,” said Tyler Carlin, Co-Founder of Jock MKT. “Live trading on Jock MKT gives every pitch and every at bat an opportunity to trade and find value, which should really appeal to the hearts of baseball fans, a sport rooted in stats and analytics. We’re thrilled to now feature all four major U.S. leagues, plus the PGA Tour.” In an MLB Cash Market, Jock MKT users are able to buy virtual shares of star players like Mike Trout of the Anaheim Angels or Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees on a daily basis. Likewise, users can invest in shares of players with more upside such as a utility infielder or the fifth starter in a five-man rotation. Prior to each day of MLB games, Jock MKT hosts an IPO stage that concludes minutes before the first pitch. During the IPO, users can bid on shares of players using real cash. When the IPO ends, any Jock MKT user can buy and sell shares with other investors while the games are happening. Users have the option to hold their shares to the end of the night for cash payouts based on fantasy rankings. For a tutorial of how to play, watch this video. Now approved in 35 states, Jock MKT is one of the fastest growing fantasy sports platforms in the world. Early investors include Isaiah Kacyvenski, a retired eight-year NFL veteran with a Harvard MBA. Kacyvenski is Founding Partner and Managing Director of Will Ventures, an early-stage fund investing at the intersection of sports and technology. Additional investors include Ryan Moore, a current board member of DraftKings and Accomplice founding partner. Headquartered in Boston and launched in 2020, Jock MKT (JockMKT.com) is a fantasy gaming platform where users can make real money – every minute, every second, of every game. Inspired by a traditional stock exchange, Jock MKT allows users to buy and sell shares of athletes in real time. Jock MKT was co-founded by Tyler Carlin and investors include Isaiah Kacyvenski, Ryan Moore, Brandon Adams and Alumni Ventures Group. Available in the U.S. in 35 states, Jock MKT offers gaming options for events tied to the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL and PGA Tour. Contact Details Eric PR & Marketing, LLC Eric Nemeth +1 602-502-2793 nemeth@ericpr.com Company Website https://jockmkt.com/

March 30, 2021 10:03 AM Eastern Daylight Time

CMMC Center of Excellence Announces Engagement Agreement with Ordr

Interoperability Clearinghouse

The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification Center of Excellence (CMMC COE), hosted by the Information Technology Acquisition Advisory Council (IT-AAC), a public-private partnership serving the public and private sectors for more than 15 years, is excited to announce a partnership with Ordr, an industry leader in continuous discovery, device asset inventory visibility and security of all connected devices, including unmanaged IoT, IoMT, and OT devices. This unique partnership will extend efforts by providing complete device asset inventory discovery for compliance within the CMMC COE Marketplace to improve cybersecurity protection and resilience for the global defense industrial base network of contractors, vendors, and suppliers. “We are excited to embark on this journey with Ordr”, said John Weiler, Chairman of the Board at CMMC Center of Excellence, “The foundation of CMMC starts with visibility into devices in the network and the risks they bring. This new partnership will further help advance the goals and objectives for improving the supply chain security and resilience for the US Department of Defense (DoD)”. Ord provides a purpose-built platform for asset inventory and security. It discovers and secures all connected devices -- from traditional servers, workstations and PCs to IoT, IoMT and OT devices. Using agentless and passive methods of data collection, connected devices can be automatically discovered and classified. Devices with vulnerabilities, weak ciphers/certificates or are subject to recall are identified. Ordr’s machine learning engine also maps and baselines device communication patterns to establish “Flow Genomes”. Ordr can then alert on anomalous behavior and dynamically generate micro-segmentation policies to allow devices only appropriate access. “The Ordr team is thrilled to be joining the pioneering organizations and innovators that make up the CMMC COE,” said Greg Murphy, Chief Executive Officer at Ordr. “We are working with DIB contractors, vendors, and the supplier community to enable them to meet CMMC regulations quickly and efficiently. Being a part of the CMMC COE accelerates that effort.” The executed Engagement Agreement establishes a collaborative engagement between Ordr and the CMMC COE to partner in the furthering of their respective and complementary missions and objectives regarding the adoption, use, and expansion of CMMC based cybersecurity practices, risk management, and compliance for the DIB contractor, vendor, and supplier community of providers creating a broader CMMC ecosystem globally to improve security and resilience. Specific actions will include: The co-development of CMMC advisory services, cyber training and education programs to accelerate CMMC certification, increase cyber adoption and improve cyber protection & resilience. Co-sponsor symposiums, training programs and podcasts leveraging their combined cyber and IT expertise. Host regular working groups, with other partners, to enable collaboration and communications. Establish an independent Industry Cyber Security Advisory Council with peer organizations to advise and educate leaders across government and industry on the continued evolution and effectiveness of CMMC. The CMMC-COE ( http://cmmc-coe.org ) and Ordr partnership will focus on bringing together the many disparate cyber and national security communities of interest to reduce complexity, improve awareness, and accelerate industry effort to become more cyber resilient against the growing threats from nation states and criminal enterprises. The CMMC-COE establishes both a Market Place and Knowledge Clearinghouse that will include resources that support the overall effort, including white papers; tutorials; recorded webcasts; presentations; and more that will help reduce the cost and burden on small and medium size contractors already struggling from the impact of COVID. For more information on the CMMC COE, please visit http://cmmc-coe.org, email info@cmmc-coe.org or call 703-863-3766. For more information on Ordr, please visit https://ordr.net/solutions/cmmc/, email info@ordr.net or call 833.673.7999 #### Contact Details John Weiler Executive Director, IT-AAC Chairman, CMMC COE john.weiler@it-aac.org 703-863-3766 Monica Wallace for Ordr Monica.Wallace@ruderfinn.com 650-346-8994 About Us ---------- CMMC-COE.ORG is a unique non-profit public-private partnership, with a vision to accelerate Cybersecurity Maturity Model (CMM) adoption, and reduce time & cost for security compliance for our partners by leveraging commercial best practices, CMMC standards, and innovative solutions for a measurable success. Our mission, focused on DOD mission objectives, cost containment and expeditious CMMC compliance, is to help the DIB improve cyber posture and resilience, and simplify its acquisition. The CMMC-COE is hosted by the Information Technology Acquisition Advisory Council (IT-AAC), a public/private partnership (P3) chartered in 2007 as an honest broker to reach outside the confines of the Federal IT advisories that lack dynamic reach into the Global IT Market, and dedicated to the adoption of commercial IT management standards of practice and innovations emanating from the Global IT market. Team IT-AAC has already demonstrated the value of its decade long investment, and provides a unique value to agencies seeking to achieve accelerate the transformation of legacy processes and systems. Our Just-in-Time SMEs apply an innovative suite of Technology Business Management and Agile Acquisition Processes needed to assure the business value of commercial IT. The Interoperability Clearinghouse (ICH), is the managing partner that make up the 24 NGO/SDO organizations that make up the IT-AAC. ICH provides the contract vehicles, clearances, and critical resources proven to guide sustainable, measurable and repeatable processes needed to drive better investment decisions as the speed of mission need, while aligning existing processes, methods and workforce with IT reform mandates contained in Clinger Cohen Act, FITARA, IT MGT Act, EO13838. About Ordr ------------ Digital transformation has led to the inevitable explosive increase of connected devices. The scale and diversity of these devices, and the capacity for network connectivity introduces risks. Every single device is a potential attack vector and must be secured. Ordr delivers visibility and security of all connected devices -- from traditional servers, workstations and PCs to IoT, IoMT and OT devices. Ordr discovers what devices are in the network, profiles device behavior and risks, and then automates appropriate action. Contact Details CMMC Center of Excellence Bob Dix +1 703-975-6633 bob.dix@it-aac.org Company Website https://cmmc-coe.org

March 30, 2021 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Osmo For Schools Celebrates Five Years and Upgrades to Plastic Manipulatives in School Bundles for Classroom Hygiene & Safety

Osmo for Schools

Osmo for Schools, the educational division of Tangible Play that promotes in-classroom usage of Osmo’s award-winning educational systems, celebrates its fifth anniversary March 30, 2021 and highlights recent achievements. These include upgrading to plastic pieces in all its school bundles to maintain the highest standards of classroom hygiene, along with reaching 100,000 downloads of the Osmo Projector App intended for teachers, which helped grow Osmo’s community of active users. “Osmo for Schools began thanks to all the incredibly enthusiastic teachers across the U.S. and Canada who adopted Osmo as an educational device for classroom settings, promoting its usage, so that schools and districts started to purchase it,” explains Jan Richards, head of education sales and marketing at Osmo for Schools. “In early 2016, Osmo began our division by forming a sales team, a conference strategy, plus a Classroom Kit for schools, which really took off. It’s come a long way since!” The division now has 15 sales and consulting executives who work under Richards, offers nine different learning system bundles, and works with thousands of school districts. All Learning System Bundles Upgraded To Plastic Manipulatives for Effective Sanitization In January 2021, Osmo for Schools upgraded all nine school bundles to include plastic pieces across the board, replacing ones made of cardboard. This makes it easier for schools to disinfect and clean Osmo’s manipulatives, which are used in conjunction with Osmo’s technology inside classrooms, and allows schools to maintain the highest standards of classroom hygiene. Osmo for Schools’ plastic pieces are long-lasting, easy to sanitize when using EPA-registered disinfectant spray, and dishwasher-safe. “The entire world holds a mirror to each school’s hygiene standard and methods of cleaning and disinfection--this is especially true in classrooms where several hands are touching different items every day,” says Richards. “Our plastic pieces are an excellent educational tool, now made even safer for classrooms, and only teachers have access to them. Teachers are so excited to have all-plastic pieces in their sets!” “In all my years teaching, I’ve always sanitized my teaching tools as a STEAM teacher; from robots, to iPads and now my Osmo for Schools kits--this is a life saver for my students and myself,” says Frances Amato Dominguez, Ed Tech Model and STEAM Teacher in New York. Adds South Carolina kindergarten teacher Keri Lewis, “I love how durable these pieces are. Being plastic, they are able to be cleaned thoroughly between uses without fear of damaging the pieces.” These bundles featuring all-plastic pieces are exclusive to Osmo for Schools, and educators who previously purchased bundles with cardboard manipulatives can now buy the plastic piece sets separately, with a 25-percent discount. Projector App Reaches 100,000 Downloads Due to the sudden transition to virtual learning one year ago, Osmo reacted to teachers’ cries for a more effective means of engaging students in a virtual classroom, by offering Projector App. The app began as a free download to all thanks to Osmo Cares, the charitable arm of Osmo. Launched in late March, the app is now being used by teachers of all levels (pre-K to university) across the country to make the virtual learning environment more fun, appealing, and similar to an actual classroom; it recently reached 100,000 downloads, and helped to grow Osmo’s community of active users. Projector App employs a powerful reflective AI technology that allows the camera to “see” the desktop in front of the screen and project a teacher’s real world text, notes and drawings onto the screen, even 3-D models they hold in their hand, while being compatible with Zoom and other video conferencing technologies ( video ). Projector App is the 2020 recipient of EdTech Breakthrough Awards’ “eLearning Innovation of the Year.” “It’s wonderful that the free download of Projector App introduced many teachers to Osmo for the very first time, who were previously unaware of the great variety of educational products we offer,” says Richards. Carol Argumaniz, Assistant Principal at Lillie Jackson Early Childhood Center in Lewisville, Texas, speaks about the success her teachers are having with virtual learning, thanks to Osmo Projector App. “It allows teachers to deliver the same quality lesson through virtual learning, as they would deliver through in-person learning at school,” says Argumaniz. “And it allows them to conduct small group lessons with very high quality pictures so students feel like they are actually next to the teacher.” About Osmo for Schools Osmo for Schools, a division of Tangible Play, Inc., focuses on building in-classroom usage of Osmo’s award-winning educational systems. Using proprietary AI technology, these systems help teachers foster collaboration, communication, creativity, critical thinking, and increased engagement in learning, in students. Osmo is used in more than 30,000 schools in North America. Tangible Play is headquartered in Palo Alto, California. For more information about Osmo for Schools and its products, visit schools.playosmo.com. Contact Details Carolyn Kamii PR Carolyn Kamii +1 310-251-0550 carolynkpr@gmail.com Company Website http://schools.playosmo.com

March 30, 2021 04:00 AM Pacific Daylight Time

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