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Sage Communications Recognized as a PRNEWS Elite Top 100 Agency

Sage Communications

Sage Communications, a leading technology and public sector marketing and public relations agency in the Washington, D.C. metro region, announced today it was named to PRNEWS ’ 2022 Agency Elite Top 100 List. The national catalogue celebrates the top communications firms that represent their clients through innovation, strategy and creativity, while driving the best results, reputation, media coverage and thought leadership. “This recognition is a true testament to the hours of hard work our team members put in on a daily basis and the awe-inspiring stories our clients have to tell,” said Julie Murphy, senior vice president of public relations. “We take great pride in the work we do for our incredible clients in technology, government, education and beyond, and are grateful to be recognized among the industry’s best.” The top 100 list ranges from small boutique agencies to some of the largest global firms in the world. Honorees were chosen based on successful case studies, client testimonials and noteworthy capabilities that stand out in the PR and communications arena. Founded in 2003, Sage is known for its tactical support to clients across cybersecurity, technology, government and more. The company’s work in public relations and social media, combined with marketing, lead generation and events, has served the D.C. area for almost 20 years, and continues to grow. View the 2022 PRNEWS Agency Elite Top 100 list by visiting https://bit.ly/3m8dsne. To learn more about how Sage can help tell your organization’s story, visit www.aboutsage.com. About Sage Communications Located in the Greater Washington, D.C. area, Sage Communications is a full-service marketing communications and public relations agency providing strategic marketing services to technology, government, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, non-profits and consumer-oriented organizations. The company provides a unique fusion of traditional and digital services that include public relations, advertising, marketing, branding, social media, interactive services, and event management to Fortune 500 companies, start-ups, non-profits, government agencies, associations and coalitions to deliver custom, high-impact communications programs. Sage supports several organizations and activities including the Leadership of Greater Washington, DC Jazz Festival, Access Youth, and The Children’s Inn at NIH. For more information, please visit our website at www.aboutsage.com or visit us on Twitter and LinkedIn. Contact Details Sage Communications Mike Atkinson +1 703-891-5686 matkinson@aboutsage.com Company Website https://www.AboutSage.com

August 18, 2021 08:35 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Airbnb.org Program Offers Free, Temporary Housing to Disaster Victims

YourUpdateTV

Communities across the US are in the midst of hurricane and wildfire season. When disasters like this strike, many people find themselves in need of temporary housing and space to figure out what’s next. Airbnb.org’s emergency response program helps connect people to temporary places to stay in times of need. Recently, Kristen Berlacher, the Head of Airbnb.org Programs, teamed with YourUpdateTV on a satellite media tour to discuss this initiative and share tips on how to be better prepared for disasters and how to help impacted communities. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/OD7JPciKRbE The inspiration for Airbnb.org began in 2012 with a single host named Shell who opened up her home to people impacted by Hurricane Sandy. This sparked a movement and marked the beginning of a program that allows hosts on Airbnb to provide stays for people in times of need. Since 2012, the program has responded to hundreds of disasters and helped find temporary housing for evacuees and relief workers around the world. Airbnb helped people in times of crisis through the Open Homes initiative. Airbnb.org, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is the next chapter. The program has evolved to focus on emergency response and to help provide stays to evacuees, relief workers, refugees and asylum seekers, and most recently, frontline workers fighting the spread of COVID-19. How it Works: Airbnb.org will allow hosts on Airbnb to provide free and discounted stays to people impacted by emergencies, including the COVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters. These stays, which provide alternative accommodation and shelter options, are especially helpful to government and nonprofit partners in a year where the COVID-19 pandemic has made housing vulnerable people in traditional congregate shelters extremely challenging. Hosts who support Airbnb.org by offering free stays or making recurring donations will receive a special badge on their profile to recognize their generosity and commitment to communities in need. Anyone who finds joy in helping others, who believes in kindness and is interested in helping by opening their homes or donating to this cause, can learn more at airbnb.org/join About KRISTEN BERLACHER: As Head of Airbnb.org Programs, Kristen leads a global team that supports Airbnb.org’s efforts to help people impacted by natural disasters, refugees and frontline responders fighting the spread of COVID- 19. With a background in tech-enabled social impact, philanthropy and nonprofit management, Kristen, as an employee of Airbnb, oversees strategic partnerships, government relations, response operations and community engagement for Airbnb.org with the goal of leveraging Airbnb’s unique assets to provide innovative housing solutions and livelihood opportunities for vulnerable populations around the globe. Prior to Airbnb, Kristen led Hyatt Hotel Corporation’s global philanthropy programs focused on economic empowerment, disaster response and employee volunteerism. Before Hyatt, Kristen served as Deputy Director for Working in the Schools, a nonprofit focused on literacy programming for vulnerable youth. Kristen holds a BA in Leadership Studies from the University of Richmond, VA About Airbnb.org: Airbnb.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to facilitating temporary stays for people in times of crisis around the world. Airbnb.org operates independently and leverages Airbnb, Inc.’s technology, services, and other resources at no charge to carry out Airbnb.org’s charitable purpose. The inspiration for Airbnb.org began in 2012 with a single host named Shell who opened up her home to people impacted by Hurricane Sandy. This sparked a movement and marked the beginning of a programme that allows Hosts on Airbnb to provide stays for people in times of need. Since then, the programme has evolved to focus on emergency response and to help provide stays to evacuees, relief workers, refugees, asylum seekers, and most recently, frontline workers fighting the spread of COVID-19. Since then, Hosts have offered to open up their homes and helped provide accommodations to 75,000 people in times of need. Airbnb.org is a separate and independent entity from Airbnb, Inc. Airbnb, Inc. does not charge service fees for Airbnb.org supported stays on its platform. 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

August 17, 2021 05:05 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Inc. Magazine Unveils Its Annual List of America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies—the Inc. 5000

Edison Interactive

Inc. magazine today revealed that Edison Interactive is No. 144 on its annual Inc. 5000 list, the most prestigious ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies. The list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the American economy’s most dynamic segment—its independent small businesses. Intuit, Zappos, Under Armour, Microsoft, Patagonia, and many other well-known names gained their first national exposure as honorees on the Inc. 5000. “Edison Interactive is honored to be recognized by Inc. 5000 on their list of America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies, ranking 144 in the country and fourth in Colorado,” said Jeremy Ostermiller, CEO & Co-founder. “As we continue to expand the company’s portfolio with new partnerships and connected device solutions, we are incredibly grateful and exhilarated by the outstanding work and dedication of our employees and the results they drive. The support of our shareholders and partners means the world to us as we continue our growth in today’s digital-first world.” Not only have the companies on the 2021 Inc. 5000 been very competitive within their markets, but this year’s list also proved especially resilient and flexible given 2020’s unprecedented challenges. Among the 5,000, the average median three-year growth rate soared to 543 percent, and median revenue reached $11.1 million. Together, those companies added more than 610,000 jobs over the past three years. Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found at www.inc.com/inc5000. The top 500 companies are also being featured in the September issue of Inc., available on newsstands August 20. “The 2021 Inc. 5000 list feels like one of the most important rosters of companies ever compiled,” says Scott Omelianuk, editor-in-chief of Inc. “Building one of the fastest-growing companies in America in any year is a remarkable achievement. Building one in the crisis we’ve lived through is just plain amazing. This kind of accomplishment comes with hard work, smart pivots, great leadership, and the help of a whole lot of people.” About Edison Interactive Edison Interactive is a leading provider of enterprise software for connected devices. Focused on digitally transforming the customer experience, EI is known for its vast network of premium displays, digital signage and infotainment solutions in a variety of industries including transportation, recreation and hospitality. The company’s end-to-end solution combines premium content, functional feature sets and monetization tools that enable brands to connect with their customers in more meaningful ways. Millions of consumers across the globe engage with the Edison platform on a monthly basis. The company was founded in 2016 and headquartered in Denver, Colo. For more information, visit www.edisoninteractive.com. More about Inc. and the Inc. 5000 Methodology Companies on the 2021 Inc. 5000 are ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2017 to 2020. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2017. They must be U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit, and independent—not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies—as of December 31, 2020. (Since then, some on the list may have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2017 is $100,000; the minimum for 2020 is $2 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. Growth rates used to determine company rankings were calculated to three decimal places. There was one tie on this year’s Inc. 5000. Companies on the Inc. 500 are featured in Inc. ’s September issue. They represent the top tier of the Inc. 5000, which can be found at http://www.inc.com/inc5000. About Inc. Media The world’s most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit www.inc.com. For more information on the Inc. 5000 Conference, visit http://conference.inc.com/. About Edison Interactive Edison Interactive is a leading provider of enterprise software for connected devices. Focused on digitally transforming the customer experience, EI is known for its vast network of premium displays, digital signage and infotainment solutions in a variety of industries including transportation, recreation and hospitality. The company’s end-to-end solution combines premium content, functional feature sets and monetization tools that enable brands to connect with their customers in more meaningful ways. Millions of consumers across the globe engage with the Edison platform on a monthly basis. The company was founded in 2016 and headquartered in Denver, Colo. Visit www.edisoninteractive.com for more information. Contact Details Edison Interactive Frankie Cervantes +1 720-837-7421 frankie@edisoninteractive.com Company Website http://www.edisoninteractive.com

August 17, 2021 01:03 PM Mountain Daylight Time

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Feppy Bilingual Immersion Subscription Box for Kids Celebrates One-Year Anniversary with New Video Audiobook Feature

FeppyBox

-- FeppyBox features innovative immersive, curated bilingual storytelling for kids ages 3-6 -- -- New Video Audiobook Feature Enhances Pronunciation in English and Spanish -- FeppyBox, a bilingual children’s education subscription box designed to immerse children 3-6 years-old in Spanish and English language learning, is celebrating its one-year anniversary with the launch of a new video audiobook feature. The new Feppy video audiobook feature brings the magic of storytelling alive, and demystifies pronunciation in a foreign language, further immersing families in a bilingual world. The Feppy video audio books are included as exclusive access to all FeppyBox subscribers to help with pronunciation of Feppy stories each month. The award-winning bilingual immersion FeppyBox is beloved by families and makes learning in Spanish and English fun. Through a monthly subscription of curated content, inclusive of bilingual books, songs, games, and now video audiobooks, FeppyBox makes it easier for parents to raise their children bilingually, in a fun way designed to feel more like playing than learning. Studies have shown that the best time to learn a second language is between birth and the age of seven. During those forming years the brain is developing to absorb information in an unconscious way. While many bilingual children’s programs are designed to teach preschool curriculum, the FeppyBox difference lies in providing turn-key curated content to immerse kids in a second language, with innovative storytelling that instills lifelong values, taking out the guesswork for parents and caregivers. Founded in 2020, Feppy, a mix of “Happy” and “Feliz” (Spanish for “happy”), is a unique bilingual early childhood immersion brand offering award-winning books, music, videos and play, in a curated monthly subscription box. “We’re excited to be celebrating our one-year anniversary, and are excited to continue to find new ways to encourage creativity, promote connection and make the Feppy experience that much more fun.” said Ronit Shiro, Founder and CEO of Feppy. “At Feppy, the combination of our FeppyBox books and their video audio version was a natural next step, and we are thrilled with the positive response from our subscribing families. From them, we have learned that with the right tools, one doesn’t have to be bilingual to raise a bilingual child,“ added Ronit. Feppy’s curated content includes enhanced visual and auditory storytelling, making it inclusive to all types of learners. All children absorb and learn language in different ways, whether they tend to be more visual, auditory, kinesthetic or tactile. Below is a sneak peek at Feppy’s unique bilingual childhood immersion recipe. Each monthly FeppyBox contains: -- Feppy’s Award-Winning Books: Feppy Book is an original story in both English and Spanish, and exclusive access to its audio videobook. The video not only offers unlimited learning time, but it also supports pronunciation. The spark of bilingualism happens when a kid connects the content in both languages. -- Feppy Music: Feppy Music includes bilingual lyrics to adapted versions of traditional children’s songs with rhythm twists: Merengueton, Salsa/Trap, Reggaeton/Vallenato, Electro Mambo, and other Latin rhythms. Curated Feppy music lists can be found on Spotify, Apple Music and most music streaming platforms. -- Feppy Parents: Feppy Parents is a unique parent guide to support ongoing immersive learning. -- Feppy Play: Feppy Play is a hands-on activity that encourages play-based learning and highlights themes from the Feppy story. Every item in FeppyBox is fully bilingual, so parents don’t need to know both languages to share Feppy with their children. Here is how it works: -- Parents subscribe to FeppyBox without a contract and can cancel anytime. -- FeppyBox arrives at their door monthly to create fun experiences for children to become bilingual. -- Pricing: A monthly subscription is $29.99, or $39.99 for DobleFeppyBox, which contains one extra set of play materials for a sibling or friend. -- Shipping: Shipping is free in the United States. About FeppyBox Designed to raise the next generation of open-minded, resilient global citizens, FeppyBox is an award-winning, kid-friendly and truly bilingual English and Spanish subscription box for kids ages 3-6. Founded in 2020, Feppy’s early childhood curated content is inclusive of bilingual books, songs, games, and video, and has been named “Best in Family-Friendly Media, Products, and Services” by the Mom's Choice Awards and “Parent's Favorite Product” by the Tillywig Toy & Media Awards. For more information, please visit www.FeppyBox.com and follow @feppybox on Instagram and Facebook. Contact Details TORO Agency - PR and Cultural Marketing Ceci Toro ceci.toro@thetoroagency.com Company Website https://feppybox.com

August 17, 2021 10:09 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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ADPList raises $1.3 million to help professionals and students get instant access to mentorship

ADPList

Global mentorship platform ADPList today announced US$1.3 million in funding from Surge, a rapid scale-up program by Sequoia Capital India for startups in India and Southeast Asia. ADPList is a platform for people to find, book and meet mentors around the world, providing anyone with access to some of the best minds - starting with the design and product management community. At present, there is no shared platform that makes cross-border mentoring easy, or offers a global network of mentors with different skill sets and at different levels. In the current creator economy, where people are keen to share, support and teach others, ADPList’s instant, one-click access to a global network has made it one of the industry’s most prominent platforms. What initially began as a means for designers to provide peer support, share career opportunities and offer mentorship to others impacted by the pandemic, has since organically grown to over 20,500 mentees, 2,500 mentors, and over 5,000 booked sessions per month. “We started ADPList during the height of the pandemic, and the success of the platform has since shown us that there is a global network of people ready to connect and provide support for others in their communities. The evolution of ADPList today continues to build on the belief that every mentors’ voice can transform people’s career anxiety to agency, and our platform provides them with an entirely new, accessible and engaging way to do so,” said Felix Lee, co-founder of ADPList. “From the first moment I started mentoring with ADPList, I knew it was more than an act of ‘passing on knowledge’. After clocking 6000+ minutes across ten time zones with 100+ mentees from more than 15 different counties, I can tell you one thing for sure: Every session is a unique exchange of our lives, our stories and our dreams. There is no better feeling when Amazing Design People find each other!” said Michael Tam, Global Design Director at IBM iX. On ADPList, mentors can indicate their availability on a shared calendar for mentees to select and schedule virtual sessions. Video calls are conducted within the platform along with feedback and ratings after each session. Beyond one-on-one mentoring, the platform also offers small group mentoring, townhall-style talks and other formats. ADPList started in 2020 as a list of names, sprouted by the founders’ desire to help the many designers who found themselves out of a job as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. One tab in the open-source spreadsheet focused on mentoring, which received the most clicks. This eventually inspired the founder to build this into a platform, and that’s how Amazing Design People List - ADPList - was born. ADPList mentors work at companies like Spotify, Apple, Twitter, LinkedIn, Nike, Netflix, Twitch, Coinbase and many more. The company was incorporated in 2021 in Singapore by Felix Lee and James Baduor. Felix is a product designer turned tech entrepreneur. He was the Design Lead at Gotrade and Co-Founder at Packdat, which was acquired in 2018. He completed his studies at Singapore Polytechnic but decided not to go on to university, and instead pursue his entrepreneurial pursuits. Based in Ghana, James is passionate about community and design education, and taught himself Webflow and other NoCode tools. He has helped numerous students build design careers and worked with startups to validate their MVPs and launch their products. He is one of Webflow’s top creators in the world, with the number one most viewed project on the platform. The funding is supported by prominent angel investors Crystal Widjaja (ex-Gojek executive), JJ Chai (CEO of Rainforest), Quek Siu Rui (Co-Founder & CEO, Carousell), Ting Feng Toh (Co-Founder of GetGo), and Zopim Founders (Royston Tay, Wen Xiang Wu, and Yang Bin Kwok). ADPList is part of Surge’s fifth cohort of 23 companies that have developed new digital solutions to help companies and individuals live, work and learn better in a rapidly evolving Southeast Asian landscape. About ADPList Founded in 2020 and headquartered in Singapore, ADPList is a platform for people to find, book and meet mentors around the world, providing anyone with access to some of the best minds in the design and product management community. The company is on a mission to democratise mentorship and make it accessible for everyone through a community platform where people can find, book, and meet mentors around the world. Contact Details ADPList Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com Company Website https://adplist.org/

August 17, 2021 09:35 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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News Direct Joins OTC Markets Group’s Premium Provider Directory

News Direct

News Direct, the state-of-the-art news and content distribution service designed to meet the demands of modern media outreach, today announced it has joined the OTC Markets Group Premium Provider Directory in the News Dissemination section. Through inclusion in the Premium Provider Directory, News Direct’s news and content distribution services will be easily accessible to the thousands of companies that trade on the OTCQX®, OTCQB® and Pink® markets. News Direct is reinvigorating the newswire industry by utilizing rapidly advancing software technology to help companies succeed in today's challenging and ever-changing media environment. Notable features that are now more available to OTC companies include News Direct’s collaborative content studio including their proprietary SimpliFi ™️ capability that dramatically streamlines the earnings distribution workflow, 24/7 live customer support, standalone multimedia distribution and the most advanced security protocols in the industry. These services, combined with unsurpassed global reach, provide OTC companies with a more efficient distribution workflow that helps amplify their content beyond the traditional channels in today’s competitive business landscape. “We recognize that fast growing companies need an update to the news dissemination process if they’re to standout in highly competitive industries so we’re excited to offer access to streamlined solutions that enhance speed, control, security, and efficiency in the press release drafting and distribution process” said Gregg Castano, Founder and CEO of News Direct. “The way PR and IR professionals create, disclose and distribute company news has gone unchanged for decades and we’re happy to offer a modernized way to simplify workflow and increase effectiveness in drafting content and reaching relevant media outlets at scale”. News Direct designed a self-directed platform to empower communications professionals to work more efficiently, with greater control and flexibility. To secure sensitive information, the company mitigates third-party risk with two-factor authentication, cloud isolation technology, and secure sharing capabilities. Once media content is published, companies can assess goal-oriented analytic reports powered by AI software. Unlike other global newswires, News Direct media distribution comes at a flat-rate asset fee, regardless of word count or geographic distribution. To learn more about News Direct, please visit https://newsdirect.com. About News Direct News Direct provides news and content distribution for PR, IR, Corporate Communications and Marketing professionals. Our automated platform delivers a completely-reimagined, intuitive workflow, industry-leading security, transparent, flat-rate pricing and actionable analytics. Further, News Direct has deployed an array of innovation including advanced automation, isolation cloud technology and custom software for the most dynamic, efficient and flexible platform available today. To learn more visit newsdirect.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or YouTube. Contact Details Kevin Pryor +1 212-334-9753 newsdirect@n6a.com Company Website http://www.newsdirect.com

August 17, 2021 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

David Lane, Co-Founder & President of LevLane Advertising, Sells His Ownership Stake in Agency to Co-Founder, Bruce Lev

LevLane

LevLane, the full-service, award-winning advertising agency, has announced that Co-Founder, Bruce Lev, has purchased the shares of his partner, David Lane, to become the sole owner, CEO and Chief Creative Officer. Lane will continue to be on staff with the agency as a consultant and will continue to maintain his relationships with the clients he now helps serve, as well as look for new opportunities for the agency. “This certainly is an emotional moment for the both of us,” said Lev. “David’s leadership, hard work and friendship have been central to what has helped us endure for 38 years. And though titles and ownership may change, what will never change is our commitment to each other, our commitment to our clients, and our commitment to great work. It was our philosophy when we started, and it will remain that way moving forward.” LevLane was founded by Lev and Lane almost 40 years ago and has grown into the nationally recognized agency it is today. LevLane, which has more than 75 full-time employees, has experienced steady expansion through the decades. “38 years ago, Bruce and I were determined to build an agency that produced the best work for our clients, and attracted the strongest talent around,” said Lane. “Seeing where we are today – with clients who inspire us and a staff that consistently outperforms expectations – it makes me so proud, and I’m excited to continue to be part of that in my new role as Agency Consultant.” Lev sees the transfer in ownership as a great opportunity to continue to take the agency to the next level. “The agency leadership has been shifting for the last five years,” said Lev. “It’s a natural progression that will ensure that our current client base, talent and growth will stay energized. It has been and will continue to be, a very exciting time in the evolution of the agency.” About LevLane LevLane is an award-winning, full-service, independent advertising agency in Philadelphia, PA that has been building brands that people love for nearly 40 years. Contact Details LevLane Liz Weir +1 610-401-4825 lweir@levlane.com Company Website https://www.levlane.com

August 17, 2021 07:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Comcast Business Helps Salem Florist’s Business Blossom with Enhanced Connectivity

Comcast Oregon / SW Washington

Comcast Business today announced that it is supplying Salem-based flower shop Green Thumb Flower Box Florist with a Business Internet connection and business phone services, enabling the florist to stay connected to enhance customers’ experiences and deliver bespoke services to its loyal customer base. Green Thumb has been in business for more than five decades. In that time, the shop has amassed a loyal following and was named Best Florist in Mid Valley by the Statesman Journal. While some florists offer the same bouquet arrangements, almost all of Green Thumb’s floral arrangements are customized based on individual customers’ needs by a small team of floral designers. The shop relies on its internet and phone lines for ordering. “Our floral designers are creating arrangements that hopefully make our customers feel special and eager to come back,” said Steve Outslay, owner of Green Thumb Flower Box Florist. “Our technology from Comcast Business is key to helping us keep customers coming back because it is reliable. Our internet is consistently fast, and our phone services are high-quality. Those solutions are our lifeline, so it makes all the difference that we can count on them.” With more grocery stores offering floral arrangements that consumers can pick up quickly, Green Thumb continues to distinguish itself from the competition with their custom arrangements, and what Outslay calls the “florist experience.” “We think that our reputation combined with technology will allow us to reach a larger group of people,” Outslay explained. “Knowing the quality and support of other floral companies, once a customer comes to us they will not want to go anywhere else.” Comcast Business’ Internet services are delivering fast, reliable connectivity with the bandwidth Green Thumb needs to handle all its devices. Meanwhile, its phone solutions allow Green Thumb to stay in touch with its customers while their staff is onsite or as they make deliveries. “It’s no surprise that Green Thumb Flower Box Florist has a dedicated group of customers that love their arrangements,” said Alan Goldsmith, vice president of Comcast Business Oregon/SW Washington. ”The passion that their teams have for what they do really shines through. We are proud to be powering possibilities for Green Thumb’s operations as they look to bolster their operations and local reputation.” About Comcast Business Comcast Business offers a suite of Connectivity, Communications, Networking, Cybersecurity, Wireless, and Managed Solutions to help organizations of different sizes prepare for what’s next. Powered by the nation’s largest Gig-speed broadband network, and backed by 24/7 customer support, Comcast Business is the nation’s largest cable provider to small and mid-size businesses and one of the leading service providers to the Enterprise market. Comcast Business has been consistently recognized by industry analysts and associations as a leader and innovator, and one of the fastest growing providers of Ethernet services. For more information, call 866-429-3085. Follow on Twitter @ComcastBusiness and on other social media networks at http://business.comcast.com/social. Contact Details Amy Keiter +1 503-407-9109 amy_keiter@comcast.com Company Website https://business.comcast.com/

August 16, 2021 10:05 AM Pacific Daylight Time

UNFCC Climate Report delivers a message of hope stating 1.5 is within reach if immediate action is taken

North American Marine Environment Protection Association

The Zero Emissions Ship Technology Association (ZESTAs) sees the UNFCC Climate report as a message of hope and believes the authors have made it abundantly clear that it is possible to avert climate catastrophe by pursuing the “very low emissions scenario” within the next two decades. As reported, there are no other options; it is global society’s obligation to act now with “drastic, rapid and large-scale reductions in greenhouse gases to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees”, because it can. ZESTAs is nailing their colours to the mast by starting at true zero with their unprecedented “SHIP ZERO – Charging to True Zero” workshop 1-3 November coinciding with COP 26 in Glasgow, Scotland. ZESTAs’ SHIP ZERO workshop will be the first ever shipping event to align with the IPCC “very low emissions scenario”, by not contemplating the use of fossil fuels or any GHG emitting fuel or technology. “The simple truth is the time for discussion is past – nothing remains but for us to act. Whatever your beliefs, whatever your passions, whatever your politics, insuring that we, as a society are no longer contributing to the end of life as we know it is imperative. This century is about reckoning – the morals, purpose and goals of society must align with the common good in every aspect of life. Sustainability is not just a goal but a social imperative that transcends our societies and presents us with both opportunities and obligations – future societies will either praise us or damn us for our actions today” observed Brent Perry, CEO, Sterling PlanB, Chair of ZESTAs Board of Directors. Only truly zero GHG emissions systems, solutions and technologies will be considered at this workshop. ZESTAs states that the technology to achieve true zero in all sectors of shipping exists today but that weak or misaligned policies and lack of finance are preventing these technologies from upscaling, achieving economies of scale and penetrating the wider market. “We need to stop throwing the ball out to 2050 and investing in half measures that won’t get us where we need to be. We need to invest in true zero now, upscale and shoot for 2030. If we don’t, we have no chance of stopping warming anywhere near 1.5. The IPCC report clearly states we’ve got a shot. We need to take that shot and act now to change policy and finance, allowing zero emissions ship technologies to get to market before 2030” said Madadh MacLaine, ZESTAs Secretary General The SHIP ZERO workshop will feature highly technical presentations, followed by discussions and brainstorming sessions, bringing together shipping stakeholders from; innovation, policy, finance, infrastructure, energy, and the wider shipping sector to combine solutions into an actionable road map. “Our intention is that the outcome of SHIP ZERO is an action plan, a navigational chart to true zero with waypoints based on realizable actions, available technologies, and implementable policies that will keep warming below 1.5 degrees” MacLaine continued. The SHIP ZERO workshop will demonstrate that marinized battery and hydrogen systems are market ready at multi megawatt scales, and that wind propulsion is being installed across the world fleet to delivers significant emissions reductions today. “Wind propulsion uses the power of the wind as a direct renewable energy source and is available everywhere at sea. Any energy taken from wind directly on ships by modern sail technology does not burden the infrastructure that ultimately will be powered by wave, sun and wind, reducing the renewable energy required to produce clean fuels. Wind assisted technology therefore makes all other technologies more feasible. ‘The answer my friends, is blowing in the wind’!” stated Frank Nieuwenhuis, eConowind, ZESTAs Board of Directors, Advisor More good news is that renewable energy and green hydrogen production infrastructure are being rolled out across the globe. From Scotland to Chile, from the United Arab Emirates to Monaco, governments are creating strategies that will achieve a price for green hydrogen that can compete with fossil fuels by the end of the decade. “If shipping is looking for that silver bullet, ZESTAs has a fully loaded chamber and we’re ready to fire” said MacLaine. In light of the "code red for humanity", declared by United Nations secretary-general Antonio Guterres in his response to the IPCC report, ZESTAs calls on governments and regulators to acknowledge that fully developed market ready zero emissions ship technologies exist by creating the policy frameworks necessary for these technologies to have a fighting chance of competing against incumbent fossil fuel technologies and achieve market availability before 2030. “I urge the governments of the world and each person living today to go “all in” – shift away from polluting activities and scale up climate solutions that deliver as close to zero emissions as possible. We still have the opportunity to mitigate the worst effects of climate change. Governments can change policies to support this goal. As individuals we can make changes in our lives directly and speak with our votes to ensure our governments are not watered down by misrepresentative interests that are not focussed on climate management.” Brent Perry, CEO, Sterling PlanB For additional information on SHIP ZERO 26, go to https://zestas.org/ship-zero/. Contact Details NAMEPA Carleen Lyden Walker +1 203-255-4686 executivedirector@namepa.net Company Website https://zestas.org/ship-zero/

August 15, 2021 10:08 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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