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Cyvatar’s Craig Goodwin Named a Finalist for the Top 10 Cybersecurity Experts at the 2021 Black Unicorn Awards

Cyvatar

Cyvatar today announced the selection of a member of its senior executive team as a finalist for outstanding achievement at this year’s Cyber Defense Magazine Black Unicorn awards, announced during the 2021 Black Hat USA conference. Craig Goodwin, Cyvatar co-founder and chief product and strategy officer, was selected as a finalist for the Top 10 Cybersecurity Experts; he competed against the industry’s leading cybersecurity experts for this prestigious award. “We’re pleased to name Craig Goodwin as a finalist for the Top 10 Cybersecurity Experts among the elite group of information security professionals at the third annual Black Unicorn awards,” said judges Robert R. Ackerman Jr., David DeWalt, Dr. Peter Stephenson, and Gary Miliefsky. “This year’s competition was fierce, and he should be proud of his achievement.” Craig was selected from security practitioners around the world that vied for top honors. He is a battle-tested CISO who has built a successful career delivering transformative IT and security programs by combining holistic security, IT, and business leadership expertise to produce extraordinary results. Craig’s innovation brings the membership economy to cybersecurity with Cyvatar’s CSaaS platform, which is rapidly becoming the de facto operating system for today’s security programs. “At a time when so many companies struggle to find top security resources, we’re blessed to have an exceptional talent like Craig leading company strategy,” said Corey White, Cyvatar co-founder and chief executive. “Because we offer cybersecurity as a service, people are the lifeblood of our organization. The work Craig and his team have done to bring the award-winning Cyvatar platform to customers enables us to deliver fast, affordable, fully managed security programs to any size business at prices that don’t break the bank. His achievement means no customer has to go without the very best cybersecurity available today.” Only Cyvatar offers subscription-based CSaaS designed to provide outcomes, continuous remediation, ongoing solution maintenance, and the ability for all of its customers to execute their security strategies at speed and scale. Find out how CSaaS can work for your business at cyvatar.ai. About Cyber Defense Awards This is Cyber Defense Magazine’s 9th year of honoring cybersecurity innovators, in this case the Black Unicorn Awards for 2021 on our Cyber Defense Awards platform. In this competition, judges for these prestigious awards includes cybersecurity industry veterans, trailblazers and market makers Gary Miliefsky of CDMG, Dr. Peter Stephenson of CDMG, Robert R. Ackerman Jr. of Allegis Cyber and David DeWalt of NightDragon with much appreciation to emeritus judge Robert Herjavec of Herjavec Group. To see the complete list of finalists for the Black Unicorn Awards for 2021 please visit https://cyberdefenseawards.com/black-unicorn-awards-finalists-2021/ About Cyvatar Cyvatar is committed to making cybersecurity effortless for everyone. As the industry’s first subscription-based, cybersecurity-as-a-service (CSaaS) company, it’s our mission to transform the way the security industry builds, sells, and supports cyber solutions. We empower our members to achieve successful outcomes by providing expert advisors, proven technologies, and a strategic process roadmap to guarantee results that map to their business drivers. Our approach is rooted in proprietary ICARM (installation, configuration, assessment, remediation, maintenance) methodology that delivers smarter, measurable security solutions for superior compliance and cyber-attack protection faster and more efficiently, all at a fixed monthly price. And because we’re a subscription, members can cancel anytime. Cyvatar is headquartered in Irvine, California with locations around the world. Begin your journey to security confidence at https://cyvatar.ai/ and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. Contact Details Cyvatar KC Higgins +1 303-434-8163 kc@cyvatar.ai Company Website https://cyvatar.ai/

August 11, 2021 07:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Applied Real Intelligence (“A.R.I.”) Hires Chief Marbumrung, a leading Technology Banker and Credit Risk Professional, to Lead San Francisco Bay Area Expansion

Applied Real Intelligence LLC ("A.R.I.")

Applied Real Intelligence (“A.R.I.”), a venture debt investment firm that provides innovative financing solutions to successful VC-backed companies, announced the hiring of Chief Marbumrung as Managing Director, Investments. Mr. Marbumrung will report to Zack Ellison, A.R.I.’s Founder and Managing General Partner, and will be based in San Francisco, California, where he will lead A.R.I.’s regional expansion in the Bay Area and Northwest United States. “I have long been impressed with Chief since we worked together at Scotia Bank from 2008 through 2010 during the depths of the Global Financial Crisis. During that volatile economic period, we were able to achieve great financial results because of a strong team-first culture, rigorous credit underwriting, and unrelenting focus on risk management. A.R.I. is built on these same principles and Chief will be instrumental in our rapid growth and continued success,” said Ellison. Mr. Marbumrung will focus on transaction origination, credit analysis, investment due diligence, transaction structuring, and loan underwriting. He will also have responsibility for building and maintaining strategic partnerships with A.R.I.’s portfolio companies and sponsors, including venture capital firms, private equity firms, bank lenders, and non-bank lenders. He joins Zack Ellison, Wendell Sammons, and Jeffrey Sokolowski as a member of the firm’s Executive Committee, Investment Committee, and Risk Committee. Mr. Marbumrung commented, “I’m excited to team with Zack once again. He has built something special at A.R.I. - the right mission, the right strategy, and the right team, all coming together at the right time. A.R.I. is democratizing the availability of capital for all founders, particularly those who have been historically underserved, while providing family offices, endowments, pensions, and other institutional investors with access to ‘innovation’ as an asset class.” Prior to joining A.R.I., Mr. Marbumrung was a senior banker based in San Francisco covering the Technology, Media, and Telecommunications (“TMT”) sectors at BNP Paribas, France’s largest bank with over EUR 2.6 trillion in total assets. In this role, he was responsible for originating and managing U.S. corporate relationships within the TMT segments, where he executed large loans and other transactions across a variety of high-growth sectors including enterprise software, IT services, IT hardware, cybersecurity, and telecommunications, among others. Previously, he was an active deal team member on BNP’s Loan Capital Markets platform in New York. In this role he focused on underwriting, structuring, and executing bilateral and syndicated loan transactions for corporate clients across multiple sectors, including healthcare and TMT, to support merger and acquisition financing, spin-off and special dividend financing, and other strategic investments. Mr. Marbumrung began his career in the financial services industry as a corporate banker in the U.S. Power Utilities & Power Project Finance group at Scotia Bank in New York, where he focused on debt transactions in the electric utility, mining, and natural gas sectors. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Boston University’s College of Engineering and an MBA from Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business. Additionally, he has held FINRA Series 79 and 63 licenses. About Applied Real Intelligence ("A.R.I.") Applied Real Intelligence ("A.R.I.") is a Los Angeles-based venture debt investment manager focused on providing financing solutions to innovative, high-growth, VC-backed companies in recession-resistant sectors and underserved regions in North America. A.R.I. has dual missions of: (1) democratizing access to capital for all founders; (2) providing A.R.I.’s investors with access to “innovation” as an asset class, superior risk-adjusted returns, security of capital, and strong portfolio diversification benefits. To learn more, please visit www.arivc.com. Contact Details Applied Real Intelligence ("A.R.I.") Zack Ellison, Managing General Partner +1 310-881-3893 zellison@arivc.com Company Website https://www.arivc.com

August 10, 2021 05:00 AM Pacific Daylight Time

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Hot Wheels x SUPER73 unveil instantly collectible, limited edition e-bike and die-cast

SUPER73

SUPER73® – the American lifestyle adventure brand specializing in electric motorbikes – has partnered with Hot Wheels, the global powerhouse leader of vehicle culture, to create the Hot Wheels x SUPER73-RX. Available in a strictly limited edition of just 24 units, these unique SUPER73-RX e-bikes have been built to allow the biggest SUPER73 fans to celebrate the incredible legacy of Hot Wheels. As the world’s leading vehicle franchise, Hot Wheels is the #1 selling toy globally, engaging fans through immersive live events, digital gaming and is the #1 rated Boys Toy Brand on YouTube. As such, the collaboration is guaranteed to become an instant and highly sought-after collectible for fans of both California-based brands. The project is based on the SUPER73-RX, which is the electric bike company’s flagship model. The RX is equipped with many industry-leading features, such as a powerful 960 watt-hours battery with four riding modes selected via the SUPER73 smartphone app. It also has a powerful four-piston aluminum front brake caliper, an inverted and adjustable coil spring fork with air assist, as well as an adjustable rear mono-shock, all housed in an aluminum-alloy frame. Building on this highly capable platform, the collaboration bikes have been fully customized to celebrate the influence of Hot Wheels on two- and four-wheel culture. It begins with a unique livery, which will be immediately recognizable to Hot Wheels fans, combining the famous logo with distinctive orange and blue graphics. Additionally, the bikes feature a custom embroidered Hot Wheels edition seat and handlebar pad created by motorcycle industry leaders, Saddlemen. Utilizing more specialist suppliers, the Hot Wheels x SUPER73-RX will be fitted with Ruffian ATV Lock-on grips by ODI, plus Stamp 1 Large pedals by Crankbrothers. Further custom additions from SUPER73 include a unique, slotted stainless steel panel that adds volume between the frame rails. There are also black battery/tank pads, a black chain, yellow-tinted headlight and distinctive SUPER73 BDGR tires with brass rims. “We’re incredibly excited and honored to partner with the iconic Hot Wheels brand for the release of the limited edition Hot Wheels x SUPER73-RX. For decades, Hot Wheels has captured the imagination of both the young and the young at heart. And they continue to push the boundaries of creativity, driving towards the future while always remaining true to their roots,” said Aaron P Wong, Co-founder & Chief Brand Officer at SUPER73. “We created the Hot Wheels x SUPER73-RX to celebrate the incredible legacy of Hot Wheels, but have greater hopes that our collaboration will inspire the next generation of trailblazers.” To complete the collaborative project, every purchase of the Hot Wheels x SUPER73-RX will include a collectible Hot Wheels diecast of a SUPER73 Ford Bronco adventure vehicle. Designed and manufactured by Hot Wheels, the Bronco graphics match the RX. The Hot Wheels car can also be purchased separately at select Hot Wheels retailers. “For more than 53 years, Hot Wheels has proven its influence in car, motorbike and pop culture with incredible designs, unrivaled performance and world-class collaborations in action sports and beyond,” said Ricardo Briceno, Vice President of Franchise Marketing at Mattel. “Working with the passionate and talented team at SUPER73 has been an extraordinary journey, and we hope that these beautifully designed Hot Wheels x SUPER73-RX electric bikes, as well as these premium die-casts, will encourage vehicle fans of all ages to enjoy a piece of true Southern California lifestyle.” The limited edition Hot Wheels x SUPER73-RX is available to order starting on August 9, 2021 exclusively from super73.com. The website also has full product details and specifications. EDITOR’S NOTE VIDEO – A video featuring the Hot Wheels x SUPER73-RX is available to share here: youtu.be/SPBQ1EyUhzI IMAGES – A selection of high-resolution images including the Hot Wheels x SUPER73-RX e-bike and Hot Wheels Bronco die cast is available here: dropbox.com/sh/84ci1vabt0xibs9/AAA3qNZ-hlcPGOh7A6OAfcKja?dl=0 ABOUT MATTEL Mattel is a leading global toy company and owner of one of the strongest catalogs of children’s and family entertainment franchises in the world. We create innovative products and experiences that inspire, entertain and develop children through play. We engage consumers through our portfolio of iconic brands, including Barbie®, Hot Wheels®, Fisher-Price®, American Girl®, Thomas & Friends®, UNO® and MEGA®, as well as other popular intellectual properties that we own or license in partnership with global entertainment companies. Our offerings include film and television content, gaming, music and live events. We operate in 35 locations and our products are available in more than 150 countries in collaboration with the world’s leading retail and ecommerce companies. Since its founding in 1945, Mattel is proud to be a trusted partner in empowering children to explore the wonder of childhood and reach their full potential. ABOUT SUPER73®  SUPER73® is an American lifestyle adventure brand based in Orange County, CA that develops products to help fuse motorcycle heritage with youth culture. Founded in 2016, SUPER73 has quickly grown into one of the most recognizable electric vehicle brands in the world with a passionate customer base including A-list celebrities, professional athletes, and many more. For more information, visit  super73.com  or on social media @super73. Contact Details SUPER73 Christiana Mullen +1 714-659-4883 christiana@super73.com ID Agency Greg Emmerson greg@theidagency.com Company Website https://super73.com

August 09, 2021 06:05 AM Pacific Daylight Time

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ThriveFantasy Partners with NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars for 2021 Season to be Daily Fantasy Sports and Esports Partner

ThriveFantasy

ThriveFantasy, the leading player prop daily fantasy sports and esports platform, announced today it has signed on as a Proud Partner and daily fantasy sports and esports partner of the Jacksonville Jaguars. The partnership is a first of its kind with the Jaguars, as it will provide Jaguars fans with unique opportunities to participate in Thrive’s customized fantasy football contests throughout the season. “These are the types of partnerships that are the most fun to be a part of,” says Adam Weinstein, Founder and CEO of ThriveFantasy. “The Jaguars are at the forefront of innovation and are giving us the ability to be very creative in the ways we help engage their fanbase.” ThriveFantasy was created to give everyday fans a better chance at winning by challenging them to pick simple over/unders of yards, catches, touchdowns and more. Thrive will be creating custom Jaguars-only contests within its app to offer Jaguars fans the chance to win exclusive fan experiences. Fans can visit their mobile app store to download the ThriveFantasy app today. “We’re excited to welcome ThriveFantasy into the family of Jaguars partners, especially as fantasy sports continues to grow in popularity,” said Mike DiMartino, Jaguars vice president of corporate partnerships. “Thrive will give our fans yet another exciting opportunity to interact with their favorite team and, in this case, win prizes!” In the coming months, Jaguars fans can download the ThriveFantasy app and keep an eye out for: Match deposits up to $100 Custom Jaguars-only contests throughout the 2021-2022 season In-stadium signage with more information, QR codes and promotions 30-second TV Spots About ThriveFantasy ThriveFantasy is a Daily Fantasy Sports and Esports App for Player Props. Thrive eliminates the countless hours of research users have to spend, by only focusing on the top-tier athletes that have the biggest impact on the game. Follow ThriveFantasy on Instagram (@ThriveFantasy), Twitter (@ThriveFantasy) and Facebook (ThriveFantasy). Download the app today via the App Store and Google Play. App Store https://apps.apple.com/us/app/thrivefantasy/id1240062484 Google Play https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.appster.p2f&hl=en_US Contact Details Michael Adorno madorno@hotpaperlantern.com Company Website https://www.thrivefantasy.com/

August 09, 2021 09:02 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Osmo’s Back To School Sale Starts Now: From August 8 to 14, Save 25% Off Select Kits, Games, Bundles and More

Osmo

STEAM brand Osmo ’s Back to School sale starts now. From Aug. 8 to 14, Osmo offers 25% off select kits, games, bundles and more. View Back to School deals at PlayOsmo.com, Target.com, and Amazon.com. Save 25% on these items at PlayOsmo.com: Kits: Little Genius Starter Kit + Early Math Adventure, Genius Starter Kit + Family Game Night, Genius Starter Kit, Coding Starter Kit and Creative Starter Kit Games: Math Wizard Bundle, Math Wizard and the Magical Workshop, Math Wizard and the Secrets of the Dragons, Monster Other items: Coding Family Bundle, Math Wizard Kit (features all 4 Math Wizard titles + base included), Essential Math Bundle, Early Literacy Bundle, Super Studio Artist Bundle, Pretend Play Bundle, Explorer Starter Kit, Super Osmonaut Starter Kit, Preschool Starter Kit, Elementary School Starter Kit, Ultimate Expansion Bundle Save 25% on these kits and games at Target and Target.com: Little Genius Starter Kit for iPad (base included) Genius Starter Kit for iPad (base included) Creative Starter Kit for iPad (base included) Coding Starter Kit for iPad (base included) Math Wizard and the Secrets of the Dragons (base excluded) Math Wizard and the Magical Workshop (base excluded) Save 25% on these Osmo kits, games, and bundles at Amazon.com: Genius Starter Kit for iPad (base included) Genius Starter Kit for Fire Tablet (base included) Genius Starter Kit + Family Game Night for iPad (base included) Genius Starter Kit + Family Game Night for Fire (base included) Little Genius Starter Kit for Fire Tablet (base included) Little Genius Starter Kit + Early Math Adventure for iPad (base included) Little Genius Starter Kit + Early Math Adventure for Fire (base included) Creative Starter Kit for iPad (base included) Coding Starter Kit for iPad (base included) Coding Starter Kit for Fire Tablet (base included) Math Wizard and the Secrets of the Dragons for iPad & Fire Tablet (base required) Math Wizard and the Magical Workshop for iPad & Fire Tablet (base required) Coding Family Bundle for iPad & Fire Tablet (base required) Pizza Co. for iPad & Fire Tablet (base required) Detective Agency for iPad & Fire Tablet (base required) Math Wizard and The Enchanted World Games for iPad Bundle (base included) Math Wizard and the Enchanted World Games for Fire Tablet Bundle (base included) Math Wizard and The Amazing Airships for iPad Bundle (base included) Math Wizard and The Amazing Airships for Fire Tablet Bundle (base included) Little Genius Sticks & Rings for iPad or Fire Tablet (base required) Little Genius Costume Pieces for iPad or Fire Tablet (base required) About Osmo Osmo is an award-winning STEAM brand with more than 2.5 million learners worldwide. It is building a universe of hands-on play experiences that nourish the minds of children by unleashing the power of imagination. The company brings physical tools into the digital world through augmented reality and its proprietary reflective artificial intelligence. Osmo is headquartered in Palo Alto, California, and is part of BYJU’S, a global leader in online learning. Learn more at playosmo.com. Contact Details Carolyn Kamii PR Carolyn Kamii carolynkpr@gmail.com Company Website http://www.playosmo.com

August 08, 2021 06:00 AM Pacific Daylight Time

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BEE Launches New Features to BEE Pro to Further its Mission to Democratize Content Design

BEE

BEE, a business unit of Growens and premier digital content design platform, released two new features to its BEE Pro product, a no-code email & landing page design suite currently being used by designers, email marketers, e-commerce, higher education, business owners, agencies and entrepreneurs. These updates come at a time when BEE is seeing substantial growth with its BEE Pro paid subscription, forecasting upwards of 9k paid users. The latest BEE Pro features include: Increased collaboration through “ Mentions” feature. Users can now use a mention (@mention) to alert any team member of updates collaborating on a design project. Improved processes through the new “ Notification Center. ” This update keeps the user informed on mentions, exports or publishing of active design projects. These new features further BEE’s mission to democratize content design. Users can now initiate mentions to their teammates through the comment section while working directly in BEE Pro, eliminating the need to work across multiple platforms. They are able to invite their teammates to review a design, assign tasks and collaborate on all work completed in their specific brand, helping to keep the design process aligned. The notification center helps keep everyone up to speed with changes and edits for a faster collaborative process. These updates assure a faster collaborative process. “We are excited to see these new features go live in BEE Pro. It’s a big deal for teams to be able to collaborate in real-time on any project in one place” said Mariela Towers, Head of Marketing at BEE. “The design process for some teams often involves a lot of collaborators — BEE Pro is continuing to make it easier for team members to work together. Our internal team is excited to see the expanded features. We use BEE Pro for all of our email communications and have been able to cut 3 days out of our workflow. The new features have improved our collaboration processes allowing us to work that much faster.” These updates from BEE Pro are the latest following previously announced landing page capabilities, mobile design mode and co-editing tools earlier this year. Since launching in 2016 as an email editor tool, BEE continues to invest in feature developments for BEE Pro bringing maximum value to users, including multiple integrations built specifically for email server providers. About BEE: BEE provides no-code design tools that empower everyone to quickly create content that resonates. BEE’s visual builders are used to design emails, landing pages, one-page sites and more. They deliver fantastic design flexibility and a great user experience, combining granular control on design elements with handy features like editing content directly in mobile view. BEE is building on its vision to help democratize content design, with millions of monthly users in over 20 languages and from over 150 countries. BEE’s design tools are available online at beefree.io and embedded in 600+ SaaS applications. Contact Details Angelina Kaliszak angelina@kitehillpr.com Company Website https://beefree.io/

August 05, 2021 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Tayler Jade Debuts New Single “Whatever You Say”

Tayler Jade

Jade Entertainment, in conjunction with Independent Artist Tayler Jade, A Purpose Drive Artist, announce the debut of her latest single, “Whatever You Say”, available everywhere August 6 th. The release of “Whatever You Say” comes on the heels of WYA’s global and billboard success. Currently, WYA is charting at number 31 on the Billboard indicator chart. “As my first body of work released to the public, Temporary, WYA and now Whatever You Say, have been a labor of love; an exercise in patience with the process, and getting used to the commitments to the business side of supporting our works has helped me grow personally and professionally,” said Tayler Jade. " The past couple years has been amazing, and as I close out the “Temporary” era of my life and music catalogue with the release of “Whatever you Say”, I am excited to share the next chapter of my life with new music and most importantly, our commitment to lifting up the less fortunate around the world." “Tayler and the rest of the team are wholly committed to using our platform to achieve our first goal of providing lifesaving nutrition to a million kids per day.” said John Royce Lynch, Tayler’s Father and Business Partner. “Children are dying every day from the lack of basic nutrition, and Tayler’s passion is to not only become the best version of herself through music and humanitarianism, but to also bring global community support to these children in need. The rise of Tayler Jade started with her first release of “Temporary” and really took off with the release of “WYA”. Jade’s explosive growth continued with two dance remix packages of her song WYA, produced by Mikey Francis, Marc Stout, and Tony Arzadon. You will find both of their remixes playing to packed dance floors at the hottest night clubs in Las Vegas including OMNIA, Hakkasan, Encore Beach Club, XS, and Wet Republic. “Vocally, this is Tayler’s best song and out of the three it is my personal favorite.” Said Thomas Barsoe, Recording Artist and Founder of Influential Artist Development Studio OC Hit. “I have been in the music industry for nearly 3 decades, and I have never met an artist that looks at success the way Tayler does. In everything she does, her first thoughts are about how her actions will positively impact her mission to creating more awareness and support to those in need around the world. She is the light the world needs right now, and I am honored to be on this journey with her” The success of Tayler Jade’s music and “Community” first business model is unprecedented, especially for an independent artist without the traditional label support. Her music and message, thanks to the reach of the internet and digital streaming services, has helped introduce her catalogue to music fans in nearly every corner of the globe, with nearly 60 million streams on all the major DSP’s in the past 100 days. With the support of world-renowned DJ’s, a committed team of motivated professionals and a global community; the success of Tayler Jade will be measured in the kindness and generosity of her community and will be applauded by her continued success in the music world. You can find Tayler Jade Music on SoundCloud, Spotify, iTunes, Audiomack, YouTube and many other platforms. To learn more about Tayler Jade and to join her community please visit TaylerJade.com. You can also connect with her on the following social channels: Facebook Instagram Twitter TikTok In the coming weeks Tayler Jade, will be releasing “House of Jade”, her connected community app and corresponding web platform. The launch of this community building technology will allow her to engage her community members at scale, give them access to first look releases, private events, curated experiences, connect with other community members, and will serve as the foundation for creating a network effect for social impact. TAYLER JADE is an American Pop/R&B singer-songwriter and Personality Brand. Her debut “Dual Single” released on February 12, 2021 under her own label JADE ENTERTAINMENT, is climbing the TOP 40 Billboard Indicator Chart alongside the biggest artists in the world. Her debut singles seem to be connecting with music fans worldwide, with over 60 million streams on all the major streaming platforms in just a few short months and continuing to climb. To learn more about Tayler Jade, we invite you to join her community at TAYLERJADE.COM Contact Details Jade Entertainment Jason Jepson +1 949-394-7033 jason.jepson@taylerjade.com Company Website https://www.taylerjade.com/

August 05, 2021 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Cloud Conventions & MCI Group Partner with Medical Professionals to Deliver Virtual/Hybrid Events

Convey Services

Cloud Conventions, an enterprise virtual/hybrid event platform and the MCI Group, a leading global event management firm are partnering to deliver virtual and hybrid event solutions for medical organizations to complement their live events. The American Thoracic Society, a nonprofit organization focused on improving care for pulmonary diseases with more than 16,000 members worldwide, launched their annual conference in April 2021 as a 100% virtual event. They selected the MCI Group as its event management partner and Cloud Conventions as its virtual event platform. This August, the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses(AORN), guided by an abundance of caution from the recent surge in COVID cases, transitioned their hybrid conference to a fully virtual event under the guidance of the MCI Group. Their new virtual event will educate and engage attendees and exhibitors using the Cloud Conventions virtual/hybrid event platform. “Audiences for conferences hosted by medical professional groups have unique requirements and a heightened awareness of the risks imposed by the pandemic,” said Carolyn Bradfield, CEO of Convey Services, parent company of Cloud Conventions. “Medical professionals not only want to stay up-to-date on scientific advances, but they also need to complete continuing medical education (CME) to maintain licensure. A virtual, on-demand option for engagement plus education ensures attendees have a safe environment to meet their educational needs, interact virtually with other attendees and engage live or on demand with suppliers and sponsors.” The American Thoracic Society’s all-virtual conference in April brought together 9,000 registered attendees for 140 clinical and scientific sessions, 71 special networking events and over 3800 presentation sessions and scientific posters. The Association of periOperative Registered Nurses will offer on-demand and live sessions, a networking and innovation lounge, an exhibitor solutions center hosting in-booth sessions, product showcases along with an innovation theater. “Striking the balance between a live and virtual event environment is a strategic decision that medical professional groups must make as they consider event design today and even more in the future,” said James Kelley, Director at the MCI Group. “Our customers rely on MCI to guide them to deliver the best options that engage audiences before, during and after the event ensuring that virtual environments complement and not conflict with the on-site program.” A recent research study, “Association Trends: from Disruption to Opportunity” by Community Brands, revealed that 85% of association event professionals plan to invest more in virtual events in the next 12 months. This trend is driven by a 48% increase in members engaging more with their associations due to increased virtual options and on-demand education. The Tagoras 2020 “Virtual Conference Report” detailed that 75% of those delivering virtual events did so to reach audiences who could not otherwise attend. With the increase in COVID cases driven by variants, medical professional groups are now pressed to include virtual alternatives that are specifically geared to the industry, as they enter the busy fall conference season. Download the Case Study: “The 2021 American Thoracic Society Virtual Event” for free at: https://cloudconventions.com/page/135834/ats-customer-success-story. Show organizers and event managers can learn more about Cloud Conventions by visiting https://cloudconventions.com and the MCI Group by visiting http://www.mci-group.com/usa. About The MCI Group MCI is a global engagement and marketing agency. We design human-centric solutions that unleash the power of people to deliver innovation and growth for our clients. Our offering includes live & virtual events, strategic & digital communications, consulting & community solutions. We help brands, companies, associations, and not-for-profits solve their challenges, bringing their people together to shape their tomorrow. MCI is an independently owned company headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, with a global presence in 60 offices across 31 countries. www.mci-group.com MCI’s US headquarters is in the Washington, DC area with offices in New York, Baltimore, Dallas, and Chicago. www.mci-group.com/usa About Cloud Conventions Cloud Conventions from Convey Services is Cloud Conventions is an enterprise virtual/hybrid event management platform that redefines the exhibitor and attendee experience to allow companies to provide easy access to in-depth product information, showcase their brands with graphics and videos, create calls to action and generate immediate sales leads. Used around the world for large managed events and smaller self-directed meetings, conferences and corporate kickoffs, Cloud Conventions automates exhibitors and virtual booths, continuing education, speaker sessions and reminders, invitations and email communication, while at the same time producing detailed analytics on attendee, session and exhibitor activity. Cloud Conventions supports multiple languages and currencies, internal, external and single-sign on registration, and supports all conferencing carriers and platforms. 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™, Community™, Cloud Kickoffs™, Conduct™, One-Touch Email Share™, Hub & Spoke™, 360° Virtual Exhibit Hall & Lobby Experience™ and ListLock™ are trademarks of Convey Services LLC Contact Details Convey Services Bruce Ahern +1 770-580-0810 bahern@conveyservices.com Company Website https://cloudconventions.com

August 04, 2021 03:09 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Comcast's Internet Essentials Program, Tacoma Mayor, and Local Gaming Personality Marcel Cunningham Partner to Address Digital Divide for Students at Al Davies Boys & Girls Club

Comcast Washington

Comcast today announced grants and technology donations to the Al Davies Club in Tacoma as part of its ongoing commitment to help connect more low-income students and families to the Internet. The announcement was made at an event with former Al Davies Club Member and international gaming influencer Marcel Cunningham, who goes by the name of BasicallyIDoWrk, and the Mayor of Tacoma, Victoria Woodards. In collaboration with Cunningham, Comcast contributed $10,000 and 40 laptop computers to the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound. Sixty students also received free laptop computers to keep along with 12 months of home Internet service for eligible families through Comcast’s Internet Essentials program. The funds and computer equipment will help the club better serve its members and provide additional resources to families in need. Thirty kids attending summer camp at the Al Davies Boys & Girls Club also had the opportunity to play with Cunningham in a fun, interactive video game competition at the event. Afterwards, Cunningham, Mayor Woodards, and Comcast surprised the students by handing out the free laptops and a gift card good for a year of Internet Essentials Internet service. "It is extraordinary to be able to come back and bring resources to the Club I spent so much time at as a kid. Boys & Girls Clubs are special places that help so many kids and families, and I wouldn't be who I am today without the experiences I had at the Al Davies Club,” said Cunningham. “I appreciate the opportunity to partner with Comcast and Mayor Woodards to bring these resources to the Boys & Girls Club, the students, and their families.” “When private companies and organizations like ours can come together it can truly create something special for our community. These funds, access to internet and technology donations will have a tremendous impact on our local Clubs,the members we serve, and their families” said Carrie Holden, President/CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound. “We are grateful to Comcast for its contributions and to our alum Marcel for continuing to stay engaged with the Club and our kids.” “The COVID-19 pandemic has shed light on many of the inequities in our society, including the digital divide. In Tacoma and across the South Puget Sound, we are fortunate to have organizations like our local Boys & Girls Clubs which serve as central meeting places and can help address the issues of access and equity if they have the resources,” said Tacoma’s Mayor Victoria Woodards. “This is why it is exciting to see Comcast and Marcel collaborating with our local Clubs to support youth and their families and fill an important community need by providing crucial technology resources across our region.” As a former member of the Al Davies Boys & Girls Club, Cunningham previously received the Key to the City of Tacoma Award for his work in the local community and support of his childhood club. Cunningham continues to support the club via his foundation TeamWrk, which focuses on challenging youth to reach their full potential by teaching healthy gaming habits, character and team-building skills, and bullying prevention. Cunningham recently became a member of “Team Xfinity”, a collection of streamers, content creators, and gamers who rely on Xfinity Internet to power all their gaming and streaming needs, connecting them with audiences across the world. "We're thrilled to partner with Marcel to help give Boys & Girls Club students and families the resources to access the Internet to participate in online learning," said Carla Carrell, Senior Director of External Affairs, Comcast Washington. "The pandemic put many vulnerable students and families at risk of being left behind, accelerating the need for comprehensive digital equity and Internet adoption programs to support them." Today’s announcement comes on the heels of Comcast’s recent $1 billion commitment over the next 10 years to help further close the digital divide and give even more low-income students and families the tools and resources they need to succeed in a digital world. About Internet Essentials Internet Essentials is Comcast’s signature digital equity initiative and the nation’s largest and most comprehensive broadband adoption program. In 10 years, it has helped connect 10 million low-income Americans to broadband Internet at home, most for the very first time. Internet Essentials has a comprehensive design that addresses each of the three major barriers to broadband adoption. This includes: multiple options to access free digital literacy training in print, online, and in person; the option to purchase a heavily subsidized, low-cost Internet-ready computer; and low-cost, high-speed Internet service for $9.95 a month, plus tax. The program is structured as a partnership between Comcast and tens of thousands of school districts, libraries, elected officials, and nonprofit community partners. Comcast has never raised the price of the program. For more information about Internet Essentials and Comcast’s commitment to education and digital equity, please visit https://corporate.comcast.com/impact/digital-equity/internet-essentials To apply, visit www.internetessentials.com or call 1-855-846-8376 for English or 1-855-765-6995 for Spanish. About Comcast Corporation Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company that connects people to moments that matter. We are principally focused on broadband, aggregation, and streaming with over 56 million customer relationships across the United States and Europe. We deliver broadband, wireless, and video through our Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky brands; create, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, Universal Studio Group, Sky Studios, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, multiple cable networks, Peacock, NBCUniversal News Group, NBC Sports, Sky News, and Sky Sports; and provide memorable experiences at Universal Parks and Resorts in the United States and Asia. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information. Contact Details Comcast Nick McDonald +1 425-977-5565 Nick_McDonald@Comcast.com Comcast Andy Colley +1 425-248-5438 Andy_Colley@Comcast.com Company Website https://washington.comcast.com/

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