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Pocono Organics Becomes World’s First Regenerative Organic Certified Hemp Grower

Pocono Organics

Pocono Organics, one of the largest regenerative organic farms in North America, has received its Regenerative Organic Certification (ROC), becoming the first source grower of Regenerative Organic Certified hemp in the world. The Regenerative Organic Alliance (ROA) is the governing body for the Regenerative Organic Certification standards and criteria and was created by three global pioneers in the organic and regenerative organic industries – Patagonia, Rodale Institute, and Dr. Bronner’s. The ROA has meticulously developed the revolutionary ROC designation for farms and products that meet the highest standards in the world for soil health, animal welfare, and social fairness. This new label goes beyond the existing USDA Certified Organic standards and does not include hydroponic growing practices. “This is an absolute game-changer for our farm as well as for companies and consumers searching for ROC produce and hemp that they can trust,” said Ashley Walsh, founder and president of Pocono Organics. “There is a vital link between the health of our soil, the health of the crops we grow, and ultimately human health.” Walsh and her team have recently launched their USDA Certified Organic full-spectrum hemp extract product line. Now with the new designation, these will become the first products in the world made with ROC hemp. It’s important to know how your hemp is grown and the true potency of the products. Independent, third-party testing shows that there are no heavy metals or pesticides and also reports accurate potency for Pocono Organics’ products. Pocono Organics’ CBD is the only line to carry the respected Rodale Institute logo on its products and packaging. The two global leaders have conducted extensive research on the potential uses of industrial hemp for the last three years. Pocono Organics’ wellness products are CBD-abundant and harness the power of full-spectrum hemp extract to deliver a broader range of health-promoting cannabinoids that contain well under.3% THC. New York Magazine recently named Pocono Organics’ bath bombs one of the Best CBD Bath Products to buy. The product line - available online and carried in retail outlets, spas, and numerous doctors’ offices across multiple states - is formulated in Pocono Organics’ in-house lab to create artisanal, small-batch items including tinctures, creams, body oil, salve sticks, lip balms, and bath bombs. The Global Center for Research, Education, and Discovery, which opened to the public in June of 2020, spans more than 380 acres atop the iconic Pocono Mountains and is a source grower of regenerative organic certified produce and hemp for retailers, distributors, restaurants, and consumers. Regenerative organic agricultural practices make soil health the priority and include low-till methods and zero-use of synthetic chemicals, pesticides and GMOs. Pocono Organics’ farming approach, in partnership with Rodale Institute, produces some of the cleanest and most nutrient-dense crops grown on earth – making them better for consumers – while also strengthening and healing the soil in which they are grown – which is better for our planet. In fact, Rodale Institute released a White Paper in September, 2020 illustrating the science that a global switch to regenerative crop and pasture systems could drawdown more than 100 percent of annual CO2 emissions. “For more than 70 years, our partners at Rodale Institute have led the world in regenerative organic science and research that shows how healthy soil grows more nutrient-dense food,” Walsh continued. “Our vision, as a health and wellness organization, is to inspire people and heal the earth. The United Nations has reported that we have less than 60 farming cycles left before our soil is completely depleted of the nutrients needed to grow the food we need. So, we are not only facing issues of human health, but of soil health that will further impact humanity and the food we eat. The ROC designation is proof of our commitment to this mission, to our communities, and our planet.” The USDA’s 2020-2025 food guidelines also highlight the need for Americans to eat more nutrient-dense foods to promote better health and fight the risk of chronic disease. “I can attest to the power of using food as medicine and plant-based wellness products, like hemp, from my own personal health journey. I was diagnosed with gastroparesis in my late ‘20s, which is a paralyzed stomach. Essentially, I can’t digest food like normal people. So, when doctors suggested cutting out parts of my stomach, inserting feeding tubes, and putting me on a regiment of medications to make me well, I leaned into organic food as a source of nutrition that drastically improved my health and changed my life. That is where the vision of Pocono Organics originated, which makes our mission extremely personal for me.” Pocono Organics is also an agritourism destination with a boutique 56-room hotel adjoining the farm property. Guests can get their hands dirty on the farm and enjoy freshly picked vegetables and fruits as well as prepared meals from its market and café. There are also regular in-person and virtual experiential series ranging from cooking classes with Executive Chef and Food Network Chopped Champion, Lindsay McClain to wellness and food education programs for children. -30- About Pocono Organics Pocono Organics Pocono Organics is a health and wellness organization with a mission to inspire people and heal the earth. The Global Center for Research, Education, and Discovery is one of the largest Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC) farms in North America and grow the world's first and only ROC hemp. Located in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, Pocono Organics has more than 380 acres of farm land and, at full build out, will have 120,000 square feet of greenhouse. Pocono Organics has a strategic partnership with Rodale Institute, the global leaders in Regenerative Organic Agriculture science and research and is one of their largest research satellite facilities. Awarded the 2019 Environmental Innovator of the Year by the Green Sports Alliance, sustainability is a hallmark of Pocono Organics. The farm draws power from a 3MW, 25-acre solar farm and reclaims rain water from 70,000 square feet of roofs for irrigation. Pocono Organics also serves the local community through its Clean Food, Dirty Hands school education program and veterans in transition through a Veteran Farmer Training Program. In addition, the property includes an organic farmer's market and cafe, and with a 56-room adjoining hotel, is an agritourism destination, and host location for annual festivals. Please visit www.PoconoOrganics.com to learn more about Pocono Organics' mission and work. Contact Details Pocono Organics Mike Mooney +1 704-361-9499 mike@poconoorganics.com Company Website https://www.poconoorganics.com/

July 01, 2021 09:15 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Nottingham Welcomes Seasoned Industry Professionals

Nottingham

Nottingham is pleased to announce the addition of three seasoned industry professionals to key positions within the Nottingham complex. Brandon Byrd joins Nottingham as lead executive officer for both transfer agency and fund distribution services offered to fund clients. Ted Akins will join Byrd in the transfer agent and distributor operations to utilize his experience in both. Loretta Akins will fill a new role adding additional depth to Nottingham’s financial statement and internal accounting functions. Nottingham is one of the leading independent providers of full-capability fund accounting, compliance administration, distributi on, and t ransfer agency. Nottingham’s services include turnke y white label services for pooled investments including ETFs and mutual fun ds. These strategic appointments serve to enhance Nottingham’s capabilities and strengthen its existing shareholder services and fund administration teams. “It is not often a firm gets the opportunity to bring an entire team with such depth of knowledge and experience, especially in the fund administration industry”, commented Kip Meadows, Founder & CEO of Nottingham. “Brandon is so highly thought of in the mutual fund and ETF industry, we feel quite fortunate to have created a mutually attractive opportunity for him and his team to join our team here in North Carolina”. Brandon Byrd previously served as COO for M3Sixty, leading all day-to-day operations for each of M3Sixty’s lines of service. Bringing over 21 years of experience in the transfer agency and administration space, Brandon will serve as Managing Director of Nottingham Shareholder Services, LLC. His extensive knowledge of transfer agent operations and project management gleaned from previous tenures with M3Sixty and SS&C make him a natural choice for the growth of Nottingham’s transfer agency and shareholder servicing business. Brandon holds FINRA Series 6, 26 & 63 licenses. Ted Akins brings over 20 years of experience having previously served as Vice President of Operations for M3Sixty. Ted helped to build out the M3Sixty fund accounting, fund administration, and transfer agent operations teams and has deep experience in growing relationships with portfolio managers and their shareholders. At Nottingham, he will hold the position of Director of Operations for Nottingham Shareholder Services, LLC, and will use his extensive knowledge of fund operations to bolster an already robust department. Ted holds FINRA Series 6, 26 & 63 licenses. Loretta Akins served as Fund Accounting Director at M3Sixty and comes to Nottingham with 15 years of experience. In her new role as a Director of Fund Administration, Loretta will manage fund budgeting and operating expense processing an d will be involved in tax oversight for registered funds. Loretta holds FINRA Series 6 & 63 licenses. These key additions position Nottingham for its next phase of growth. Since 1988, Nottingham has offered consulting for investment fund organization and ongoing operations support for mutual funds and ETFs including fund accounting, compliance administration, and transfer agency for those funds. Nottingham offers a full range of turnkey services, managing relationships between clients and all outside vendors and services, including lead market makers and Authorized Participants, prime brokers and custodians, outside legal counsel, independent auditors, custodians, printers, insurance companies and the fund board. Nottingham remains one of the largest privately held fund administration firms in the US operating quite efficiently from eastern North Carolina. Contact Details Notthingham Lindy Fields +1 252-984-3811 lindy.fields@nottinghamco.com Company Website https://www.ncfunds.com/

July 01, 2021 09:04 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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PRophet Announces Exclusive Partnership with Podchaser, Using AI to Pitch Podcast Creators

PRophet

MDC Partners’ (NASDAQ: MDCA ) PRophet, the first-ever AI-driven SaaS platform to help predict earned media interest, sentiment, and spread, announced today an exclusive partnership with Podchaser, the world’s most comprehensive podcast database. The companies also agreed to a referral relationship whereby users will have an opportunity to have access to each other’s platforms at favorable terms. The integration of Podchaser’s robust data — including audience reach, creator and guest credits, detailed metadata, and more — into the PRophet platform will enable PRophet to apply its proprietary AI-driven analysis against thousands of high authority and highly ranked global podcasts, predicting for PRophet users which podcasts would most likely be interested in covering a pitch or interviewing a guest. This addition to PRophet’s smart database of active, validated journalists from high authority media outlets further expands the ground-breaking platform’s predictive capabilities, deployed through a proprietary combination of natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning (ML) AI techniques to help users better assess prospective targets and improve placement rates. Before PRophet, assessing the likelihood of a reporter writing a story rested on professional experience, instinct and some guesswork with no data-driven insights or analysis to guide and backstop pitch strategies. “With the creation of PRophet, we sought to provide the PR industry with a real-time, advanced technology solution specifically designed to assess the likelihood of story pickup, sentiment and spread,” said Aaron Kwittken, founder and CEO of PRophet. “I see both sides of the supply and demand equation, as both a PR professional and a podcast creator myself. I receive dozens of pitches daily, with most of them being relegated to my trash because they are not relevant to my show or listeners. The combination of PRophet and Podchaser will bring new levels of targeting and certainty to PRophet users interested in generating interest from high-value podcasters.” “As the podcast market grows at a breakneck pace and continues to shift the media landscape, our goal is to keep powering the industry through insights and discovery,” said Cole Raven, co-founder of Podchaser. “PRophet is at the forefront of transforming the relationship between PR professionals and journalists and we are excited to join forces and be part of their revolutionary platform.” Since its launch at the end of 2020, PRophet’s customer base continues to grow and expand, including major brands and agencies large and small. In March, the platform became available to agencies and their clients through PRophet’s Agency Partnership Program, allowing account teams and their clients unlimited access and use of the platform together. Agencies and brands can contact PRophet at sales@prprophet.ai for a demonstration of the platform’s capabilities and request a complimentary trial. For more information on PRophet, visit www.prprophet.ai. ### About PRophet PRophet is the first-ever AI-driven software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform designed by and for the PR community that samples past stories to better predict future media interest, sentiment, and spread through natural language processing and machine learning. PRophet is owned by Ahteed, LLC, an MDC Ventures company, and was founded by marketing industry thought leader and entrepreneur Aaron Kwittken alongside former political strategist, technologist, and author Mark Penn, currently President of Stagwell Group and chairman and CEO of MDC Partners and formerly with Microsoft. To learn more, visit prprophet.ai/home. About Podchaser Podchaser is the world’s most comprehensive podcast database — collecting, enriching, and distributing podcast insights to power discovery for listeners, podcasters, and brands. Learn more at https://www.podchaser.com Contact Details Julie Strickland +1 917-860-7414 jstrickland@kwtglobal.com Company Website https://www.prprophet.ai/home

July 01, 2021 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Valley Produce Joins FreshEdge

Rotunda Capital Partners LLC

Valley Produce (“Valley”), a distributor of fresh produce and specialty products, has joined FreshEdge, a family of produce and specialty food companies backed by Rotunda Capital Partners. The addition further diversifies the group’s combined customer base, and increases its breadth and depth of service offerings in Tennessee and the southeastern U.S. Valley is part of a growing family that includes Piazza Produce & Specialty Foods, Indianapolis Fruit, Get Fresh, McCartney Produce, Leonardo’s Produce, Garden Cut, CIBUS Fresh and Papania’s. FreshEdge now operates with 1,430 employees and approximately 600,000 square feet of warehouse space, and a fleet of more than 600 trucks. “We are excited for Valley to join our family of ‘Best in Class’ fresh food distribution companies that are supported by our vertically integrated value-added operations,” said Steve Grinstead, CEO of FreshEdge. Terms of the deal, which closed on June 30, 2021, were not disclosed. The transaction strengthens the combined business’s presence in eastern Tennessee and enables continued expansion into the broader southeastern U.S. “We welcome the Valley team and are excited to have them join FreshEdge,” said Greg Corsaro, president and COO of FreshEdge. “Adding Valley to our family of companies greatly enhances our ability to serve retail and foodservice customers throughout the Mid-South and Southeast.” Founded in the early 1980s, Valley distributes fresh produce and specialty products to foodservice customers from its facility near Knoxville, Tennessee. Mark Stansberry will continue to lead Valley as president, and the company’s operations will carry on from its current facility. “By joining FreshEdge, Valley will expand its selection of specialty items and add fresh cut processed products such as fresh salads, sandwiches, and healthy snack items – while continuing to provide exceptional customer service to our current and future customers,” said Stansberry. “We look forward to this new era of opportunity and growth for Valley.” FreshEdge is backed by Rotunda Capital Partners, a Bethesda, Maryland-based private equity firm that invests equity capital in established lower middle-market companies. Rotunda provides opportunities for management teams to reach strategic, financial, and operational objectives. Rotunda entered the food business in 2017 with the acquisition of Indianapolis Fruit and Piazza Produce. FreshEdge was created in 2019 when Get Fresh joined the platform. Valley represents FreshEdge’s fifth acquisition since Rotunda’s initial investment. Together, Rotunda and FreshEdge intend to continue expanding FreshEdge by welcoming more companies into the group—all focused on high quality produce and specialty food products, along with exceptional service—to create a unique team of complementary entities. About FreshEdge FreshEdge was formed in 2019 through the combination of Get Fresh Produce (founded 1982) and the IF&P Foods family of companies, primarily composed of Indianapolis Fruit (founded 1947) and Piazza Produce (founded 1970). Collectively, the three leading fresh food distribution companies have nearly 150 years of combined experience serving the grocery and food service industries. In addition, FreshEdge includes two Garden Cut branded fresh-cut processing facilities, a tomato re-packer, a USDA fresh kitchen (CIBUS Fresh), and two transportation companies. FreshEdge’s fleet resource includes 620 trucks servicing the Midwest and beyond from nine facilities totaling approximately 600,000 square feet of warehouse space. Today, FreshEdge is one of the largest independent fresh food distributors in the United States and a category leader in providing both the foodservice and retail industries with fruit, vegetables, proteins, fresh grab-n-go offerings, dairy, floral, and specialty products. About Rotunda Capital Partners Rotunda Capital Partners is a private equity firm that invests equity capital in established, lower middle market companies. Rotunda partners with management to build data-driven growth platforms within its targeted sectors, including value-added distribution, asset light logistics and industrial/business services. Founded in 2009, the firm has a long history of helping management teams achieve their goals for growth. The Rotunda team actively provides guidance and draws on deep industry and financial relationships to contribute to the successful execution of Rotunda’s companies’ strategic plans. The firm has offices in Bethesda, MD and Evanston, IL. For more information, visit www.rotundacapital.com. # # # Contact Details Rotunda Capital Partners Jill Lafferty +1 847-280-1295 jill@rotundacapital.com FreshEdge Greg Corsaro +13179813440 gcorsaro@freshedgefoods.com Company Website https://www.rotundacapital.com

July 01, 2021 08:56 AM Eastern Daylight Time

The Future of Lawn Care: All About Robotic Lawn Mowers from Husqvarna

YourUpdateTV

Over the past few years, we have experienced the emergence of smart home technology and automation. We have access to various gadgets and tools that make our lives easier or help us do tasks more efficiently, like turning the lights on, locking our doors, or setting the thermostat to the desired temperature. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiA35fgftEc Our lawns are also now incorporating this type of technology. We can utilize innovative and time-saving devices and applications to help us cut our grass and tend to our lawns. Robotic lawn mowers are a cutting-edge technology that Husqvarna has spearheaded since 1995 with their best-selling Automower® lineup. The Automower® is a time-saving technology that automatically maintains your lawn at all times, rain or shine. Currently, there are more than 2 million Automower® units in operation around the world. The Husqvarna Automower® is a robotic lawn mower that is fully automatic and will maintain your lawn. What’s great is that various models can be controllable by a smartphone app or integrated into your smart home system that uses either Google Home or Amazon Alexa. Husqvarna offers eight residential models to choose from, so you can customize your experience based on your lawn care needs. One way to think about robotic mowers is that you’re not just getting another lawn mower— instead, you’re getting a perfect lawn 24/7. With traditional mowing, grass grows tall before being cut off all at once. With the Automower® by Husqvarna, it clips just a little grass at a time regularly. This helps you get a lawn that always looks like it was just freshly mowed and one that is constantly fertilized by the tiny grass clippings returned to the soil. You can also set up a weather timer and integrate Automower® into your family’s smart home schedule, so it will only cut the grass when scheduled, preventing any interruptions in your family fun outside. Automower® by Husqvarna is a smart, time-saving technology, and you can head on over to Automower.com to learn more, watch videos of the Automower® at work, and see our latest models to decide which robotic lawn mower is right for you. About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports, and Technology. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

June 30, 2021 02:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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iTradeNetwork Welcomes Bianca Buckridee as Vice President, Product Marketing

iTradeNetwork

iTradeNetwork, the global provider of supply chain management solutions for the food and beverage industry, announced Bianca Buckridee as its new vice president of product marketing. Prior to joining iTradeNetwork, Buckridee worked for Blue Yonder, BMC Software, The Thomas and Stacey Siebel Foundation, JPMorgan Chase & Co. and SunTrust Banks in progressively responsible customer service operations and product marketing roles. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Southeastern University. In this role, Buckridee will be responsible for building and scaling the product marketing function, especially how teams interface with product positioning and messaging. She plans to embed storytelling into iTradeNetwork’s “DNA” to share diverse and meaningful perspectives. “Product marketing is vital to enabling sales and accelerating adoption,” explained Buckridee. “We are the connective tissue across the organization. We have an incredibly strong mission here at iTradeNetwork and I hope to give a voice to all of our users across their journey with us.” ABOUT ITRADENETWORK iTradeNetwork, Inc. is the leading global provider of supply chain management solutions for the food and beverage industry, with more than 8,000 active customers. Suppliers and resellers connect on iTradeNetwork’s technology platform to create active partnerships and easily transact. The platform also provides one-stop-shopping for freight, food traceability, fresh inspection and supply chain compliance, which creates efficiencies for buyers and sellers alike. For more information, visit: www.itradenetwork.com. Media please note: Visual assets, photos and interviews are available by contacting Robin Carr at (415) 971-3991or itn@landispr.com. ### Contact Details Landis Communications Inc. Robin Carr +1 415-971-3991 itn@landispr.com Company Website https://www.itradenetwork.com/

June 30, 2021 09:27 AM Pacific Daylight Time

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STEAM Brand Osmo Participates in Ace Presents the Kerry Wood Celebrity Golf Invitational Benefiting Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago; Makes Product Donation to Hospital

Osmo

Award-winning STEAM brand Osmo participated in the June 28 Ace Presents the Kerry Wood Celebrity Golf Invitational, where its charitable arm, Osmo Cares, gifted its bestselling Creative Kit for iPad to over 200 celebrity golfers and Lurie Children’s Hospital patients’ families. In addition, Osmo Cares gifted 48 Creative Kits for iPad directly to the hospital, for their patients to enjoy. The Celebrity Golf Invitational, which takes place at Medinah Country Club in Medinah, Illinois, is a key fundraising event for Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, raising over $1 million on a single day. This year’s event included high-profile celebrity golfers Kerry Wood, Mark Rypien, Ryan Dempster, Jim McMahon, Toni Kukoc, and many others. ( images ) “We love events that support important organizations that provide life-saving medical services and treatments for children,” says Karen O’Dell, Osmo Director of PR and Osmo Cares. “By providing gifts to participants at this celebrity golf invitational as well as kits to Lurie Children’s Hospital, we hope to bring smiles and joy to many Chicago-area children and families, and provide healthy screen time that inspires kids’ appetite to explore STEAM learning.” Osmo’s combined donations are valued at approximately $18,500. “The Ace team is proud to partner with the award-winning STEAM brand Osmo to raise money for Lurie Children’s hospital in Chicago. Working together with great companies like Osmo to help sick kids and their families is the bedrock of what the Ace Foundation is all about,” stated Kane Calamari, President of the Ace Foundation. Says Susan Ruohonen, EdD, Senior Director of Family Services at Lurie Children’s Hospital, “Through this generous donation, so many children and their families will have this unique opportunity to explore STEAM learning and be inspired through curiosity, creativity and innovation. Thank you for providing this avenue of discovery and imagination for our patients and their families at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago.” Osmo’s Creative Kit for iPad, used at home and in classrooms across the U.S., features award-winning games that inspire learning, drawing, creativity, and more. It contains the Osmo Base for iPad, Creative Board, 4 erasable markers, a fuzzy eraser pouch, stackable storage for each game, and three best-selling game apps (Monster, Newton, Masterpiece). Osmo Cares Since 2016, Osmo Cares has made over $600,000 (USD) in product donations to nonprofit and charitable organizations in the U.S., and established over 50 partnerships with family service and autism awareness organizations. Osmo was named one of Time Magazine’s 25 Best Inventions in 2014; and its Osmo Learning System received the 2021 EdTech Digest Award in the “Curriculum and Instruction Solution” category. In 2018, Osmo received a Best AI-based Solution for Education Award for its proprietary reflective AI technology. About the Ace Hardware Foundation As the official charitable division of Ace Hardware Corporation, the Ace Hardware Foundation helps enhance the vision of being the “Helpful Place” in local communities across the country and around the globe through charitable giving. The Ace Foundation provides support and philanthropic opportunities to its consumers, retail store owners, vendors and team members to give back to local communities through fundraising efforts for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and American Red Cross Disaster Relief. Ace Hardware has been a national partner for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals for the last 30 years, raising over $140 million during that time. For more information, visit acehardware.com or newsroom.acehardware.com. About Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago is ranked as one of the nation’s top children’s hospitals by U.S. News & World Report. It is the pediatric training ground for Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Last year, the hospital served more than 220,000 children from 48 states and 49 countries. About Osmo Osmo is an award-winning STEAM brand whose products are used in over 50,000 classrooms and 2.5 million homes. 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. Founded in 2013 by ex-Google engineers Pramod Sharma and Jerome Scholler, the Osmo Play System fuses digital gameplay and physical interaction to create fun and nutritious play experiences designed for all kids. Osmo is headquartered in Palo Alto, California. Learn more at playosmo.com. For information about its educational division, Osmo for Schools, visit schools.playosmo.com. Contact Details Carolyn Kamii +1 310-251-0550 carolynkpr@gmail.com Company Website http://www.playosmo.com

June 29, 2021 04:00 AM Pacific Daylight Time

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NAMEPA’s Maritime Sustainability Passport Awarded to Tidewater

North American Marine Environment Protection Association

Carleen Lyden Walker, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA) announced that NAMEPA will be awarding their new member, Tidewater (NYSE: TDW), the “Maritime Sustainability Passport” (MSP) Certificate and Seal. The MSP is awarded to companies, organizations and individuals who meet the requirements of the program which encompasses each of NAMEPA’s six Transparency Pillars in its Corporate Social Responsibility/Environmental, Social and Governance (CSR/ESG) metrics. Tidewater is dedicated to meeting their ESG goals not only to satisfy their shareholders but all stakeholders, clearly demonstrated through successfully passing the MSP evaluation. Jason Stanley, Tidewater’s Vice President of ESG said, “As a company with a long history of operating responsibly and sustainably, we have been pleased to take the opportunity to improve our transparency by sharing what we have been doing to protect the environment and positively impact the communities in which we work around the world. We are proud to have received this important recognition of our commitment to sustainability from the team at NAMEPA.” Tidewater, the company with one of the largest offshore support vessel fleets globally, is the fourth company and first offshore service vessel company to be awarded the Maritime Sustainability Passport Certificate and Seal. Tidewater has demonstrated strong progress in developing programs and policies to support their ESG efforts and were awarded the MSP by completing all phases of the program, including supplying supporting documentation for its claims. A team of assessors evaluated their submission to determine whether they meet the CSR/ESG program’s criteria, which, upon approval, made them eligible to receive the MSP Certificate and Seal. Dedicated to protecting the safety of its employees, building strong community relationships and maintaining awareness of potential environmental impact all while promoting strong business ethics, Tidewater is a positive influence in the Maritime Industry. Tidewater has an exemplary reputation for providing their customers with exceptional service while maintaining safe and environmentally responsible operations, clearly aligning with NAMEPA’s mission to promote industry best practices and to Save Our Seas. NAMEPA congratulates their member on successfully fulfilling the requirements for their CSR/ESG Program and looks forward to continuing to work together to Save Our Seas. The MSP Seal is used to signify the participant met or exceeded the program’s benchmarks, which offer basic guidelines for the maritime industry along with a Tool Kit to help achieve them and develop best practices using CSR/ESG principles. Some of the program’s benefits include increased efficiency, stakeholder visibility and positive global impact and social license. “The maritime industry is rapidly recognizing the importance of demonstrating its commitment to sustainability” stated NAMEPA Chairman Joe Hughes, CEO and President of the Shipowners Claims Bureau. “NAMEPA identified the need to provide the industry with a standard guideline of expectations relating to a company’s efforts in CSR/ESG. We are pleased to provide this tool for the industry to support its efforts towards sustainability.” NAMEPA is extremely proud of its contribution to the maritime industry, as its CSR/ESG program is the first known standards program developed specifically for the maritime industry, winning the 2021 Green4Sea Initiative Award for its significant contribution towards greener shipping. Tidewater owns and operates one of the largest fleets of Offshore Support Vessels in the industry, with over 65 years of experience supporting offshore energy exploration and production activities worldwide. To learn more, visit www.tdw.com. The North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA) is a marine industry-led organization of environmental stewards preserving the marine environment by promoting sustainable marine industry best practices and educating seafarers, students and the public about the need and strategies for protecting global ocean, lake and river resources. Visit us at: www.namepa.net Contact Details Morgan Marketing & Communications Carleen Lyden Walker +1 203-260-0480 c.walker@morganmarketcomm.com Company Website https://namepa.net/

June 27, 2021 05:48 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Phantom Fireworks Encourages Safe Firework Usage as Record Number of Consumers Buy Fireworks Products Amid Historic Fourth of July Celebration

Phantom Fireworks

The U.S.’s largest consumer based fireworks company is urging consumers to use fireworks products safely as sales surge and many families gather again following last year’s pandemic lockdowns Phantom Fireworks is an industry-leader in supporting fireworks safety measures - encouraging consumers to take time to learn about the products and safety practices prior to usage Phantom Fireworks stores and retailers across the nation are ready to support consumers seeking fireworks to celebrate the season - with extended store hours, in person shopping opportunities and additional staff to help fireworks buyers select the best products for their needs leading up to the holiday weekend This year’s Fourth of July, America’s holiday, promises to be especially celebratory as the nation continues its recovery from the pandemic The nation’s top consumer fireworks retailer Phantom Fireworks, is urging everyone to use fireworks products safely and responsibly - especially as sales surge again this year. Phantom Fireworks is an industry leader supporting fireworks safety measures and encourages customers to learn about products and how to use them safely prior to usage - especially for the higher number of first time users. As families and friends begin to gather in person once again this year, firework usage around the Fourth of July holiday is expected to increase - like it did last year. Among key safety measures recommended https://fireworks.com/fireworks-safety, Phantom Fireworks urges that consumers: Set up fireworks on hard, flat surfaces Have water readily available (bucket of water; hose, fire extinguisher) Keep plenty of distance between the launch site and spectators A sober adult should be in charge of the fireworks; children should not handle the products Consider weather conditions (including using a flashlight at night) Use safety gear (glasses and gloves) when lighting fireworks Keep pets inside during fireworks use (the noise can frighten animals) “Safety is our top priority at Phantom Fireworks - particularly as more Americans are able to celebrate with family and friends this year as we recover from the pandemic,” said Bill Weimer, Vice President of Phantom Fireworks. “We expect more first-time fireworks users this season and it’s important to remember that fireworks and safety can go hand-in-hand. We encourage all amateur pyros to take the time to understand how to properly use our products.” Last year’s consumer fireworks sales surged to record rates industry wide. Many communities had public fireworks displays postponed and canceled amid the height of the pandemic, which is one of the reasons consumer fireworks sales surged. Phantom Fireworks adapted to the 2020 pandemic surge by offering a variety of purchase options, expanded customer service and pandemic-friendly hours. The 2021 season is also expected to bring higher sales for fireworks products - particularly as the nation’s leaders have designated this year’s holiday as the beginning point for the nation to “mark our independence” from the virus - citing the Fourth of July as the unofficial return to normal following the pandemic year. Because of the anticipated demand, Phantom Fireworks has been preparing for the season with additional store openings, early shopping incentives and updated inventory, even while supply chain challenges have emerged. “Phantom Fireworks is excited to help Americans celebrate our nation’s favorite holiday - the Fourth of July, especially meaningful following the 2020 pandemic summer,” said Bruce J. Zoldan, Phantom CEO. “We are ready to help our nation move forward and heal from a difficult year - and to enjoy the summer with friends and family this year, safely and with Phantom products as we move towards a hopeful future.” To follow Phantom Fireworks on social media, visit us on Twitter ( www.twitter.com/Fireworks ), Instagram ( www.instagram.com/phantomfireworks ) and Facebook ( www.facebook.com/fireworks ). For additional information on open stores and information on this year’s shopping process, visit: www.fireworks.com About Phantom Fireworks Phantom Fireworks is the leading consumer fireworks retailer in the country with retail stores in fifteen states and is also the major July 4th product supplier to several national retail chains in all states that permit the sale of consumer fireworks. Each state has different laws and guidelines that regulate both the industry as well as the new COVID-19 reopening regulations. Phantom has a comprehensive and easy-to-find list of state protocols listed on their website: https://fireworks.com/education-and-safety/state-laws-and-regulations Contact Details Amelia Hoffman AHoffman@fireworks.com Company Website http://www.fireworks.com/

June 25, 2021 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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