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Minuteman Press Franchise in Humble, Texas Brings Local Businesses and Community Together During COVID-19

Minuteman Press International

As a local business owner herself, Minuteman Press franchisee Connie Chandler knows how important it is to support local businesses during COVID-19. She says, “We are all dealing with the effects of the pandemic crisis and every dollar that stays local makes a difference and may determine if a business is able to stay afloat.” That is why Connie’s Minuteman Press printing and marketing business has launched Bounce Back Humble , a free community website where local businesses can submit free listings and consumers can take advantage of special offers. Connie has owned the franchise in Humble with her husband Darryal since 2010 and has always put community first over the past ten years. She explains, “All of us are in the same boat, no matter what the industry is. Right now, with COVID-19, people are worried, needs are different, and money is tight for families. Bounce Back Humble is our way of simply providing a free community platform in order to boost businesses in our area. We have over 60 participating businesses and people can visit the Bounce Back Humble website to view special offers and show their support.” The feedback from other local businesses has been overwhelmingly positive. Connie says, “Local owners I spoke with were so happy that someone cared about them. We weren’t selling anything and businesses were thrilled to have a FREE way to get the word out about being open and sharing their specials.” Now more than ever, it is important for the community to come together and lift each other up. Connie adds, “Community members must support local businesses to help our community thrive. Businesses need the support in order to survive. Help and support came in ways other than spending, such as word of mouth, referrals, and promoting each other.” Because printing is an essential business , Minuteman Press in Humble has remained open and operating throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Connie says, “We are helping other businesses, not only by offering the Bounce Back Humble program, but with the products and services we have. In the beginning, many customers, both established and new customers, needed banners and signs. Now, our biggest sellers are face masks and labels.” Connie continues, “Several customers have been doing mailings over the past few weeks using our direct mail design, printing, and delivery capabilities. We have also been making sure to market our various products and services through email marketing and Facebook, which is also beneficial. We continue to let our customers know we can help them with all of their printing and marketing needs.” She concludes, “At the end of the day, we are all in this pandemic together, and Minuteman Press Humble is here to help our community and our fellow local businesses bounce back!” For more information on Minuteman Press in Humble, Texas, visit https://humble.minutemanpress.com . To submit a free local listing at Bounce Back Humble or view special offers from local businesses, visit https://bouncebackusa.minuteman.com/locations/tx/humble/ . Introducing Bounce Back USA, free local business listings & COVID-19 awareness posters to support local business. Get started for free at https://BounceBackUSA.com . Learn more about #1 rated Minuteman Press franchise opportunities and read Minuteman Press franchise reviews at https://minutemanpressfranchise.com . About Minuteman Press International Minuteman Press International is the number one rated business marketing and printing franchise that offers world class training and unparalleled ongoing local support. At Minuteman Press, We Are The Modern Printing Industry ™ providing high quality products and services that meet the needs of today's business professionals and go way beyond ink on paper. Today, our centers offer innovative branding and printing solutions and produce custom graphic designs, promotional products, branded apparel, direct mail campaigns, large format printing including posters, signs and banners, and much more. Prior experience is not necessary to own and operate a successful Minuteman Press franchise. Learn more about Minuteman Press franchise opportunities and read Minuteman Press franchise reviews at https://minutemanpressfranchise.com Contact Details Chris Biscuiti +1 631-249-1370 cbiscuiti@mpihq.com Company Website https://minutemanpressfranchise.com

August 06, 2020 10:09 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Nonpartisan Mobile Game, Pigeon POOlitics, Launches to Unite Young Voters Ahead of 2020 Election

Pigeon POOlitics

Pigeon POOlitics , a zany mobile game featuring pigeons who poop on users' political adversaries, today announced its official launch on the Apple App Store and upcoming debut on the Android App Store Monday, August 10. The game is geared towards the 2020 U.S. presidential election, and designed to connect young voters from both sides of the political spectrum by sharing unbiased political information to help them make better informed choices when voting in the polls this fall. The vision of the video-game startup is to sprinkle a bit of playful humor into the tense political arena, helping unite the nation’s youth to increase voter turnout among first-timer voters, millennials and Gen Z gamers. With one of the lowest voter turnout rates among the youth, only 43% of Americans between the ages of 18 and 29 voted in the 2016 U.S. presidential election . The game is intended to make the sharing of political news more light-hearted and interactive via the use of animation. To begin, players can select to represent either the Democratic or Republican party, with the option to change parties as they continue on each new level. Currently, there are six levels available in Pigeon POOlitic’s beta version, with additional levels in production. Prior to completing each level, players must face and conquer a “political boss,” which can take on the form of a news anchor, senator or even president. The app’s main feature, referred to as “poop tracking,” has users control a flock of pigeons to poop on whoever opposes their views, providing real-time insights and opinion polling into which presidential party is least-preferred in each state. “My whole life changed the day I won the Diversity Visa Lottery (AKA the green card lottery). I grew up in Iran, witnessing a great deal of political unrest,” said Sassan Yousefi, co-founder and CEO of POOlitics. “Coincidentally, I arrived in the United States on November 9th, 2016 – the day Republican nominee Donald Trump became the president-elect, after winning the electoral college. Just a few short years later, I found myself designing an unbiased political video game surrounding the upcoming presidential election.” In 2019 during Yousefi’s USC graduate program, a mutual friend connected him with Hossein Shahbazi, a seasoned software engineer with blue-chip brand experience under his belt, who had decided to pursue a career in video game development. The two creatives embarked on a nine-month journey to produce a game that would replace misinformation, propaganda and anger with satirical political commentary and news delivery. “While growing up in a socially isolated, poverty-stricken country run by a corrupt government, video games became my lifeline to sanity, socialization and a creative atmosphere to learn about other worlds,” said Hossein Shahbazi, co-founder and CTO of POOlitics. “So when I came to North America at the age of 22 to become a software engineer, I was fascinated to see freedom of thought and expression. I had never lived in a country where citizens could openly criticize political leaders without being physically harmed or thrown in jail.” About Pigeon POOlitics: POOlitics is a zany 2020 nonpartisan mobile gaming app developed as an interactive platform for sharing unbiased political news and real-time polling views. Inspired by the idea to unite the youth of America and provide them with a safe and fun medium to express political interest and healthy debate, ahead of the 2020 U.S. presidential election. The game was first released for iOS and Android devices in August 2020. About Sassan Yousefi: Sassan Yousefi is co-founder and CEO of Pigeon POOlitics, a mobile gaming app established in anticipation of the 2020 U.S. presidential election. After earning a Bachelor of Architecture at Shahid Beheshti University, he received his Masters of Business Administration at Tehran University and completed a Masters in Construction Management at the University of Southern California. About Hossein Shahbazi: Hossein Shahbazi is co-founder and CTO of Pigeon POOlitics, a mobile gaming app established in anticipation of the 2020 U.S. presidential election. Shahbazi received a Bachelor of Engineering at Sharif University, and earned a Masters in Computer Science from the University of Alberta. Before making the leap to video-game development, Shahbazi worked as an engineer for blue-chip brands such as Google, and Microsoft, as well as several Silicon Valley startups. Contact Details Kelsey Nover +1 989-277-5089 kelsey@trustrelations.agency Company Website https://www.pigeonpoolitics.com/

August 06, 2020 08:08 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Cloud Conventions Unveils 360 Degree Virtual Experience

Convey Services

Cloud Conventions , a full featured virtual tradeshow and event technology solution today unveiled its new 360° Virtual Exhibit Hall & Lobby Experience™ for exhibitions, conferences or association events. The 360° Virtual Exhibit Hall & Lobby is an option that allows an attendee to dynamically move through a panoramic view of the exhibition hall with custom graphics linked to exhibit and sponsor booths, the auditorium for speaker and keynote sessions, agendas and social events. The 360° Virtual Exhibit Hall provides the event host with greater opportunities to promote sponsors and exhibitors and can be updated daily to reflect the changing face of any event. “Many show operators want to simulate the experience attendees would have in a live tradeshow or conference by creating movement as the attendee explores the event,” said Carolyn Bradfield , founder of Convey . “If attendees can navigate to exhibit booths, speaker presentations and show specials, with just a mouse, they are more engaged and connected to the virtual event experience. The new 360° Virtual Exhibit Hall & Lobby expands revenue opportunities for show organizers by adding new sponsorship packages that offer a variety of unique advertising placements.” The 360° Virtual Exhibit Hall & Lobby is an enhanced interactive marketing tool that can be customized to fit the theme, location, market and scope of any event. A selection of panoramic backgrounds range from hotel lobbies and exhibit halls to exteriors with mountains and seascapes. Unique visual elements are added to the scene so the viewer can navigate through the event. “Your Cloud Conventions event manager will consult with you to establish a graphic theme, define visual elements and links to include in your virtual exhibit hall or lobby,” added Bradfield. “Cloud Conventions is engineered to be self-serve with expanded training and support elements built in. No technical skills or coding are necessary to manage the platform or the event. The 360° virtual experience is one of the few enhanced features that requires design help from our event team.” For more ideas on how to make a virtual event both informative and engaging, visit the Online Resource Center at www.CloudConventions.com . About Cloud Conventions Cloud Conventions is a Virtual Trade Show and Conference Platform from Convey Services that brings new capabilities to a marketplace looking for solutions to replace the thousands of live trade shows, annual conferences and association meetings cancelled in the wake of COVID-19. Originally launched as ConveyLive, Cloud Conventions automates exhibitors and virtual booths, attendee registration, speaker sessions and reminders, invitations and email communication, while at the same time producing detailed analytics on attendee, session and exhibitor activity. Trade Associations and event managers can explore all of the Cloud Conventions solutions by visiting https://cloudconventions.com or contacting info@cloudconventions.com or call 888-975-1382. Cloud Conventions™, Conduct™, One-Touch Email Share™, Hub & Spoke™, 360° Virtual Exhibit Hall & Lobby Experience™ and ListLock™ are trademarks of Convey Services LLC Contact Details Bruce Ahern +1 770-580-0810 bahern@conveyservices.com Company Website https://cloudconventions.com

August 05, 2020 03:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Minuteman Press in Buffalo Gives Back to Front Line Workers and Supports Local Businesses During COVID-19

Minuteman Press International

With a growing number of more than 70 participating businesses on their free Bounce Back Buffalo initiative, Minuteman Press in Buffalo is helping area business owners mount a resurgence of growth by making sure they remain connected to their own clients with free advertising and access to resources. The Minuteman Press Buffalo website also hosts the Give a Pint to the Front Line charity with options that include custom hoodies, t-shirts and $6 and up virtual pint donations. “We are going to all the participating breweries to purchase the gift cards and are accommodating hospital protocol so we can donate them to our front-line health care workers.” “I have always been about community FIRST,” says Wes Froebel, owner of Minuteman Press in Buffalo which has remained open as an essential business from the beginning. He also expanded his marketing services into two initiatives currently benefiting local business and lifting morale for front-line heath care workers. The first, Bounce Back Buffalo , is a coalition of local business owners spanning a variety of industries hosted by Minuteman Press. “Our Bounce Back program has helped many businesses in Buffalo ranging from non-profits, restaurants, breweries, law agencies, photography companies, and more. It makes us at Minuteman Press Buffalo feel really proud that we are able to support and give back to our community.” Today, as things open up on main street, Wes is observing a rising enthusiasm in his area. “Businesses are reopening and increasing capacity now. We are helping them get their specials out there and easily update their hours of operation for all to see. A lot of our restaurants have begun to take reservations to make sure they are abiding by the need for social distance and use Bounce Back Buffalo to keep their guests informed and conveniently make those reservations. We are taking stress out of as many challenges as we can, helping our business and restaurant owners provide warm, welcoming messages so people are encouraged to shop or enjoy a meal.” "It was great of Minuteman Press Buffalo to provide advertising, discounts to healthcare workers, and free advertising via Bounce Back Buffalo to support our business, our community, and the local economy." Matt Kahn, President, Big Ditch Brewing Company “Participating members of Bounce Back Buffalo gain an SEO benefit as well. We help provide a strong backline to their websites which can boost their search engine rating.” Wes Froebel, owner, Minuteman Press The second spirit-lifting initiative, Give a Pint to the Front Line , directly benefits the tirelessly heroic health care workers while giving a shot in the arm to the breweries intrinsic to the area. It has become a feel-good way for people to join Minuteman Press in generosity towards their neighbors and future. More are coming in every day, enthusiastically donating to the cause. Wes is gratified by the enormous response: “I lead with community first because I am aware of people’s struggles and know we are in a position to help. When COVID-19 hit, and our breweries, restaurants and small business owners were closed, I understood their struggle at the same time that I admired the healthcare workers putting themselves at risk on behalf of all of us.” “I got the idea to establish a way for people to donate gift cards from participating craft breweries that we will deliver to health care workers who can take their pints to go; or they can choose to await the full reopening of bars and breweries. It supports the front-line workers and encourages more buying within our local economy,” he adds. People are discovering Give a Pint to the Front Line through Minuteman Press social media and email blasts, but also because it is becoming the talk of the town. “I had one person, Thom, contact me when he heard about us online. He wanted to combine his own donation, specially designed glasses that said, Buffalo Craft Beer Over Covid , which he used to raise $1,540 to contribute to our cause.” “Wes is a good guy and it is clear he wants to be involved and do good things for the community. I wanted to give back also and as I came up with my idea for the custom glass, I heard about this charity by Minuteman Press doing something cool on Facebook where you can buy beer for hospital workers. Instead of a straight donation, I contacted Wes and now he’s doing the legwork collecting the funds and distributing the gift cards”, Thom says. He adds, “I want to raise visibility for what he’s doing. I would like to see people go straight to Minuteman Press and get active in this program.” Wes remains dedicated to community first and his efforts are invigorating the area. “Our purpose is to help our own economy get back to normal and grow. We want everyone to be healthy, working, and spending money as we return to new pursuits and enjoying life.” For more information on Minuteman Press Buffalo, visit https://buffalo21.minutemanpress.com . Learn more about #1 rated Minuteman Press franchise opportunities and read Minuteman Press franchise reviews at https://minutemanpressfranchise.com . Contact Details Chris Biscuiti +1 631-249-1370 cbiscuiti@mpihq.com Company Website https://minutemanpressfranchise.com

August 05, 2020 11:08 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Cloud Conventions Creates Dedicated Team to Support Virtual Events for Associations & Nonprofits

Convey Services

Cloud Conventions , a full featured virtual tradeshow and event technology solution now has a dedicated team of event managers to support virtual events and conferences for professional associations and nonprofits. Members of the new group have hands-on experience in working with associations, nonprofits and management firms to translate formerly live conferences into virtual events using the Cloud Conventions platform. “Our goal is to show association managers that taking a live conference and making it virtual still supports their membership and benefits their sponsors,” said Carolyn Bradfield , founder of Convey . “In many ways, virtual events not only satisfy the goals of associations and trade groups but exceed them in ways that live events can’t. The Cloud Conventions platform engages members while drawing a larger audience who don’t need to travel to participate. This delivers more revenue to the organization and better ROI to exhibitors and sponsors.” For associations, virtual events have significant advantages, with higher levels of engagement between exhibitors and members. Attendees now have the option to: Attend without the risk or expense of travel. Attend sessions live or watch recorded speakers or panel discussions online. Explore content from exhibitors and sponsors on-demand, not just during exhibit hours. Allow more people in their organization to take advantage of the conference. Receive continuing education credit without missing other parts of the event program. Network and interact with association members through social events and forums. “Associations and trade groups often fund their entire annual budget from revenue generated by exhibitor commitments or sponsorships along with registration fees,” added Bradfield. “Exhibitors and sponsors generate a larger number of sales leads as attendees interact inside the booth. There are more calls to action, since attendees can request meetings, attend demos or collect more information. Our new team helps association managers understand the benefits of a virtual event and provides support to maximize the capabilities of a Cloud Conventions virtual event.” Doctors, nurses, lawyers, engineers, CPAs, financial advisers, real estate and other professionals are required to prove participation in continuing education programs every year in order to maintain their Continuing Education (CE), Continuing Legal Education (CLE) or Continuing Medical Education (CME) certificates or licenses. Many of these professionals obtained credits during live association conferences. Now they can earn them during a virtual conference or tradeshow. Cloud Conventions automates session management, allows the use of any conferencing solution, produces the post-session speaker evaluation and can deliver a continuing education certificate to the dashboard of qualifying attendees. The platform is now fully integrated with Zoom Webinar for attendee tracking and CE compliance. Cloud Conventions has a unique ‘Hub & Spoke™’ content delivery model that supports associations and trade groups who manage multiple events. The association can maintain one centralized hub site for exhibitors to add educational and marketing assets and duplicate their virtual booths to multiple regional event portals. This gains efficiency and saves time for the association, as well as the exhibitor. Pre-designed booth templates standardize the look and feel of every show, providing a consistent attendee experience and simplifying exhibitor management. Cloud Conventions is designed for the non-technical user who doesn’t have HTML skills or technology training. Marketing administrators or event managers can easily navigate the platform. For more ideas on how to make a virtual event both informative and engaging, visit the Online Resource Center at www.CloudConventions.com . About Cloud Conventions Cloud Conventions is a Virtual Trade Show and Conference Platform from Convey Services that brings new capabilities to a marketplace looking for solutions to replace the thousands of live trade shows, annual conferences and association meetings cancelled in the wake of COVID-19. Originally launched as ConveyLive, Cloud Conventions automates exhibitors and virtual booths, attendee registration, speaker sessions and reminders, invitations and email communication, while at the same time producing detailed analytics on attendee, session and exhibitor activity. Trade Associations and event managers can explore all of the Cloud Conventions solutions by visiting https://cloudconventions.com or contacting info@cloudconventions.com or call 888-975-1382. Cloud Conventions™, Conduct™, One-Touch Email Share™, Hub & Spoke™ and ListLock™ are trademarks of Convey Services LLC Contact Details Bruce Ahern +1 770-580-0810 bahern@conveyservices.com Company Website https://cloudconventions.com

August 05, 2020 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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From Jail to Jobs: Goodwill® Program Helps Young Adults Find Work

Goodwill Industries International

Goodwill Industries International has received an investment from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to fund a new program that helps young adults find jobs after a period of incarceration. The Goodwill LifeLaunch: Ignite reentry program will provide job skills and career training services for young adults in four cities: Atlanta, GA; Louisville, KY; Pittsburgh, PA and Muskegon, MI. “People coming home after a period of incarceration have always faced challenges landing good job opportunities, but never more so than now,” said Steven C. Preston, president and CEO, Goodwill Industries International. “With high unemployment due to COVID-19, people looking for a second chance will need every form of assistance they can get in an effort to successfully move forward with their lives.” Goodwill LifeLaunch is designed to serve 415 people with criminal histories who are between the ages of 18 and 24. The four participating Goodwill organizations were chosen based on community need; the Goodwills’ experience in reentry and young adult services; and their strong partnerships with community colleges, local criminal justice systems and employers. “As was the case during the Great Recession, we are seeing tremendous disruptions in the U.S. job market,” said Preston. “As a leader in the field of job training, skills building and career services for more than a century, Goodwill is in prime position to help job seekers most in need of assistance, including people with the unique challenges of reentry.” The employment training programs instituted in each of the four cities will focus on in-demand jobs in local industries. These include highway construction, welding and maintenance technicians in Atlanta; brake repair, welding and forklift drivers in Louisville; machine operators and electrical maintenance in Muskegon; and HVAC techs and nursing assistants in Pittsburgh. Among the program’s goals is to keep recidivism among participants at or below 20 percent, to help 60 percent of participants to attain a credential, and to assist 75 percent of participants in gaining measurable skills. Goodwill will track program participants after completion of LifeLaunch: Ignite to accurately measure program success. Goodwill LifeLaunch is designed to operate for approximately 24 months, with a 12-month period for follow-up services. As part of the DOL’s Young Adult Reentry Program, LifeLaunch: Ignite will strengthen communities by helping participants become productive, contributing members of communities; gain long-term, financially sustaining employment; find stable homes; and address any potential substance abuse or mental health needs. The Goodwill LifeLaunch: Ignite Reentry Program is made possible with a $4.5 million grant award from the DOL’s Employment and Training Administration, covering 93 percent of operating costs, from the U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration. Goodwill Industries International and the four Goodwill organizations are contributing leveraged funding valued at $324,762 to cover the remaining seven percent of operational costs.​ ABOUT GOODWILL INDUSTRIES INTERNATIONAL Goodwill Industries International is a network of 156 community-based, autonomous organizations in the United States and Canada with a presence in 12 other countries. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit that helps people find employment, Goodwill is recognized with GuideStar’s highest rating, the Platinum Seal of Approval. Local Goodwill organizations offer employment opportunities, job placement and training services, and other community-based programs, funded by selling donated clothing and household items in more than 3,350 stores and at shopgoodwill.com®. Last year, more than 33 million people used computers and mobile devices to access Goodwill services, and nearly 1.6 million people received in-person services. For more information or to find a Goodwill location near you, visit goodwill.org, or call (800) GOODWILL. Follow us on Twitter: @GoodwillIntl and @GoodwillCapHill, and find us on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube: GoodwillIntl. Contact Details Lauren Lawson-Zilai +1 240-333-5266 Lauren.Lawson@goodwill.org Company Website https://www.goodwill.org

August 04, 2020 09:03 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Local Firm Capitalizes on Growing Demand for Virtual Events & Tradeshows As COVID-19 Changes The Face Of Business

Convey Services

Local technology firm, Convey Services discovered a huge new market for their online portal solutions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Their online portals were originally built for sales engagement, but Convey recently introduced Cloud Conventions , a virtual event platform that is changing the way people connect at tradeshows, conferences or expositions from the comfort and safety of their home. Today the Cloud Conventions business is growing rapidly, delivering virtual events in dozens of different markets around the world. “In the early 90s I co-founded a company in West Point, Georgia that completely reinvented the conference calling industry,” said Carolyn Bradfield , founder of Convey. “It changed how we communicated with remote teams and eliminated unnecessary travel to engage with sales groups and customers. Today, in the face of COVID, nearly every tradeshow, industry event, live sales meeting, association and trade group gathering has cancelled in 2020 and many already into next year. Even when live events return, they will never be the same as before the pandemic. Our new Cloud Conventions virtual event platform can replace a live conference and offer many advantages over live events. They better educate, provide on demand content, allow companies to exhibit and interact with attendees, while having fun.” “I expect when live events return they will not be nearly as large, or as integral to doing business as they had been,” added Bradfield. “In the future, most live events will include a virtual component that will engage individuals who choose not to travel to attend in-person. Cloud Conventions is a sophisticated platform for exhibitors and sponsors to get their product and services message in the hands of conference attendee and achieve a stronger ROI.” Cloud Conventions is a Software as a Service (SaaS) platform that automates exhibitors and virtual booths, manages attendee registration, organizes speaker sessions and reminders, manages email communication, while at the same time producing detailed analytics on all activity. The platform provides sponsors and exhibitors greater promotional opportunities, with a graphical display of content and marketing assets, meeting calendars, live chat and video sessions. Cloud Conventions can deliver virtual events ranging from small association conferences to large industry expos. They can be fully supported by Convey or self-managed. About Cloud Conventions Cloud Conventions is a Virtual Trade Show and Conference Platform from Convey Services that brings new capabilities to a marketplace looking for solutions to replace the thousands of live trade shows, annual conferences and association meetings cancelled in the wake of COVID-19. Originally launched as ConveyLive, Cloud Conventions automates exhibitors and virtual booths, attendee registration, speaker sessions and reminders, invitations and email communication, while at the same time producing detailed analytics on attendee, session and exhibitor activity. Trade Associations and event managers can explore all of the Cloud Conventions solutions by visiting https://cloudconventions.com or contacting info@cloudconventions.com or call 888-975-1382. Cloud Conventions™, Conduct™, One-Touch Email Share™ and ListLock™ are trademarks of Convey Services LLC Contact Details Bruce Ahern +1 770-580-0810 bahern@conveyservices.com Company Website https://cloudconventions.com

August 04, 2020 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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2020 Frank Wolf International Religious Freedom Award

21Wilberforce

The 3rd annual Frank Wolf International Religious Freedom Award celebrates an outstanding leader who is working to advance freedom of religion or belief by standing up to oppression in the pursuit of freedom of religion, belief, or conscience. 21Wilberforce Founder and President, Randel Everett, announced that the 2020 honoree is Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback. Ambassador Brownback has an extensive track record of working in a bipartisan manner to promote religious freedom and other human rights for people around the globe. During his sixteen years as a Congressman and U.S. Senator, Brownback was a leading advocate for international religious freedom, advocating for landmark policy reforms as well as prisoners of conscience wrongly incarcerated for their faith. He was a key sponsor of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (IRFA) that established a legal mandate for the promotion of religious freedom as an element of U.S. foreign policy. The IRFA also created Brownback’s current position in the State Department’s Office of International Religious Freedom and established the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. Ambassador Brownback was the first senator to go to Darfur during the genocide and came back and spoke out to help the people of Sudan. He was also highly active in working on religious freedom issues in Egypt, China, North Korea, and many other countries. Since his confirmation as Ambassador in 2018, Brownback has worked to build a global movement among civil society groups and governments to advance international religious freedom. Under his leadership, the U.S. initiated and has held two historic annual Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom meetings in Washington, DC, forged a working relationship with the International Religious Freedom Roundtable , and is working to launch 100 similar Roundtables in countries around the world. The inspiration for the award comes from Congressman Frank Wolf, who has worked tirelessly for decades to promote international religious freedom and later served as Distinguished Senior Fellow at 21Wilberforce. Known as the House’s “champion of human rights” and “conscience of Congress,” he served Virginia’s 10th District for 17 terms from 1982 until January 2015. Congressman Wolf has traveled the globe extensively to call attention to human rights abuses and religious persecution. He championed and co-authored the International Religious Freedom Act. “It means a lot me that 21Wilberforce has chosen to present this award to Ambassador Brownback. Sam and I have been friends for many years and we worked together on several issues,” said Congressman Frank Wolf. “When Sam was in Congress, he stood out for his interest in human rights and religious freedom. He and I were the first two members to go to Darfur during the genocide. Sam came back and led the effort to declare what was happening there. And he has continued to admirably champion human rights and international religious freedom during his tenure as Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom.” Past recipients of the award include Archbishop Ben and Dr. Gloria Kwashi of Jos, Nigeria, and the city of Midland, Texas. The 2020 Frank Wolf International Religious Freedom Award virtual ceremony will be held late September. Contact Details Lou Ann Sabatier +1 703-216-2941 Lsabatier@21Wilberforce.org Company Website https://21Wilberforce.org

August 04, 2020 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Cloud Conventions Expands Online Training to Simplify Virtual Event Management

Convey Services

Cloud Conventions , a full featured virtual tradeshow and event technology solution today expanded its online training to help show managers and exhibitors design, manage and launch virtual events faster and maximize their effectiveness. The Cloud Conventions portal technology is designed for the non-technical user and does not require any special coding or development to customize it, but beginning users now have an even clearer roadmap on how to design and manage all aspects of a virtual event including attendee, exhibitor and session management. Each portal comes with training videos, a self-service database with frequently asked questions, checklists and guides along with suggestions for exhibitors to maximize their ROI. “Almost everyone is new to managing a virtual event, but at Convey we have been doing them for years with experience being our best teacher,” said Carolyn Bradfield , founder of Convey. “Once people overcome the anxiety of executing their first virtual event, versus managing a live tradeshow or conference, they realize everything is much easier and more straightforward. We listen to feedback from our clients and continue to streamline our solution to deliver the best customer experience. We added a wealth of resources within the platform to help the beginner, novice or even pro achieve their goals in record time.” Online training includes One-minute Skill Builder videos that break tasks down into smaller segments. The platform has built-in tutorials that are accessed within the task a user is working on. Feature sets can be turned on or off to make navigating the platform easy. The FAQ database is searchable, with easy-to-understand questions and solutions. Cloud Conventions is part a growing list of virtual SaaS platforms from Convey Services. For more ideas on how to make your virtual event both informative and engaging, visit the Online Resource Center at www.CloudConventions.com . About Cloud Conventions Cloud Conventions is a Virtual Trade Show and Conference Platform from Convey Services that brings new capabilities to a marketplace looking for solutions to replace the thousands of live trade shows, annual conferences and association meetings cancelled in the wake of COVID-19. Originally launched as ConveyLive, Cloud Conventions automates exhibitors and virtual booths, attendee registration, speaker sessions and reminders, invitations and email communication, while at the same time producing detailed analytics on attendee, session and exhibitor activity. Trade Associations and event managers can explore all of the Cloud Conventions solutions by visiting https://cloudconventions.com or contacting info@cloudconventions.com or call 888-975-1382. Cloud Conventions™, Conduct™, One-Touch Email Share™ and ListLock™ are trademarks of Convey Services LLC Contact Details Bruce Ahern +1 770-580-0810 bahern@conveyservices.com Company Website https://cloudconventions.com

August 03, 2020 02:15 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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