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Minuteman Press Franchise Owner Barry Landowski Sparks Local Business Growth in Germantown, Wisconsin During COVID-19 Pandemic

Minuteman Press International Inc

As Barry Landowski begins his 30th year in business this month, the long-time owner of Minuteman Press in Germantown, WI has spent the past year leading the charge to support local businesses in his community. “The pandemic has created a close bond between all small business owners around here. We’re all in this together and we need to stick together. That’s the feeling I get. No one wants to see anyone fail.” Print is Essential Barry’s Minuteman Press franchise is an essential business providing critical printing, marketing, and direct mail services. “Because I’ve been a leader in the community for so long, I’ve had several owners asking how we are doing and telling me they need us. I’ve tried to be very compassionate with them and I tell them not to give up.” Because of his empathy as well as his ability to offer high-demand products and services, Minuteman Press in Germantown has continued to remain open and stay strong throughout the pandemic. “One of the smartest things I’ve done was triple our investment in Minuteman Press International’s internet marketing program. This year, we have received more requests and orders from companies I hadn’t heard of before. This was really helpful while everyone has been on lockdown, as buyers have found us online. We then work to turn them into satisfied clients who want to continue to do business with us.” To be in business for nearly 30 years, Barry has successfully adapted his business to meet the needs of his clients. “I listen, learn, and change with the times. My Minuteman Press franchise of 2021 is a different business from my shop in 1992. Based on Minuteman Press’ recommendations, I have diversified my products and services. We added a large format printer to produce signs and banners in-house as well as a dye sublimation system and an embroidery machine for custom apparel orders.” Barry continues, “We are now a certified USPS mailing center fulfilling bulk mailing and Every Door Direct Mail orders several times per week. These services are in high demand right now from our clients looking to reach out to their target customers, and we can do the entire project from custom design and printing to mailing.” He adds, “For several years, we have also been selling many different types of custom promotional products. There are so many different ways companies can benefit from branded items, and customers always like receiving a little something extra for free.” Barry also credits Minuteman Press International for supporting him all the years he has been in business including during the pandemic. “Minuteman Press is always there for me. This past year, we have had constant communications and additional resources to help us market our business. We have amazing vendor relationships with suppliers. Every time I attend the Minuteman Press World Expo, I come back with new ideas and ways to grow. Just when I think I know everything Minuteman Press gives me incredible advice or rolls out a new product and shows me why it’s important to always keep learning.” Owning a Business vs. Having a Job Barry reflects on his journey to entrepreneurship and his life before owning his own business. “In my prior life, I was on the corporate ladder. My last position was Corporate Director of Procurement for a billion dollar corporation. I was responsible for about $250 million in annual purchases. I simply got sick and tired of the toxic corporate culture so I decided that I’d rather work hard for myself and be my own boss.” He continues, “I had a pre-law degree but had no desire to go to law. I also had a real estate license but didn’t have the time to build an empire on my own. A friend and I went to a franchise show in Milwaukee in 1991. I didn’t like much of what I saw until I met with Minuteman Press. The wheels started turning and I liked the idea of printing. It’s simple to follow and everyone is a potential customer. I knew nothing about printing or running a business, and yet here I am 29 years later thanks to Minuteman Press.” “Barry Landowski has done a fantastic job with his Minuteman Press franchise in Germantown. He truly cares about his clients and today he continues to be a community leader and an inspiration to other local businesses,” says Steve Szymanski, Minuteman Press International Midwest Regional Vice President. Rewards & Advice to Others When asked about the rewards of owning his own business, Barry answers, “I’ve had some really good times and made some mistakes, but they were my mistakes and I got smarter and tougher when learning from them. My biggest reward has been the opportunity to work with my daughter for 2 years, my son for the past 15 years, and my brother for 25 years. I probably should have retired 7 years ago, but I love to come to work.” Barry adds, “As I’ve tried to illustrate, the support from Minuteman Press is the only way that I could have started up and continued to operate for the past 29 years. They have laid the foundation and provided ongoing support, programs, and advice on products, equipment, marketing and staffing. This has all been essential to my existence.” For people who ask Barry what it’s like to get started in business, he says, “Starting your own business is like cliff diving. You stand on the cliff looking down at all of the rocks below and it can seem scary. However, once you jump, never look back, and focus on what’s ahead of you.” He concludes, “Minuteman Press will give you everything you need to operate a successful business with the exception of one thing – work ethic. You’ve got to get that yourself.” For more information on Minuteman Press Germantown, Wisconsin, visit https://www.germantown.minutemanpress.com. Learn more about #1 rated Minuteman Press franchise opportunities at https://minutemanpressfranchise.com. Contact Details Minuteman Press International Chris Biscuiti +1 631-249-1370 cbiscuiti@mpihq.com Company Website https://minutemanpressfranchise.com

April 12, 2021 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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VinFast Selects NVIDIA DRIVE to Power Next-generation Intelligent Autonomous Electric Vehicles

Vingroup

HANOI, VIETNAM - Media OutReach - 12 April 2021 - VinFast Trading and Production LLC announced today that it has selected NVIDIA DRIVE Orin for its new generation of autonomous electric vehicles designed to deliver a superior driving experience to customers. VinFast recently announced it is developing and preparing to start mass production of smart electric cars in all segments, including: the VF e34 mid-size SUV (Segment C), the VF e35 mid-size SUV (Segment D), and the VF e36 full-size SUV (Segment E). All three models have Level 2 - 3 autonomous capabilities, with 30 smart features. VinFast EVs will first ship with the NVIDIA DRIVE Xavier system-on-a-chip (SoC) starting in 2022. The automaker will upgrade to NVIDIA DRIVE Orin across its entire range of upcoming premium EV models. NVIDIA DRIVE Orin is the industry’s highest performing AV processor. Built with more than 21 billion transistors, it features the latest NVIDIA Ampere GPU architecture, 12 Cortex-A78 ARM64 CPUs, along with programmable vision and deep learning accelerators. The SoC is capable of processing more than 254 trillion operations per second to handle the large number of applications and deep neural networks running simultaneously to support special vehicle features. This includes capabilities such as cruise planning, locating charging stations and dealerships, theft-risk warning, user habit preferences, self-driving on highways, parking and more. As a result, VinFast’s electric cars will offer increased safety and enhanced autonomy to outperform existing models on the market; and deliver these safe, intelligent EVs at large scale. In addition, the NVIDIA DRIVE Orin system is designed to ISO 26262 ASIL-D safety standards to ensure the highest level of automotive electronics safety. “VinFast’s strategy is focused on cooperating with global technology companies to pair their latest advancements with our products,” said Ms. Thai Thi Thanh Hai, Vice Chairwoman of Vingroup and CEO of VinFast. “Enabled by NVIDIA, our new fleet of EVs will have the latest AI capabilities and features essential for safe self-driving and over-the-air software updates.” “VinFast’s selection of NVIDIA DRIVE will accelerate development of the automaker’s intelligent EVs—delivering new levels of safety and convenience that will help shape the future of transportation in Vietnam, throughout Southeast Asia and the world,” said Rishi Dhall, Vice President of Autonomous Vehicles at NVIDIA. VinFast is the leading Vietnamese car manufacturer across every segment in terms of sales in Vietnam. In early 2021, VinFast announced three electric SUVs with autonomous features up to Level 3, in which, VF e34 is the first model to be launched in Vietnam first by the end of 2021. All three models are using artificial intelligence technology with many outstanding smart features and are expected to export to the US, Canada and Europe in the year 2022. Contact Details Vingroup +84 24 3974 9999 v.chidqd@vingroup.net

April 12, 2021 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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NEXT Trucking Launches New Customer Portal Giving Shippers Full Control Over Their Freight

Next Trucking

NEXT Trucking, a FreightTech pioneer that connects shippers and carriers, announced the launch of its new Shipper Portal today. The robust online portal streamlines and expedites communications between NEXT Trucking and its shipper customers, reduces manual processes, and provides real-time visibility into the status of containers. Amidst the global pandemic, supply chains are facing mounting challenges, driving shippers to consider emerging technologies to remain competitive. The NEXT Shipper Portal offers shippers an easy-to-use freight management platform to monitor, gather data, download reports, and take action on every phase of a container's journey. “NEXT remains committed to staying at the forefront of innovation in the freight technology space as we continue to provide our customers with easy-to-use technologies to optimize their distribution chains,” said Lidia Yan, CEO and Co-Founder of NEXT Trucking. “We are proud to offer shippers, freight forwarders, and ocean carriers a more holistic, data-driven experience via our new Shipper Portal, which will help them solve key pain points in their daily operations and present them with data to better understand and manage their businesses.” Giving shippers full control over their freight, the new platform provides automated real-time shipment track and trace from vessel to termination, customizable reporting, scheduling capabilities, automated leveraging of at-risk containers, and a comprehensive dashboard with container ETAs, last free day, per diem, demurrage, and more. “NEXT’s Shipper Portal is extremely user friendly and is a game-changer for anyone involved in the drayage industry,” said a senior executive from a top ocean carrier. “Previously, I was manually tracking 200+ containers for one customer alone to check if containers were on a vessel, unloaded in the port, outgated, or returned empty.” Advanced reporting features allow shippers to configure personalized trends and insights, view risk-ranked containers for action, and automate container status reports. “Businesses have long asked for more data about their shipments, as understanding key business metrics like on-time delivery and facility wait times is imperative,” added Yan. “Our Shipper Portal offers a robust, intuitive dashboard and data experience for shippers, who would otherwise spend hours manually assembling reports themselves. Additionally, it helps shippers identify priority containers that need attention, such as containers with an upcoming appointment time, past appointment time, soon to incur demurrage/per diem, and more.” Future versions of the Shipper Portal will include an automated delivery order submission process using artificial intelligence and machine learning, real-time notifications about important changes/events to containers, and the ability to manage all invoices. For more, please visit www.nexttrucking.com. About NEXT Trucking NEXT Trucking, a FreightTech pioneer and drayage leader, offers premium shipping experiences to many of the world’s best-known companies. NEXT’s platform connects shippers with freight capacity across drayage, transload, and OTR. Headquartered in El Segundo, CA, NEXT is venture-backed by leaders such as Brookfield Ventures, GLP, and Sequoia Capital. For more information, visit www.nexttrucking.com. Contact Details Trust Relations Veronica Yip +1 347-870-9402 nexttrucking@trustrelations.agency Company Website https://www.nexttrucking.com/

April 07, 2021 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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

Minuteman Press International Inc

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

April 05, 2021 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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CMMC Center of Excellence Announces Engagement Agreement with Ordr

Interoperability Clearinghouse

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

March 30, 2021 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Minuteman Press Franchise in Lutz, FL Focuses on Relationships and High-Demand Products to Spark Record Monthly Sales During COVID-19 Pandemic

Minuteman Press International Inc

Ed Casagrande and his family moved to the US from Brazil in 2017 to pursue the American Dream of owning a business. He has not let the COVID-19 pandemic slow him down and Ed shares his insights on growing his Minuteman Press franchise in Lutz, FL. For four years, Minuteman Press franchise owner Ed Casagrande has been building relationships and helping local businesses with their printing and marketing needs. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Minuteman Press in Lutz, FL was designated as an essential business. Ed and his team have continued to reach out to their clients and community with one simple yet powerful message: “We are all in this together.” The results of Ed’s genuine outreach efforts are a satisfied client base and increased sales. He says, “We are posting record monthly sales in March 2021, and I am thankful for that. Our sales for the month are more than the annual revenue of the previous owner of the business in 2016. To do this during the pandemic makes me even more excited for the future as we continue to work hard on behalf of our community and our customers.” Supporting Local Businesses Ed elaborates, “Since the beginning, we have focused on developing strong relationships with many businesses and organizations within our local community. The pandemic has, in many ways, brought us closer together with our customers. There has been an overwhelming sense that we are all in this together, and by helping to support each other through the struggle, we have been able to keep growing.” Just by reaching out to local businesses, Ed has found a renewed sense of camaraderie with his fellow business owners. “The response from the community has been overwhelmingly positive. If there has been one thing that has been highlighted during this difficult time, it would be the resilience of the community. Many of our customers print with us on a regular basis, and we have gotten the opportunity to know them and their businesses. When they come into our shop, they share their stories of struggle and success, and we are there to support them through all of it.” He adds, “We know the challenges of trying to grow a business even without the added stress of a worldwide pandemic, and we want to offer solutions that can help businesses take that growth to another level. With that in mind, we take the approach of thinking like the general consumer, and finding print solutions that will help reach the desired audience.” Print Is Essential The best businesses are the ones who quickly identify the needs of their clients and do everything they can to meet those demands. That is exactly what Minuteman Press has done over the past year. Ed recalls, “Early on during the pandemic, we identified the businesses that most needed our services and made the effort to help with their printing needs. The food industry saw a massive increase in demand so we targeted that market – printing labels for food distributors, to-go menus for restaurants, and yard signs and banners promoting social distancing. The need for marketing materials promoting social distancing applied to other industries as well, and we were able to meet those needs with signs, banners, window clings, and floor stickers.” Another challenge for local businesses came in the form of adapting their marketing methods. With trade shows and other events cancelled or postponed, businesses turned to Minuteman Press for help in adapting and diversifying their marketing strategies. Ed explains, “We focused our efforts on areas of the business with the widest margin of return. We had to get creative in finding ways to best serve the needs of our customers, many of whom have also had to completely transform their approach to marketing in a world without trade shows and other traditional marketing methods. This has allowed us the opportunity to continue to grow, despite the challenges facing our local economy. At the core of this growth is the relationships we have built with our customers. The importance of developing strong relationships with local businesses and taking care to provide a quality customer experience with every interaction cannot be stressed enough. It is the key to our success.” By strengthening those relationships, Ed is now poised to help his clients with the anticipated local economic recovery. “We have already begun to see an increase in sales which indicates that the local economy is starting to fire back up. We have taken great care to listen to the needs of our customers and provide options for them that will best help them recover from the pandemic. We have also begun the process of restructuring our team to identify and capitalize on the strengths of each individual team member. We are investing in new equipment so that we can increase our production and profit margins, offer better and faster print solutions to our customers, and stay competitive in the marketplace.” He continues, “We are in the process of expanding to a new larger location which will allow us to grow even more. We have also implemented a marketing outreach project to touch base with customers who haven’t been printing as much since the pandemic started, in an effort to see if we can be of any help to them. This effort has translated into an increase of sales and is helping us get back on track to our pre-pandemic rate of growth.” “For years, the printing industry has been the backbone of marketing for organizations across the world. As technology has advanced and as the world has moved online, the ways that businesses and organizations have been able to reach out and market to their customers has evolved. But the foundation of marketing has always been in print media. In many ways, the pandemic brought things back-to-the-basics for many of our customers. We have seen many of our customers go back to the tried-and-true methods of marketing, including postcard printing for direct mail and EDDM mailing campaigns, flyer/brochure printing, and yard and car sign/banner printing. From what we have seen, the market trends indicate that the printing industry will continue to thrive and we are looking forward to continuing our growth as the economy recovers from the pandemic.” -Ed Casagrande, owner, Minuteman Press franchise, Lutz, FL From Being Laid Off in Brazil to US Business Ownership in Lutz, FL One of the reasons Ed has been able to adapt and grow his business during this unprecedented time is because of his ability to adapt and refocus. In fact, he has pivoted before. “I was born in Brazil and my professional background is in Engineering. Before moving to the US, I was involved in a large organization and was responsible for the entire South American region, with a team of 3,000 employees under my supervision. In 2015, the economy in Brazil went through a dramatic downturn, and I was laid off. My wife and I made the decision to move to the United States with our two children, and we began looking to purchase a business.” Ed continues, “At first, we looked at many options – from gas stations to dry cleaners and everything in between. I found an opportunity to purchase an existing franchise of Minuteman Press, and although I had no previous experience in the printing industry, I was drawn to the Business-to-Business concept that Minuteman Press offered. I am passionate about business and through my experience, I have a deep understanding of the inner workings of growing a business. Minuteman Press allowed me to turn that passion into an opportunity to help other businesses grow through various marketing concepts that we are able to help them achieve, which in turn has helped me grow my own business as well.” Ed credits the ongoing support of Minuteman Press both before and during the pandemic for helping him build his business. He says, “Minuteman Press International has always been a huge support to us, and they took great care to help provide the support we needed during the pandemic. We are so appreciative of the efforts they have made to ensure that the safety of our employees and customers is a top priority, and for providing us with the resources necessary to remain successful despite the challenges facing us.” “Ed Casagrande has done a tremendous job putting in the work to build his Minuteman Press franchise in Lutz. I am proud of the way he has reached out to others, promoted his relevant products and services, and provided an uplifting message as well as a positive customer experience for his clients at this critical time. I look forward to supporting Ed as he continues to build his business.” -Larry Trimble, Minuteman Press International Regional Vice President, Florida Rewards & Advice for Others As a business owner, Ed sees many rewards to being his own boss. He says, “The biggest benefit to owning my own business is that there is virtually no limit to the amount of success that I can achieve, except if I limit myself. When I worked for someone else, there was always a limit to the compensation I received or to the growth that I was able to experience, regardless of the effort I put into it. Owning my own business removes that glass ceiling and allows me to pursue limitless success.” When asked what advice he would give to other local business owners right now, Ed answers, “The best advice that I can give other local businesses is that networking and customer care is vital to the success of a business. A large part of the effort that I have made since becoming a franchise owner of Minuteman Press is through networking with other small business owners in the local community. Through these efforts, I have developed some incredible working relationships with members of the community and I have learned so much along the way.” Ed concludes, “We have all heard it said that there is strength in numbers. The pandemic has demonstrated this to be true, because we have all relied on each other to get through it.” For more information on Ed Casagrande’s Minuteman Press franchise in Lutz, FL, visit https://www.lutz-fl.minutemanpress.com. Learn more about #1 rated Minuteman Press franchise opportunities at https://minutemanpressfranchise.com. Contact Details Minuteman Press International Chris Biscuiti +1 631-249-1370 cbiscuiti@mpihq.com Company Website https://minutemanpressfranchise.com

March 29, 2021 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Consumer lender Fintern appoints Chief Risk Officer

Stockwood Strategy

Prior to joining Fintern, Mark was a Partner at EY, where he specialised in Credit Analytics and led EY's Quantitative Advisory Services team of 200 quantitative analysts. Since joining EY in 2005, Mark has served virtually every major UK bank on the topic of credit modelling and the use of advanced analytics. At Fintern, Mark will leverage his market-leading experience to develop Fintern's next-generation credit technology and improve access to affordable credit. Mark holds a PhD in mathematics and has been a leading advocate for the use of alternative data in fairer credit decisioning. Gerald Chappell, Fintern CEO, said "I am excited about Mark's vision for Fintern, as well as his passion for using data and analytics to fix the failings of the credit score system and improve access to affordable credit. Given his career track record, he will bring world-class analytics, artificial intelligence and strategic expertise to build on the strengths of the existing management team." On his appointment, Mark London commented: "I am delighted to be joining Fintern at this important time. Fintern's mission to transform consumer credit markets, bypassing a broken credit scoring system that unfairly excludes millions of people from affordable loans, is more relevant now than ever with the economic disruption caused by Covid-19. Using Open Banking and other alternative data we can improve financial lives by bringing affordable and responsible loans to many more people." Mark added "I am excited about Fintern's commitment to interactive lending. As CRO, I will ensure we share our insights with customers, that we will help them to make decisions that are in their best interest, and that we will provide full transparency on all our lending decisions." Michelle He, Fintern COO and CFO, said "Mark will find an amazing home here at Fintern, and a deep commitment from the entire Fintern team to challenging the traditional lending approach and helping consumers recover as we emerge from Covid-19." About Fintern Fintern is a digital consumer lender on a mission to expand access to low-cost personal finance and transform financial well-being. Fintern's next-generation credit technology takes a holistic look at each applicant’s financial situation rather than making a decision solely based on a credit score. Fintern builds relationships with customers helping them to understand their repayment capacity and credit appetite. Fintern integrates its AI platform with Open Banking to smartly connect the dots in consumers' banking data enabling Fintern to obtain the most accurate view of borrowers' affordability and spending behaviour using up to the minute transaction information. Fintern was founded in 2020 with a team from McKinsey, EY, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, HSBC and XiaoMi. Fintern is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, firm reference number 929244, a member of Cifas (the UK's leading anti-fraud association) and registered with the UK Information Commissioner's Office in compliance with the Data Protection Regulations 2018. Contact Details Fintern Sam Power +44 7400 122813 press@fintern.ai Company Website https://fintern.ai/

March 29, 2021 04:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Agora Data Issues Lender Challenge To Compare Buy Here Pay Here Dealers’ Credit Lines

Agora

Agora Data, Inc. has issued a challenge to commercial lenders providing credit lines to Buy Here Pay Here (BHPH) dealers. The challenge consists of a checklist for BHPH dealers and smaller finance companies to compare their current line of credit to AgoraCapital. If a dealer can get its lender to match all the terms of AgoraCapital, Agora will offer its congratulations and send the dealer a check for $1,000. Dealers can find the Agora Lender Challenge details and checklist at www.agoralenderchallenge.com. Specifics for the Agora Lender Challenge include lowering current interest rates, eliminating monthly borrowing base true-ups, removing burdensome financial restrictions, and obtaining a wealth of services (free of charge) to help support and plan for growth. After taking the Agora Lender Challenge, dealers are encouraged to contact Agora Data and explore all financing options that best align with their business and personal goals. Dealers in good standing with their current lender are automatically eligible to refinance their line of credit with AgoraCapital at a reduced interest rate and receive a commitment to triple their borrowing capacity. New dealers wanting to accelerate their portfolio can get started with various robust and low-cost financing options. “Agora Data is changing the dynamic between dealers and lenders and issuing a challenge that gives dealers the power to identify the best financing options that support business goals and needs,” said Steve Burke, CEO of Agora Data. “The market has known for some time that financing innovation for BHPH dealers is long overdue, and with our AgoraCapital program, we have successfully removed the obstacles that previously hampered growth and profitability. Agora Data is addressing barriers by providing BHPH dealers access to capital markets to help fuel their growth.” Burke went on to encourage “dealers to stop working for your lenders and start working for yourself”. The Agora Lender Challenge follows Agora Data’s successful execution of the auto industry’s first-ever crowdsourced auto loan securitization on December 29, 2020. This groundbreaking development in the world of structured finance provides BHPH auto dealers and small to mid-sized finance companies access to affordable capital markets funding. In addition, Agora Data recently announced its latest product offering – AgoraCredit. AgoraCredit is designed to transition dealers from their current senior lender into interim credit lines that work in harmony with the AgoraCapital securitization program. AgoraCredit was created with the specific goal of not locking dealers into expensive and risky lines of credit but instead initiating the freedom of providing a smooth glide path into the world of crowdsourced securitizations. In addition to access to AgoraCredit and AgoraCapital, Agora Data members connected to the platform receive free of charge additional insights and analytics to better understand their portfolio's performance enabling dealers to make more informed business decisions as well as numerous other tools and services to help ensure success. About Agora Data, Inc: Agora is re-inventing auto finance for Buy Here Pay Here dealers and finance companies with a crowdsourcing platform that bridges access to the capital market. Easy to use and analytically robust business tools empower the untapped and diverse portfolios of the BHPH auto market, connecting dealers, sub-prime finance companies, and capital market lenders with results-driven resources to enhance financial growth. Founded in 2017 by a best-in-class team of top professionals in auto finance and leading data scientists, the company has successfully combined billions in historical loan performance data to develop its AI-Infused predictive loan technology and machine learning models. agoradata.com. For more information, please contact Agora at (877) 592-4672 or contactus@agoradata.com. Contact Details Shelly Vandeven +1 682-282-4130 media@agoradata.com Company Website https://agoradata.com/

March 25, 2021 11:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

EagleTEQ Advisors Joins as Consulting Partner for Cloud Conventions 2021

Convey Services

The Cloud Conventions 2021 virtual trade expo is teaming up with EagleTEQ Advisors, a consulting group of senior channel executives, to help direct event strategy and program design for the largest and most innovative virtual event in the telecom/cloud channel, running virtually May 12-14. In its second year, Cloud Conventions 2021 connects channel partners and professionals in the telecommunications, cloud and IT services industries to information, strategies, and insights to navigate the “New Normal” as business emerges from the pandemic. EagleTEQ joins media partner, TR Publications and event management firm MCI Group in supporting this one-of-a-kind channel expo. “There are no more highly-qualified industry strategists than the partners at EagleTEQ Advisors,” said Carolyn Bradfield, CEO of Convey Services, the platform provider for Cloud Conventions 2021. “In a time of accelerated changes that dramatically impact both channel sellers and providers, EagleTEQ’s real-world experience in addressing industry business challenges will be key in ensuring Cloud Conventions 2021 delivers the right message, at the right time, to our attendees.” “Virtual events in this industry have often missed the mark in providing attendees and sponsors with an engaging, connected and information-rich experience,” said Curt Allen, partner in EagleTEQ Advisors. “The ‘New Normal’ dictates a business environment where digital transformation and channel engagement is even more critical. Our team is excited to provide resources and guidance to strengthen the mission and ensure that every participant walks away with strategies to grow their business in a scalable and sustainable way.” Cloud Conventions 2021 is co-sponsored by TR Publications and managed by the MCI Group. MCI is committed to growing the Cloud Conventions 2021 event and returning in the spring of 2022 with a live, plus hybrid industry-focused experience. Attendance at Cloud Conventions 2021 is free to qualified industry professionals. Exhibitors and attendees can sign up at the Cloud Conventions 2021 site. The Cloud Conventions 2021 expo is hosted and managed on the industry-leading Cloud Conventions™ virtual event platform, powered by Convey Services. XXX About EagleTEQ Advisors EagleTEQ Advisors is focused on enabling technology solution providers and distributors to grow revenue, expand distribution channels, and transform market position. The EagleTEQ Advisors team has over 150 years of combined real-world experience and expertise in addressing virtually every business opportunity and challenge. With proven leadership in sales, marketing, product, channel, and go-to-market planning and execution, we help businesses with profitable revenue growth strategies supported with executable, repeatable tactics. EagleTEQ founding partners include Curt Allen, Ken Bisnoff, Steve Braverman, Mike Cromwell and Cardi Prinzi. www.eagleteq.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™, 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 Bruce Ahern +1 770-580-0810 bahern@conveyservices.com Company Website https://cloudconventions.com

March 24, 2021 12:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Agora Data Issues Lender Challenge To Compare Buy Here Pay Here Dealers’ Credit Lines

EagleTEQ Advisors Joins as Consulting Partner for Cloud Conventions 2021