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Philadelphia’s Future Female Leaders Attend Free Construction Camp for Girls throughout Summer of 2023

NEST

Local Philadelphia-area girls entering 7 th through 12 th grade will attend a free construction camp this summer to provide real-world experience, mentorship, and education about the opportunities that exist in the construction industry, regardless of gender. The camp is called MyWIC, which stands for Mentoring young Women In Construction, and will take place in Philadelphia between Thursday, July 6 through Friday, Aug. 11. MyWIC is run by the NAWIC Philadelphia Foundation, which partnered with companies like NEST, a leading national facilities management company, and Girls Inc. of Greater Philadelphia & Southern Jersey to make it a reality. The camp strives to create a sustainable labor pool in the construction industry while exposing young women to careers they may not have previously considered. The Philadelphia Youth Network Work Ready also provides funding to cover a portion of the cost. “MyWIC is developing America’s next generation of female leaders by teaching them about the construction and skilled trades industry,” said Mary Gaffney, NAWIC Phila. Foundation President. “Females make up only about 10% of the construction industry, and there are incredible opportunities to build a career in the skilled trades. By the end of the camp, we see a tangible increase in the girls’ self-confidence, self-esteem, and overall self-image.” “The construction industry and the skilled trades offer so many opportunities for future careers that are in high demand, not only in Philadelphia but across the country,” said Rob Almond, CEO of NEST, which is based in South Jersey. “The MyWIC camp is a summer-long tradition that shows the girls the incredible career opportunities in our industries. The girls learn that construction is so much more than swinging a hammer.” The construction camp will take place at several trade locations throughout the Philadelphia area during July and August. Each day, the girls will learn about a specialty within the trades, including carpentry, sheet metal, safety training, electricians, finishing trades, steamfitters, plumbers, and retail construction. The attendees of the camp are coordinated by Girls Inc. of Greater Philadelphia & Southern Jersey. About Mentoring Young Women In Construction Mentoring young Women In Construction (MyWIC) is a free, construction industry, day camp for 7 th through 12 th -grade girls in the Philadelphia region. MyWIC is organized and run by the NAWIC Philadelphia Foundation, a 501(C)3 non-profit organization, and sponsored by various organizations throughout the Philadelphia region. About National Association of Women in Construction With more than 115 chapters across the country, the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) offers its members education, support, and networking to help advance women’s careers in construction, build their technical skills, and become leaders. NAWIC’s core purpose is to strengthen and amplify the success of women in the construction industry from tradeswomen to business owners. The Philadelphia Chapter of NAWIC and the NAWIC Philadelphia Foundation are volunteer organizations. About Girls Inc. of Greater Philadelphia & Southern New Jersey Girls Inc. of Greater Philadelphia & Southern New Jersey has been serving girls and young women in the Greater Philadelphia region since 1961, originally as Teen Aid. In collaboration with schools, community partners, the juvenile justice system, shelters, corporations, and approximately 300 volunteers, we provide programs for thousands of girls and young women in the Philadelphia region’s most under-resourced communities each year. Our holistic approach recognizes that empowering girls to be successful, independent women requires that they have the tools to make healthy decisions about their bodies, receive academic enrichment, are exposed to mentors who work in a broad range of careers, have strategies to deal with bullying and violence, and parents/caregivers engaged in their success. About NEST NEST is the pioneer of the Integrated Facilities Management (IFM) industry in the United States and Canada. Founded in 1994, NEST delivers day-to-day tactical management of facilities, financial consulting, analytics, project management, and construction for major multi-site brands across North America. NEST provides 360° support 24 hours a day through one comprehensive facilities management solution that drives cost savings while maintaining an exceptional customer experience. To learn more about NEST, visit enterNEST.com or follow NEST on LinkedIn. Contact Details Eric PR & Marketing, LLC Eric Nemeth +1 602-502-2793 nemeth@ericpr.com Company Website http://www.enternest.com

June 27, 2023 12:37 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Introducing Borderless: The New Way to Build and Share VR Experiences

Borderless

Today, Borderless announces that its free, no-code, virtual reality (VR) experience creation platform will soon be available to the public. Previously for enterprise use only, the platform will now make VR more accessible, scalable, and adaptable for organizations, brands and creators worldwide. It is currently compatible with leading VR headsets like Meta Quest and Pico Neo, with plans to include the Apple Vision Pro. “VR is a powerful technological asset, and Borderless aims to make it approachable and powerful, to the technical and non-technical alike,” says Matt Robison, founder and CEO of Borderless. “We’re knocking down barriers to entry and aim to become the platform for creating and sharing immersive experiences; ones that have the potential for lasting positive impact.” Borderless is already trusted by enterprise clients including a major consumer electronics brand, a top retail training provider, and educational nonprofit, Act One. It simplifies the creation and delivery of VR experiences for a wide range of use. With the platform open and available to anyone, organizations can design and update learning and development programs to train employees, brand marketers can build and share immersive activations, educators can transport students to new places, and artists can bring their work to audiences in new ways. Borderless allows individuals and organizations to build immersive experiences in minutes with no headset required. Users can upload 180° or 360° video and images, and create interactive quizzes or surveys all in a simple, web-based tool, previewing their work as they go. A Unity uploader will also allow 3D creators to bring their work, including games, into the platform. Customizable environments tie a complete experience together. Once an experience is created, users can deploy to their compatible devices, from headsets to tablets, simultaneously. Borderless makes it easy for users to keep up with managing their content—from creating and deploying to collecting analytics. “With the Borderless platform, we’ve been able to transport thousands of students in Arizona to places they would never get to see,” said Rachel Yanof, Executive Director, Act One. “Our first VR field trip featured Chicago-based artist Sentrock, a Mexican-American muralist originally from Arizona. We wanted to create inspiring trips grounded in relatable stories that showed students a broader world where people just like them went on to express themselves through art. While there are similar learning opportunities between a traditional arts field trip and VR, we could go even deeper into storytelling with the virtual experience content we created using Borderless.” Starting today, you can check out the official sizzle reel here and sign up at borderlessvr.com to be the first notified about its official debut in the fall with your first look at the no-code platform demo here. ABOUT BORDERLESS Borderless is a company founded on the belief that extended reality experiences have the ability to change the world. Its product is designed to increase accessibility to VR experience creation, and simplify the delivery of content from corporate training to brand experiences to school field trips and beyond. The company's no-code platform is a powerful tool in bringing experiences and products to life for some of the biggest brands in the world today. For more information, visit borderlessvr.com. Contact Details Kite Hill PR for Borderless Geanna Diaz geanna@kitehillpr.com Company Website https://borderlessvr.com/

June 27, 2023 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

New Convention Wins and Strong Line-up Reaffirms Hong Kong’s Leading Edges Across Multiple Sectors

Hong Kong Tourism Board

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach - 26 June 2023 - The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) has applauded the city's convention business following a raft of new convention wins in 2023. I&T, medical, financial services, and education planning professionals have all chosen Hong Kong, solidifying the city's position as a preferred destination for academic exchanges and industry advancement. Mr Kenneth Wong, General Manager, MICE & Cruise of HKTB, said, "The growing demand is providing a welcome stimulus for Hong Kong's economy. Thanks to Hong Kong's leading status across various industries and tremendous opportunities brought by the Greater Bay Area (GBA), we are delighted that Hong Kong further strengthens its status as the World's Meeting Place and remains a top choice among convention organisers." Convention wins reinforce Hong Kong as I&T hub One of this year's major wins is the EDGE Global AI & Web3 Investment Summit 2023 under the I&T sector. The inaugural edition of this event will be hosted in September 2023 in Hong Kong, and is expected to bring in 10,000 visitors. This major win followed the city's recent hosting of a number of Web3 events, including FOMO Asia Genesis Conference and WOW Summit 2023, which marked its entry to Asia Pacific. Mr Ander Tsui, organiser of EDGE Global AI & Web3 Investment Summit 2023, Co-Chairman of Hong Kong Blockchain Association, Chairman of EDGE Summit Committee and Founder of VertexLabs said, "Hong Kong is simply a world-class stage for Web3 and artificial intelligence events and beyond. Not only does it draw global venture capitals, investment institutions, and enthusiasts from across the globe, but it also serves as the perfect gateway to the dynamic GBA. We look forward to seeing our high-octane event debut in Hong Kong." Another major win – the Insurtech Insights Asia 2023 Conference, which will take place in December 2023 with an expected attendance of 3,000 – highlights the city's strong fundamentals, international business connections, as well as government support in the insurance, insurtech and I&T sectors. Mr Kristoffer Lundberg, CEO Insurtech Insights and Mr Hung W. Wong, President Asia, Insurtech Insights said, "We are thrilled to be building the largest pan-Asia insurance and insurtech conference in Hong Kong to gather insurance executives, entrepreneurs, and investors by providing knowledge, inspiration and network. We are extremely grateful for the tremendous support from the Hong Kong governmental organisations." Strong convention line-up in 2023 This year, the city is already recording an exciting calendar of conventions, in which the medical sector has taken the lion's share, including the 44th Asia Pacific Dental Congress 2023 in June and t he 16th Asia Pacific Heart Rhythm Society Scientific Session, in conjunction with CardioRhythm, in September 2023. Dr Nelson Wong, Hong Kong Convention Ambassador, President of the Asia Pacific Dental Federation and President of the Hong Kong Dental Association said, "The 44th Asia Pacific Dental Congress 2023 was a great success with the dedicated support from the HKTB. We are proud to play a part and strive for excellence in making Hong Kong a premier destination for international dental congresses." The 44th Asia Pacific Dental Congress 2023 successfully attracted over 5,000 dentists and dental industry related participants from local and around the world. Hong Kong Convention Ambassador programme expands to Mainland China Leveraging the extensive network and influential power of the business leaders in Hong Kong, the HKTB introduced the Hong Kong Convention Ambassador (HKCA) programme back in 2020. Since then, industry leaders have led some 40 events to Hong Kong. This year the HKTB appointed 140 industry leaders from Hong Kong and Mainland China, which marks the HKCA programme expansion to Mainland China for the very first time. Mr Kenneth Wong said "The formulation of the ambassador programme gives Hong Kong an edge in securing world-class conventions. We are very grateful for the support from local leaders, as well as our mainland counterparts. With close collaboration, we can showcase Hong Kong's unique role as a super-connector and a MICE hub of the GBA to capture boundless opportunities for business events." With HKTB's continuous strategic bidding efforts and the well-developed and growing alliance of HKCA, Hong Kong is set to attract more world-class conventions, making it the first choice as the place to meet. Contact Details Ms Ivy Chung +852 2807 6255 ivy.chung@hktb.com Ms Candice Leung +852 2807 6578 candice.leung@hktb.com

June 26, 2023 09:38 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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City University of Seattle Celebrates 50th Anniversary, Seattle Mayor and Alumnus Bruce Harrell is Commencement Speaker

CityU

This weekend, City University of Seattle marked its 50th anniversary with a commencement speech from Seattle Mayor and school alumnus Bruce Harrell, who earned a Master of Arts degree in Organizational Leadership in 1994. The commencement theme – expanding college access to a wider base of students – was based on the university’s mission to give non-traditional students a pathway to college. "The Northwest has millions of people with some training or college credit and no degree," said Randy C. Frisch, CityU President. "CityU helps students complete a degree or acquire new training certificates, with innovative and flexible programs, tailored to provide our students with direct pathways into cutting-edge, lucrative careers." CityU partners with employers like Amazon and Boeing to help employees complete degrees and get accreditations to help them advance in their careers. CityU students can pursue training and degrees, with career pathways into many local, national and international partner companies. “For 50 years, CityU has helped working adults and non-traditional college students reach their full potential and take advantage of the many exciting professional opportunities Seattle has to offer,” said Mayor Bruce Harrell, City of Seattle. “With their flexible, career-relevant programs, global partnerships, and passionate faculty, CityU prepared me to be a bold leader with the knowledge, skills, and attitude to positively impact the Seattle community. I’m excited to celebrate the accomplishments of the CityU Class of 2023 and see how they flourish in their future careers.” The university has made a lasting impact on Seattle and beyond. Graduates include Mayor Bruce Harrell; Connie Thompson, KOMO TV; Monique Jeanne Morrow, World Economic Forum (former); John Batiste, Chief of the Washington State Patrol; Tonita Webb, president and CEO of Verity Credit Union; and many others. “You already know a CityU graduate but may not realize it,” said Frisch. “At our 50th commencement we are celebrating the CityU graduates who have earned their degrees and are working to achieve incredible accomplishments in their work, in their community, and in their lives.” About City University of Seattle: City University of Seattle has been relentlessly reimagining higher education in the Pacific Northwest and around the world since 1973. CityU is a private, nonprofit university dedicated to serving working adults and transfer students. The university is recognized as a Top 10 educator of adults nationwide and is ranked as a Best Online Bachelor’s Program 2022 and as a Best Online Bachelor’s Program for Veterans 2022 by U.S. News & World Report. Accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities through the doctoral level, CityU offers more than 65 online, onsite and performance-based programs. CityU is headquartered in downtown Seattle, Washington, and has multiple sites throughout Western Washington, Canada and abroad. For more information, visit https://www.CityU.edu. Contact Details Forrest Carman +1 206-859-3118 forrestc@owenmedia.com Company Website https://www.cityu.edu/50th/

June 26, 2023 10:58 AM Pacific Daylight Time

Pioneering History Education Providers Announce New Collaboration with Global EdTech Leader

In the Footsteps of History

Pioneering educational providers In the Footsteps of History, creators of a tech-forward social studies enrichment program that brings world history to life through the excitement of adventure and exploration, have partnered with Lumio, the digital learning tool used by millions around the world and created by global EdTech leader SMART. Through this new collaboration, more than 20 free In the Footsteps of History lessons, including Marco Polo and the Silk Road, the travels of Ibn Battuta and the legendary city of Timbuktu, and more will be available in Lumio, making the most of its interactive and engaging resources for exciting history education. In the Footsteps of History’s immersive lessons, presented by world-famous explorers, fill a much-needed role in an often challenging subject to teach. The program’s unique mix of documentary-quality videos https://inthefootsteps.org/the-ibn-battuta/, 3D games https://3dmap-itf.pages.dev/, https://patterns-itf.pages.dev/ and cutting-edge, web-based simulations powered by Ultisim provide a valuable teaching tool for building knowledge, expanding world views, and fostering respect for other cultures. With outstanding reviews for higher engagement, improved visualization, and elevated critical thinking, In the Footsteps of History ushers in a whole new era for the social studies classroom. “The power of technology to provide students with opportunities to visit places that they would not otherwise be able to is truly impressive,” says explorer Denis Belliveau, CEO, and Founder of In the Footsteps of History. “Our hope is that this will encourage more and more youth to go out and discover the world around them.” For middle and high school social studies educators who are looking to engage students with unique and immersive lessons, Lumio and In the Footsteps of History have teamed up to create a new resource category of original content https://suite.smarttech-prod.com/lumio-library/category/i1Iqf2, utilizing Lumio’s collaborative and interactive game-based learning tools. “We are thrilled to work with the team at In the Footsteps of History to bring unique, immersive history learning into Lumio, supporting teachers and students with great content.” Says Dan McMahon, Lumio Vice President of Software. “Together, we have even more opportunities to bring learning to life and connect more students with engaging experiences.” In the Footsteps of History is presenting at ISTELive June 26-28 at booth #1466 and Lumio is presenting at booth #2718 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. New In the Footsteps of History 'Journeys' will be rolling out over the coming months. ABOUT IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF HISTORY: In the Footsteps of History is a tech-forward social studies enrichment program of multimedia units that bring history to life through the excitement of adventure and exploration. Offered as complete units called Journeys with videos, web-based 3D games, and standards-aligned lesson plans, and augmented by additional immersive virtual reality (VR) Walkabouts, In the Footsteps of History promotes higher engagement, improved visualization, stronger comprehension, increased retention, and elevated critical thinking. For more information and free trials visit www.inthefootsteps.org or contact Lisa Taylor at 718-986-5104 or by email at lisa@inthefootsteps. About Lumio Lumio is a free, easy-to-use, digital learning tool that lets teachers transform lessons into active, collaborative learning experiences to engage students on their devices, wherever they are. With countless ways for students to engage and drive their own learning, Lumio is a perfect fit for educators who are looking for ways to increase interactivity, collaboration, and game-based learning. To learn more, visit www.golumio.com. Contact Details In the Footsteps of History Lisa Taylor lisa@inthefootsteps.org Company Website https://inthefootsteps.org/

June 25, 2023 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Minuteman Press Franchise in Huntersville, NC Has Grand Opening for Brand New Location

Minuteman Press International Inc

Neha Katrodia is the owner of the brand new Minuteman Press design, marketing, and printing franchise located at 9606 Sherrill Estates Rd., Suite A, Huntersville, NC 28078. After opening their doors in March of 2023, Minuteman Press in Huntersville held their official grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, June 2, 2023. The event was hosted by the Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce and was attended by Huntersville Commissioner Dan Boone. Neha shares, “The Huntersville community has been very welcoming and interested in learning more about our business. I'm so thankful to everyone who came to support us during the grand opening and showed interest in growing together.” She continues, “Owning my own business means taking on my father's path to becoming an entrepreneur. Most importantly, I feel a sense of personal fulfillment and I look forward to seeing this new venture grow and succeed while helping other local businesses with all of their printing and promotional needs.” Joining Neha in the business are two key staff members: Denis Vargas, graphic designer/production; as well as Neha’s husband Mehul Katrodia, marketing agent. While Denis provides clients with custom creative designs and a sharp eye for details, Mehul manages the marketing side including Google and social media accounts. Neha, meanwhile, has already jumped into several networking groups to become active in the community, including the Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce as well as the Huntersville BNI group. She says, “I feel it’s important to get out there and engage with clients in person and also market our business online. Once clients come to us, we enjoy working with them to bring their visions to life and delivery high quality products and service. Our staff is ready and willing to welcome clients to Minuteman Press in Huntersville with open arms.” Prior to buying the business, Neha always had wanted to follow in her father’s footsteps and become her own boss. She explains, “I have a healthcare and medical billing background; however, I grew up in the business environment. My father has been a businessman from my early childhood years and has owned various businesses from then to now. I also helped him run some of them due to the language barrier he had at times.” Neha further shares why she chose to own a Minuteman Press franchise, stating: “The continuous local support that Minuteman Press offers is amazing; The B2B hours of operation allow me to balance my business and personal lives; Minuteman Press allows me to follow my passion for creating something so unique with every project or job.” She adds, “The training program was extremely informative and allowed me to feel confident in front of clients. Now, the local support to lean on here in my region has been so helpful with advice and guidance on unique projects. We also use the Minuteman Press FLEX software made available to us as a key marketing tool for growth.” Following the successful grand opening, Neha is excited for the future of her new business. She concludes, “At Minuteman Press, we love working with other local businesses and organizations. I look forward to supporting them with our personalized products and services as we are all in this together.” Minuteman Press in Huntersville is located at 9606 Sherrill Estates Rd., Suite A, Huntersville, NC 28078. For more information, call 704-594-8699 or visit their website: https://minuteman.com/us/locations/nc/huntersville/ 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

June 20, 2023 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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HKBU hosts IACMR Conference to explore the future of business education

Hong Kong Baptist University

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach - 16 June 2023 - The 10th Biennial International Association for Chinese Management Research (IACMR) Conference hosted by Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) is being held from 14 to 18 June on the University's campus. Professor Alexander Wai, President and Vice-Chancellor of HKBU said that the Conference offers an ideal platform to discuss higher education’s models and practices in the fields of business and management. IACMR is an academic organisation that serves scholars, students, managers and consultants who are interested in advancing their knowledge about organisational management in the Chinese context. The Association has over 14,000 registered members from almost 100 countries, and has been recognised as an authoritative, world-class academic research organisation in the area of Chinese management. Themed "Globalisation in Flux: China and the World", this year's IACMR Conference gathers nearly 2,000 scholars and experts from around the world to share the latest research and exchange views on Chinese management and organisations under continuous change in globalisation. The Conference's welcome reception was held on 14 June. Professor Zhang Zhixue, President of IACMR, and Professor Alexander Wai, President and Vice-Chancellor of HKBU delivered welcome remarks at the reception. In his remarks, Professor Wai said that rapid technological developments have taken the world by storm, with the most recent example being the rise of generative AI tools like ChatGPT. Ongoing global challenges and geopolitical dynamics will continue to create uncertainties on the outlook of globalisation in future. "As educators at HKBU, one of our key concerns in addressing the challenge of globalisation is to educate the next generation with an innovative and transdisciplinary approach, so that they will be equipped with the skills, knowledge and visionary mindset to help them seize the opportunities that technology brings," he said. He said that the Conference offers an ideal platform to discuss higher education's models and practices in the fields of business and management. One of the highlights of the Conference will be the Dean's Forum to be held tomorrow (17 June). Seven renowned scholars and heads of business schools from Arizona State University, Fudan University, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Baptist University, Tsinghua University and The University of Hong Kong will discuss on the theme "The Future of Business Education". Professor Ed Snape, Dean of the School of Business at HKBU, will discuss at the Forum how business schools should nurture students to meet employers' demands and develop stronger ties with the industries. Other issues to be explored at the Forum include the challenges of artificial intelligence (AI) and Chatbot posed to business education, the future of online and hybrid learning, and the development of business schools in the post-COVID era, etc. The Conference also features almost 100 keynote panels, symposiums, paper presentations and roundtables on diversified topics for intellectual exchanges of scholars, research students, and practitioners in Asia and beyond. They will explore new concepts, theories and examine empirical findings in rigorous and creative ways. Scholars and research students from HKBU have also participated actively in the Conference, and used this opportunity to share with their counterparts their education and research excellence. Contact Details Communication and Public Relations Office, HKBU Kevin Lau +852 3411 7964 kevinkflau@hkbu.edu.hk

June 16, 2023 07:55 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Former DHS Chief Procurement Officer, Soraya Correa, Joins as Executive Director of NCMA Contract Management Institute

National Contract Management Association

National Contract Management Association (NCMA) today announced the reinstatement of the Contract Management Institute (CMI) with the appointment of Contract Management veteran, Soraya Correa as the new Executive Director. Ms. Correa, former Chief Procurement Officer and Senior Procurement Executive of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), brings a wealth of experience and expertise to lead the CMI into a new era of excellence and innovation in contract management. The reinstatement of the Contract Management Institute marks a significant milestone for the industry, as professionals and organizations can once again benefit from a dedicated hub of knowledge, resources, and collaboration opportunities. As the field of contract management continues to evolve and become increasingly critical in today's complex business environment, the reinvigorated CMI will serve as a vital platform for professionals to stay at the forefront of profession trends and best practices. Soraya Correa's appointment as the Executive Director of CMI is a testament to her outstanding leadership and remarkable achievements in procurement and contract management. During her tenure at DHS, Ms. Correa spearheaded numerous initiatives – including the Procurement Innovation Lab (PIL), Reverse Industry Days, and the Education, Development, Growth, and Excellence (EDGE) mentoring program – that revolutionized procurement practices and enhanced the efficiency and effectiveness of contract management within the agency. Her strategic vision, combined with her deep understanding of the complexities and challenges of the field, made her the ideal choice to steer the CMI toward new heights. "I am honored to lead the Contract Management Institute as its Executive Director," said Soraya Correa. "Contract management is pivotal to mission delivery and successful business outcomes. I am committed to providing today and tomorrow’s contracting professionals with the knowledge and tools they need to excel in their roles. I look forward to collaborating with federal state and local government, industry leaders, academia, and others to drive innovation, promote excellence, and elevate the contract management profession." Kraig Conrad, CEO of the National Contract Management Association, expressed his support stating, "We are thrilled to see the Contract Management Institute restored. With Soraya Correa at the helm, we are confident that CMI will provide valuable resources for positive impact on our profession." The Contract Management Institute aims to be the premier resource for contract management professionals, offering a wide range of programs and research initiatives. Stay tuned for updates on the official launch of the Contract Management Institute's website and social media pages. About the Contract Management Institute (CMI): The Contract Management Institute (CMI) is a leading professional organization dedicated to advancing the field of contract management. With a mission to drive innovation, promote excellence, and enhance the role of the contracting professional, CMI provides valuable resources including networking opportunities for individuals and organizations involved in contract management across government, industry, and academia. The Institute serves as a catalyst for knowledge exchange, collaboration, and professional development, enabling contract management professionals to navigate the complexities of the profession successfully. The CMI mission and vision are aligned with its Parent, NCMA. CMI is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. For inquiries, paper submissions, and donations, please contact Soraya Correa at soraya.correa@ncmahq.org. The National Contract Management Association (NCMA), which was founded in 1959 and is the world's leading association in the field of contract management. The organization, which has over 18,000 members, is dedicated to the professional growth and educational advancement of procurement and acquisition personnel worldwide. NCMA strives to serve and inform the profession and industry it represents and to offer opportunities for the open exchange of ideas in neutral forums. To find out more, please visit www.ncmahq.org. Contact Details NCMA Holly Dehesa +1 281-865-3296 holly.dehesa@ncmahq.org Company Website https://www.ncmahq.org/

June 14, 2023 09:07 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Minuteman Press in Nashville, TN Completes Exterior Full-Wrap Rebranding of the Iconic Grand Ole Opry House Music Venue

Minuteman Press International Inc

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Grand Ole Opry House, owned by Ryman Hospitality Partners, is one of the most legendary music venues in the USA. Thanks to Minuteman Press franchise owner John Taylor and his team at Minuteman Press in Nashville, the face of the Grand Ole Opry House now looks as good on the outside as the music sounds on the inside. What started out as a sales call and business cards order ten years ago has evolved into a trusted branding partnership between Minuteman Press in Nashville and Ryman Hospitality, and the result of that partnership includes incredible projects like this one – the full-wrap exterior rebranding of the Grand Ole Opry House. Minuteman Press in Nashville is located at 415 Spence Lane, Nashville, TN 37210. John Taylor has owned the business since January of 2014 and is a member of the President’s Club for top performers across the Minuteman Press franchise system. John shares key details on working to complete this huge project on such an iconic venue. How did the project with the Grand Ole Opry come about? John Taylor: “We acquired them as a client about ten years ago. It originated with a sales call at the original The Ryman Auditorium, in downtown Nashville. The first order was a few sets of business cards. Their parent company is Ryman Hospitality. Working inward through the marketing department at Ryman Hospitality, a relationship developed. They have a lot of printers, but we stayed in touch, cross-selling where possible. Ultimately, we set them up on an online portal ordering system for their printed collateral and admin items for their various brands. We make it a habit to deliver all prospects our "Portfolio Thumb-drive". It is branded Minuteman Press and goes to them pre-loaded with our most impressive projects in categorized folders. That led to us becoming one of their trusted branding partners, I would like to say their preferred branding partner. We've done projects from Nashville to New York City for them as they open new venues.” What specifically did you do for this project? John Taylor: “We have done multiple projects at the Grand Ole Opry House. Regarding this project: It is an extraordinary surface, in that it is stamped concrete. It is made to look like a ‘rough-cut cedar’ wooden surface, with deep woodgrain and over a half-inch depth difference between the faux planks. There are two installation processes in this type of project. One is to install and register the panels together (58" wide panels). The second process is to heat and press the vinyl into the grain and contours with a heat gun/torch and foam hand roller, roughly 4" at a time. We measured, scaled and templated the whole project. We printed the vinyl on an HP 360 Latex printer, then laminated the vinyl on a GBC roll laminator (3M IJ-480 Vinyl with 3M 8520 Matte Overlaminate). We used our 55' boom truck and a rented 45' boom lift to install. The first team and truck would hang and register the vinyl. The second lift would have a heat gun, a torch, and roller to get into the grain, and a single installer with very tired arms. We blocked off an area to work every morning so tours could still safely operate every 30-60 minutes. We installed in close coordination with the security team every day and evening to avoid periodic live shows in the evenings altogether." What was the timetable / what did it take to complete the project? John Taylor: “The exterior, as all large branding projects do, began with an intense set of measurements and a write-up of all inclusions and challenges with the surface(s). We then created an Illustrator template for their art department, advising best practices and highlighting any areas to which they should pay special attention during design. The timetable was roughly 7 weeks, synopsized below: We surveyed the first week and provided them a template for artwork technicals and construction. It took them 2-3 weeks to develop art, get the individual artists' approvals, and the necessary internal management approvals. We removed the old banners and aluminum hardware, as well as prepped/cleaned the building during that period. I asked for 7-10 days to produce the vinyl. It took about a week to print, laminate and cut. We should have been able to install it in roughly one week with a crew of three. It ended up taking two weeks since the Grand Ole Opry has shows every couple of days, which limited our time (we had to be packed up and out of the way by 3 pm). The weather was also a factor." TIME LAPSE VIDEO: Full-wrap rebranding of the face of the Grand Ole Opry House – Spring 2023 – Minuteman Press, Nashville: How happy are you with the completed project? What has been the feedback you’ve received? John Taylor: “I'm extremely happy with it. I really am humbled and honored to be given the opportunity. Now, for the less-than-humble perspective; it was an intense scope of work... and we got the job done! We've had only positive feedback about this installation and people are loving the new face of the Grand Ole Opry House. My favorite reaction was from a security guard that said, ‘I haven't seen this many people stop and have their pictures taken in front of the building in years and years!’. He's been there over 15 years, so that was so gratifying to hear him say that.” John concludes, “To have our hard work appreciated, especially on such a large-scale project, it’s just a great feeling of accomplishment.” For Minuteman Press products and services and to find your local Minuteman Press, visit https://minuteman.com. Learn more about #1 rated Minuteman Press franchise opportunities at https://minutemanpressfranchise.com. Contact Details Minuteman Press International Chris Biscuiti +1 631-249-1370 cbiscuiti@mpihq.com Company Website https://minutemanpressfranchise.com

June 12, 2023 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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