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ForwardPMX Expands Agency Consultancy Solutions and Appoints Femi Taiwo as New Head of Consultancy for Europe

ForwardPMX

ForwardPMX, the global data and technology-driven marketing services company, has announced the appointment of Femi Taiwo as Head of Consultancy for Europe. Taiwo joins ForwardPMX from a previous leadership position at OMD, bringing over 10 years of experience in digital marketing and consultancy solutions, as well as significant industry thought leadership and participation across a number of global award programs including the AOP Digital Publishing Awards and the M&M Global Awards. In the new role, Taiwo will drive the wider business strategy for consultancy services within ForwardPMX, with a focus on key areas such as in-housing media, data ownership and strategy, including international growth and expansion. Additionally, he will support the business across new and existing client accounts, creating opportunities for ForwardPMX to deliver products that answer clients’ more complex business challenges. ForwardPMX Global Head of Consultancy, Tom Manning, commented, “Consultancy is one of the fastest growing areas of our business, and that’s a huge testament to our teams. It’s fantastic to bring in such an incredible talent as Femi into this leadership role to collaborate and lead across the business to take our consultancy engagements to the next level.” ForwardPMX continues to grow its strong presence internationally with over 1,000 experts across more than 15 countries worldwide. Moving with the changing market, the agency has built up its Consultancy capabilities over the last several years and continues to embed them within the business to help clients identify strategic areas of growth. With the accelerated shift to digital and e-commerce through COVID-19, ForwardPMX was able to aid clients globally in pivoting to new routes to market and developing a deeper understanding of the changes in their customers’ behavior to impact their decision making. Manning added, “More than ever, brands are looking to us as growth partners who can push beyond media to help them digitally accelerate and find new revenue streams. By adding Femi to the team, we’re furthering our commitment and confidence in this space, allowing us to deliver more innovative solutions for our clients.” On joining ForwardPMX, Taiwo said, “I’m thrilled to be joining this dynamic team. ForwardPMX has not only achieved significant growth over the last several years, but they also have a strong proposition that has evolved to answer the needs of senior level stakeholders within client businesses. I share a common vision with the leadership team at ForwardPMX about where we need to go as a business to continue to be the partner that brands need in today’s complex digital, data and technology-led environment.” About ForwardPMX: ForwardPMX is a global data and technology driven marketing services company, designed to help brands find the change that delivers meaningful growth to their businesses. With over 20 offices worldwide and 1,000 of the industry's most distinguished talent, ForwardPMX brings a unified global vision, with local depth and expertise across a comprehensive set of data, technology, consultancy and performance solutions that reach people all over the world. By pairing people with data-led process and powerful technology capabilities, ForwardPMX is uniquely positioned to deliver scale and accelerate problem solving. ForwardPMX is a proud member of The Stagwell Group. About The Stagwell Group: The Stagwell Group is the first and only independent, digital-first, and fully integrated organization of size & scale servicing global brands across the continuum of marketing services. The group includes over 9000 employees operating in more than 25 offices around the world. Collaborative by design, The Stagwell Group is not weighed down by legacy points of view and its people are united in their desire to innovate, evolve, grow and deliver superior results for their clients. Stagwell’s high growth brands include experts in four categories: digital transformation and marketing, research and insights, marketing communications, and content and media. For more information go to: www.stagwellgroup.com Contact Details ForwardPMX Dammi Afolabi - Marketing Communications Manager (EMEA) +44 7958 069108 dammi.afolabi@forwardpmx.com Company Website https://www.forwardpmx.com/

June 16, 2021 05:04 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Minuteman Press Printing Franchise in Bethesda, MD Celebrates Grand Reopening

Minuteman Press International Inc

Located at 8210 Wisconsin Avenue, Minuteman Press in Bethesda held its grand reopening event on May 15 th in conjunction with the Rockville Chamber of Commerce. Owner Leslie Klein was excited to celebrate the renovations of her center as well as the return of local community events to Bethesda. She says, “We redid our lobby, added a new envelope printer, and rearranged our layout to optimize our production and best serve our clients. It feels fantastic to celebrate our grand reopening!” As she reflects on her grand reopening as well as the past year, Leslie says, “The pandemic took its toll on everyone and we are just thrilled to be able to move forward. Last year, we remained open as an essential business and continued to support and serve our community in any way we could. For example, I reached out to all of the local school districts and we ended up printing and distributing 3,000 graduation yard signs, which was really gratifying.” Today, Leslie is happy to get back to business. “As soon as networking events opened back up, I jumped on board and attended all sorts of networking and speed networking sessions. This past week alone, I received two jobs for orders from people who referred me from those events. It feels great to get back out there and let people know what Minuteman Press in Bethesda is all about.” Some of the popular high-demand items that Leslie’s team provides to clients right now include bulk mailings, banners and signs (large format printing), promotional products, and custom printing for events and trade shows. Leslie says, “Community events are coming back and this summer is already heating up for us. We have already been selected to be the print supplier for two golf tournaments. For one of the upcoming golf outings, we are producing 60 double-sided yard signs, retractable banners, table tents, and promotional magnets.” Leslie adds, “As for bulk mailings, I’ve done my research on direct mail and I’ve really made it a point of focus at networking events. I talk about direct mail in Chamber groups, my BNI group, and to my customers. We are able to help them market themselves and our ability to design, print, and do the mailings for them makes it easy for our clients.” “Our clients will give us an idea of what they want and as marketing and printing professionals we’re able to help them figure out what they really need. We are a small business with a team that works really well together. What I’ve learned is that print is here to stay and we can assist our clients with customized products and services that make sense for their needs and their bottom lines.” -Leslie Klein, owner, Minuteman Press franchise, Bethesda, Maryland From Nursing to Printing Prior to buying Minuteman Press in Bethesda in November 2019, Leslie Klein worked 25 years as a nurse and also spent time raising her three children. She says, “I loved being a nurse but I always wanted to do something entrepreneurial for myself. My husband and I decided to go to the local franchise show in April 2019 because it was fun to see what opportunities were out there. I always thought I might end up with a business related to gardening since it’s a hobby of mine, and I also looked at other options such as an eyelash/cosmetics franchise. I met Minuteman Press Regional Vice President Bob Heimbuch at the show and learned about printing. We did our research, the price was right, and by the middle of May we put down a deposit for Minuteman Press in Bethesda.” “Minuteman Press provided me with a turnkey business where I didn’t have to reinvent the wheel. I love everything about the ongoing local support Minuteman Press provides as well as the business model where I have nights, weekends, and holidays off. I enjoyed being a nurse but the hours were hard and I left the field to raise my kids. I love what I am doing now and I feel my quality of life and work-life balance are far superior than when I was working in hospitals.” -Leslie Klein When asked about the rewards of owning her own business, Leslie answers, “My staff is absolutely amazing and we work well together to best serve our customers.” She concludes, “Being able to fulfill custom orders and keeping my clients happy is such a great feeling. Being able to learn and grow with them is my ultimate reward.” Minuteman Press in Bethesda has been awarded the 2021 Best of Bethesda Award in the Commercial Printers, Designers & Marketers category. The award from the Bethesda Award Program recognizes Leslie and her team for working to “enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and our community.” For more information on Minuteman Press in Bethesda, call (301) 656-1188 or visit https://www.mmpbethesda.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

June 15, 2021 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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COMCAST INCREASES ITS FASTEST INTERNET SPEEDS OVER WIFI ACROSS UTAH

Comcast Utah

Comcast announced that, it has increased the speeds for some of its most popular Internet speed tiers in Utah, including Xfinity Gigabit service. Customers will be able to take advantage of advanced WiFi technology that is capable of delivering speeds faster than one Gigabit per second (Gbps) to support the ever-increasing number of connected devices in their homes. The upgrade to the Xfinity Gigabit service is part of a national rollout that began this year. As part of a trial test, Comcast achieved a 10G technical milestone delivering symmetrical 1.25 gigabit-per-second upload and download speeds over a live production network. Comcast has been an industry leader in deploying and evolving network virtualization and DAA, which replaces physical elements of traditional networks with software- and cloud-based technologies that provide greater performance, increased reliability and the ability to upgrade more quickly and evolve networks without replacing physical equipment. In addition, Extreme Pro+ customers in Utah will see their download speed increase from 600 Megabits per second (Mbps) to 800 Mbps. Similarly, Performance Starter+ customers will see a download speed boost from 25 Mbps to 50 Mbps. The upgrades will be made at no additional cost to customers in Utah who have already begun to see the benefits from the new speeds. “We recognize that Comcast plays an important role in helping our customers stay connected, so we are constantly advancing our Internet product with new innovation,” said Deneiva Knight, Comcast external affairs director “Our state-of-the-art gateways with WiFi 6 technology, wall-to-wall WiFi coverage, personalized tools and controls and advanced cybersecurity, are all helping to make our customers’ connectivity experience better than it has ever been.” Comcast is also one of the first U.S. Internet Service Providers to offer a WiFi 6 Certified gateway with the latest version of its xFi Advanced Gateway, which is capable of delivering multi-Gigabit speeds via ethernet and laid the groundwork for Gigabit speeds over WiFi. Customers on the new upgraded Xfinity Gigabit tier will require an xFi Advanced Gateway, or one of the WiFi 6 capable devices approved to work with the Xfinity network to receive the faster speeds. Comcast will contact Gigabit Internet customers who need to upgrade their equipment for no additional cost if they don’t have a capable device in their home. Performance Starter customers will not require new equipment to take advantage of this speed increase. “We’ve learned during the pandemic that a strong internet connection is essential to how we function at home, school, business and in our social lives,” said Sandy City Council Member Monica Zoltanski. “This is a welcome upgrade that will give people the speed, security and reliability they need to stay connected online.” Increased Internet speeds support faster connections and more capacity to support the growing number of smart home devices that are being added to home WiFi networks today and in the future. According to The Xfinity Cyber Health Report, some customers have dozens of devices in their homes. In fact, Xfinity xFi users have on average 12 devices per home and added two devices over the past year, while high-end users have as many as 33 devices and added five since last year. Comcast’s Xfinity Gigabit Internet service is delivered using Comcast’s existing network architecture and the connections that are already in most customers’ homes. In Utah, the company offers Gigabit Pro, a 2Gbps fiber-based synchronous broadband service that is twice as fast as anything else available in the residential market. Since 2017 alone, Comcast has devoted more than $15 billion to strengthening and expanding its network – including building more than 33,000 new route miles of fiber. Every 2.5 years, the company adds as much capacity to the network as it added in all the previous years combined. Comcast’s commitment to digital equity has never been stronger. The company redoubled efforts as COVID-19 shined an even brighter light on the digital divide. This year marks the 10 th anniversary of Internet Essentials — Comcast’s low-cost, high-speed Internet service. To celebrate this milestone, Comcast reinforced its digital equity commitment by accelerating the nation’s largest broadband adoption program; aiming to launch 1,000 Lift Zones throughout the country, with 35 in Utah, by the end of 2021; and investing in education and equity-focused organizations. “Because we’re committed to support low-income families in Utah, our Internet Essentials program has been one of the primary ways to get Internet into every home,” said Knight. “We look forward to continuing that as we close the digital divide.” About Comcast Corporation Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company that connects people to moments that matter. We are principally focused on broadband, aggregation, and streaming with over 56 million customer relationships across the United States and Europe. We deliver broadband, wireless, and video through our Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky brands; create, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, Universal Studio Group, Sky Studios, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, multiple cable networks, Peacock, NBCUniversal News Group, NBC Sports, Sky News, and Sky Sports; and provide memorable experiences at Universal Parks and Resorts in the United States and Asia. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information. About Comcast Business Comcast Business offers Ethernet, Internet, Wi-Fi, Voice, TV and Managed Enterprise Solutions to help organizations of all sizes transform their business. Powered by an advanced network, and backed by 24/7 customer support, Comcast Business is one of the largest contributors to the growth of Comcast Cable. Comcast Business is the nation’s largest cable provider to small and mid-size businesses and has emerged as a force in the Enterprise market; recognized over the last two years by leading industry associations as 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. About Effectv Effectv, the advertising sales division of Comcast Cable, helps local, regional and national advertisers use the best of digital with the power of TV to grow their business. It provides multi-screen marketing solutions to make advertising campaigns more effective and easier to execute. Headquartered in New York with offices throughout the country Effectv has a presence in 66 markets with more than 30 million households with video service. For more information, visit www.effectv.com. Contact Details Deneiva Knight +1 520-345-9792 deneiva_knight@comcast.com Company Website https://utah.comcast.com/

June 15, 2021 08:00 AM Mountain Daylight Time

Praduman Jain, CEO and Founder of Vibrent Health, accepted into Forbes Technology Council

Vibrent Health

Praduman Jain, CEO and founder of Vibrent Health, a digital health technology company powering the future of precision health research, has been accepted into Forbes Technology Council, an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs, and technology executives. Jain was vetted and selected by a review committee based on the depth and diversity of his experience. Criteria for acceptance include a track record of successfully impacting business growth metrics, as well as personal and professional achievements and honors. “We are honored to welcome Praduman into the community,” said Scott Gerber, founder of Forbes Councils, the collective that includes Forbes Technology Council. “Our mission with Forbes Councils is to bring together proven leaders from every industry, creating a curated, social capital-driven network that helps every member grow professionally and make an even greater impact on the business world.” As an accepted member of the Council, Praduman has access to a variety of exclusive opportunities designed to help him reach peak professional influence. He will connect and collaborate with other respected local leaders in a private forum. Praduman will also be invited to work with a professional editorial team to share his expert insights in original business articles on Forbes.com and to contribute to published Q&A panels alongside other experts. Finally, Praduman will benefit from exclusive access to vetted business service partners, membership-branded marketing collateral, and the high-touch support of the Forbes Councils member concierge team. "As we work to reimagine global health research and power the future of precision medicine, this acceptance from Forbes will allow us to share our insights and knowledge in new ways,” said Jain. “Our mission is to accelerate health research through digital tools and with the support of the Forbes platform we can help our industry move forward. I am excited about being included in this exclusive group of technology thought leaders and look forward to sharing my experiences and learning from other members.” ABOUT FORBES COUNCILS Forbes Councils is a collective of invitation-only communities created in partnership with Forbes and the expert community builders who founded the Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC). In Forbes Councils, exceptional business owners and leaders come together with the people and resources that can help them thrive. For more information about Forbes Technology Council, visit forbestechcouncil.com. To learn more about Forbes Councils, visit forbescouncils.com. About Vibrent Health Vibrent Health develops digital health technology and research tools for health organizations, researchers, and research participants. Powering the next generation of precision medicine, Vibrent’s scalable technology platform for individual and population health provides actionable insights to help accelerate medical discoveries. Vibrent Health is proud to serve, since 2016, as the Participant Technology Systems Center for the National Institutes of Health’s All of Us Research Program, which aims to collect health data from one million or more people to support a wide variety of research studies. This work is supported under NIH funding award U24OD02316. To learn more, visit vibrenthealth.com. Contact Details Vibrent Health Pearson Brown +1 310-994-7057 pbrown@vibrenthealth.com Company Website https://vibrenthealth.com

June 15, 2021 09:22 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Velocity Global commits $1M to First Descents to expand adventure programs for young adults coping with multiple sclerosis

Velocity Global

First Descents (FD) has announced a transformative $1 million contribution from Velocity Global to support the expansion of adventure programs for young adults living with multiple sclerosis (MS). Funds will support program development and help reach more than 1,000 MS participants over the next 5 years. “First Descents serves people first to fill a gap in psychosocial supportive care for young adults living with MS. Velocity Global is honored to support the expansion of these programs through this donation and volunteer efforts from our global team,” said Ben Wright, founder and CEO of Velocity Global. “I have witnessed the healing impact of First Descents programs firsthand, and am proud our company is in a position to advance this important work.” Velocity Global and First Descents share a special partnership that transcends financial support. The two Colorado-based companies began as office neighbors at INDUSTRY Denver in 2014. Over the years, Velocity Global employees have volunteered on First Descents programs and fundraised while competing in the Ragnar Snowmass Relay and the TransRockies Run. In 2018, Velocity Global contributed $150,000 to pilot MS programming which began with a whitewater kayaking experience in Tarkio, Montana. “Velocity Global’s support will help us to serve more than 1,000 young adults living with MS in the coming years while investing in vital partnerships with patient advocacy groups and neurology clinics nationwide,” observes Ryan O’Donoghue, CEO, First Descents. “We want MS patients to learn about First Descents closer to the time of diagnosis and know that we are here for them. Velocity Global’s leadership support will make this vision a reality.” The National MS Society indicates there are approximately 1 million people living with multiple sclerosis in the United States with approximately 10,000 new cases diagnosed each year. Typically, MS is diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, with a median age of diagnosis at 34. Young adults living with MS can experience significant physical, neurological and psychosocial changes that often disrupt important developmental milestones. In addition to the complexities of clinical treatments and lifestyle implications, the relapsing and progressive nature of MS can be daunting, and can result in significant psychosocial distress. According to the National MS Society, clinical depression ranks among the most common comorbidities associated with MS. These realities have been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic where prolonged social isolation and apprehension for the future have taken a significant toll. First Descents is working with several renowned patient advocacy groups, including the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA) to reach more people coping with MS. “There is an important need to support young adult MS patients with age appropriate programming that can improve their outlook and quality of life,” observes Gina Ross Murdoch, CEO, Multiple Sclerosis Association of America. “Staying fit and active - especially with peers living with MS - can greatly benefit patients’ mental and physical health. We are excited to work with First Descents and Velocity Global on the launch of these programs.” First Descents’ all-inclusive programs are free of charge to participants. All programs ensure ADA lodging compliance, a tailored Wahls protocol nutrition program, and fully-accessible outdoor activities. Further, programs are designed with careful consideration to mitigate heat sensitivity, balance issues, and fatigue. Ultimately, First Descents creates an environment where young adults with MS can reclaim their physical agency, explore new activities, and nurture lifelong supportive peer relationships. ### ABOUT VELOCITY GLOBAL Velocity Global accelerates the future of work beyond borders. Its platform enables businesses to employ remote teams and expand internationally through global expertise, best-in-breed technology, and scale. More than 700 brands rely on its Employer of Record model and infrastructure, also called an International PEO (Professional Employer Organization), in 185 countries and all 50 United States to compliantly employ thousands of supported employees, access global talent, and grow revenue. Named a “Leader” in Global Employer of Record services by prominent analyst firm NelsonHall, Velocity Global is a strategic partner to its clients through additional comprehensive services including Immigration, Independent Contractor Compliance to assess a workforce, and Agent of Record (AoR) to streamline payments to contractors globally. Founded in 2014, the company is headquartered in Denver, Colorado, with regional headquarters in Amsterdam, Bogotá, and Singapore, with local employees in 16 countries. ABOUT FIRST DESCENTS First Descents (FD) is a leader in adventure-based healing. Through outdoor adventure, community building, and lifestyle development, FD improves long-term survivorship and quality of life for young adults impacted by cancer, multiple sclerosis, and other serious health conditions. Headquartered in Denver, First Descents has served more than 10,000 participants over the last 20 years. Beginning in 2020, First Descents launched programs for healthcare workers on the frontlines of COVID-19. All services are fully-adaptive and free of charge. A Guidestar Platinum-ranked nonprofit, First Descents has been recognized on CNN Heroes and Outside Magazine's Best Places to Work. RESOURCES: First Descents MS Program Page Contact Details Velocity Global John Hall +1 720-650-4348 johnhall@velocityglobal.com First Descents Ray Shedd +12034999633 ray.shedd@firstdescents.org Company Website https://velocityglobal.com/

June 15, 2021 07:02 AM Mountain Daylight Time

Video

New DynAdmic innovation deeply fuses Connected TV with connected audiences for first time

DynAdmic

The proportion of households severing their connections to traditional cable is forecast to increase by 44% in the next three years. Consumer adoption has been fast, and the amount of time people are spending on connected devices increases daily. Whilst many marketers know there is a power in the incremental reach created by increasing ad exposure during influential times of the day on CTV, the contextual abilities to target people accurately has been escaping them. Until now. The team, at global media leader, DynAdmic have launched a new contextualization technology that is dedicated to dramatically transforming audience analysis and insight for advertisers and solving this problem. DynAdmic’s revolutionary approach semantically analyses and categorizes CTV inventory for the first time ever. This process allows them to enrich the context of the content with information based on the application itself (themes, audiences, publishers) as well with the specific program or series being viewed at the time. This powerful innovative approach is executed by leveraging a specialist semantic categorization method based on Named Entities Recognition (NER). With the NER process DynAdmic are currently rolling out they are analyzing approximately 100 million unique ad placements per day of which one third are from CTV. This analysis has allowed their team to refine the semantic categorization of the entire CTV inventory by more than 50%. “At DynAdmic we have seen how CTV has improved the customer experience. We want to ensure we are doing the same for the marketers and their ad spend” says founder and CTO, Bruno Champion “ Our experience shows that if we can connect our clients’ brands with the consumer accurately, and with relevance, on the CTV channels they earn more of each viewers time and in return increase their ROI.” The new intelligent systems from DynAdmic leverage the power of semantic algorithms and analytics to disrupt the existing approach and whilst most advertisers still find online video inventory vague, this new arrival in the market is revolutionizing targeting precision based on linguistic programming. “Our technology is the first to market and is addressing a market-wide problem by bringing contextualization technology to CTV for the first time. We are offering our clients specific KPI measurability and targeting, and a far better user experience for their consumers given the context is accurate and relevant to their personal viewing behaviour. This is a groundbreaking shift, and we couldn’t be more excited to roll it out” closed Champion. Find out more at http://www.DynAdmic.com or contact: lara@DynAdmic.com About DynAdmic DynAdmic curates digital video advertising inventory from the world’s leading websites by utilizing smart semantic targeting and activating brand safety and fraud security, while focusing on campaign performance metrics. They connect world-class advertisers with qualified audiences across Youtube, apps and the largest publishers reaching more than 450MM viewers globally and targeting viewers in real-time based on what they are about to watch by using their proprietary AI audio recognition technology. Their exclusive demand platform scans 20,000 pages per minute and scores every page according to brand safety, contextual relevance and qualified audience parameters. By leveraging a superior and owned code, the DynAdmic team can identify and target viewers’ real-time interest and prospective consumers from their audience catalogue in 60 languages across the world with a fraud rate of less than 1% according to Moat. DynAdmic is the only certified Google partner that connects the online with offline world with TV Sync, and has a 96% context relevance score as well as third-party verification from IAS. DynAdmic partners with the leading brands, agencies and publishers and is comprised of 130 people in 7 countries. www.us.dynadmic.com Contact Details DynAdmic Corp. Lara Krumholz +55 11 94135-2008 lara@dynadmic.com Dynadmic Corp. Lara Krumholz +13477467971 Company Website http://us.dynadmic.com/

June 15, 2021 08:15 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Sophisticated Compensation Enhancements Added to SullivanCotter’s Innovative Provider Performance Management Technology™ Platform

SullivanCotter

SullivanCotter, the nation’s leading independent consulting firm in the assessment and development of total rewards programs, workforce solutions, and technology and data products for the health care industry and not-for-profit sector, announces the addition of highly-anticipated new compensation automation enhancements to its growing Provider Performance Management Technology ™ (PPMT) platform. PPMT™ is an industry-first, cloud-based product that engages clinicians through transparent performance-based compensation administration, contract management, and analytical and reporting capabilities. With the new Clinician Pay feature, PPMT™ now enables users to streamline the compensation management process by automating clinical draw calculations and payments based on current performance and organization-defined criteria. It offers flexible and sophisticated rules for the draw calculations that are easily maintained by key administrative stakeholders and can be managed throughout the year. “Determining clinician draw for the upcoming year is a significant and burdensome time investment for compensation program administrators. Most often, these calculations are done manually via spreadsheets – which can greatly increase the risk of error. Using PPMT™, organizations can now automate the production of accurate and reliable draw and other pay calculations within one system”, said Shelly Slowiak, Director, Product Support, PPMT™, SullivanCotter. New split role compensation automation eliminates the need to manually determine clinical and non-clinical pay components by providing visibility into performance and compensation for different roles while also allowing administrators to view aggregate compensation for each individual clinician. “In order to provide the best care for patients, a growing number of physicians are specializing in multiple service areas with varying compensation arrangements. This often requires greater attention and additional analysis from an already overextended compensation team. PPMT™ can ease the administrative burden by effectively automating and providing consistent compensation calculations for each service area”, said David Schwietz, Chief Information Officer, SullivanCotter. Designed to address a spectrum of physician, leadership and other key stakeholder needs, PPMT™ combines years of health care compensation insight and expertise with an intuitive and automated technology platform to help drive provider performance and support the transition from volume- to value-based care. For more information on these enhancements or our entire suite of Provider Performance Management Technology™, visit www.sullivancotter.com/PPMT or contact us at 888.739.7039. About SullivanCotter SullivanCotter partners with health care and other not-for-profit organizations to understand what drives performance and improve outcomes through the development and implementation of integrated workforce strategies. Using our time-tested methodologies and industry-leading research and information, we provide data-driven insights, expertise, data and technology products to help organizations align business strategy and performance objectives – enabling our clients to deliver on their mission, vision and values. Contact Details Becky Lorentz +1 314-414-3719 beckylorentz@sullivancotter.com Company Website https://sullivancotter.com

June 15, 2021 07:00 AM Central Daylight Time

Secta Finance innovates the £10b private school fees model, making affordable finance options for parents

Stockwood Strategy

Fintech business Secta Finance has launched today to transform how private school fees are paid. Families are spending circa £10b every year to pay school fees for over 620,000 children and over the years there has been no innovation on the termly bill payments. Secta Finance has set out to change this and become an enabler for many more families considering private schooling but feel it is currently unaffordable. In collaboration with a number of financial institutions, Secta Finance has created a range of flexible and highly competitive finance plans that enable parents (and would-be parents) to spread the cost of private school fees over many years in a simple affordable way. The Secta Flexiplan enables parents to use the equity in their home to secure a facility that allows parents to draw funds flexibly within the first 5 years. Parents only pay interest on the amount they actually drawdown. If they don’t need to draw funds there is no cost. Parents can decide how much they draw; their monthly repayment amounts (subject to a minimum) and the term they repay over (up to 30 years). Also, there are no early repayment fees if they choose to repay in full. Below is an example* of how a Secta Flexiplan could be used to finance 5 years of private education. This example is based on one child, annual school fees of £15,000 per year and with the Secta Flexiplan being repaid over a period of 10 or 20 years. However, the amount borrowed, the term over which it is repaid and the monthly repayments can be adjusted to suit individual circumstances and preferences. Secta Finance has made it quick and simple for parents to get indicative quotes from their online platform. Thereafter they can engage with a qualified advisor to discuss their options and tailor a plan to suit their needs. Joe Hill, founder and CEO of Secta Finance commented: “How parents pay for private school fees is no longer fit for purpose. They are still paying large lump sums, sometimes, with expensive and inflexible means using credit cards or unsecured loans, that simply is not sustainable. Secta has set out to challenge this approach with a fresh lens and a clear pathway for parents to handle this significant expense. We want to create manageable and affordable finance solutions for school fees, much like the financial products people consider when buying a house or a car.” Contrary to popular belief, private education is not confined to the wealthy, but many middle class parents place a very high value on it and want to provide the benefits of a private education for their children. However, the costs can be prohibitive, especially for families with more than one child. Annual average school fees are in excess of £15,000 for day schools and in excess of £30,000 for boarding schools. Factoring in additional costs, a private education can cost an average of £325,600 per child for day school and £469,700 for boarders starting their schooling in 2019. Unsurprisingly, many parents find this a struggle. Research completed by Killik and Co suggests that private day school fees have increased by 403% since 1990. “Many parents make significant sacrifices to give their children a private school education. But it doesn’t have to be that way. It makes sense to have a solution whereby parents can spread the cost over a longer period of time if they wish (up to 30 years), to reduce the strain on their finances, but still be able to give their children a private education,” added Joe Hill. There are more than 2,500 independent schools in the UK catering for approximately 620,000 pupils. This represents about 7% of all UK school children and 18% of pupils over aged 16 years and older. The estimated school fee market value is approximately £11 billion. Secta Finance is working closely with schools who are keen to offer meaningful finance options for their parents. The company is also collaborating with independent financial advisors who are seeking flexible, efficient options for their clients. Parents are also directly engaging with the online platform to find out more about the options available to them. Looking ahead Joe Hill added: “We are creating opportunities for parents, for schools and for children. By offering finance solutions which are affordable, simple to understand, we will create a sustainable path for better outcomes. Our strategic aim is to expand the opportunity of private education to many more families and enable a sustainable relationship for parents and schools through the products that we offer”. ENDS *This is an indicative quote and does not constitute an offer or advice. Interest rate and solution terms will depend on your circumstances and the amount of the loan. Before you make a loan application, we will carry out a full review to establish your needs and preferences and if you meet the criteria, we will give advice and make a recommendation to you. All loans are subject to status. Please note that our product calculators show an indicative rate only and may not be suitable for you. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up with your repayments. About Secta Finance Our mission is to relieve the pressure of private school fees by providing innovative, affordable finance solutions to parents. In doing so, we bring the outstanding benefits of private education within the reach of many more families, everywhere. Secta Finance Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Contact Details Secta Finance Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com Company Website https://www.sectafinance.co.uk/

June 15, 2021 04:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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University Heights Center Education Programs, Community Workshops, and Arts and Culture Events Benefit from Free Comcast Internet

Comcast Washington

Comcast Washington today announced it is providing free internet access to visitors at University Heights Center. The broadband service is being provided as part of the company’s effort to roll out WiFi-connected “Lift Zones” in local community centers throughout Washington in partnership with cities, community organizations and local nonprofit partners. UHeights supports 11 resident organizations inside a 1902 historic, landmarked building. Together, they bolster the neighborhood’s well-being through childcare and education, arts and cultural enrichment, beneficial mental and physical activity, food security, and housing solutions. Becoming a Lift Zone enhances the mission of UHeights and those of their resident organizations: Students in the early learning programs and K-12 specialized education classes can more easily access materials online to supplement their schoolwork; the UHeights Theatre Alliance can augment their performances in The Auditorium; and the many local community and arts groups that are a part of UHeights’ programs can host their events through a virtual/in-person post-COVID hybrid model that ensures continued accessibility and inclusion. “At its core, UHeights’ mission is to uplift our community and Lift Zone gives us a practical tool to do just that. With the increased access Lift Zone provides, we can empower our neighbors across generations, abilities, and socioeconomic status, helping us more fully fulfill our vision of being truly inclusive,” said Nicolina Miller, UHeights Development Coordinator Through its Lift Zone initiative, Comcast is establishing WiFi-connected safe spaces for those needing internet access in 80 community centers statewide by the end of 2021. The company has unveiled 30 Lift Zones in King, Snohomish, Pierce, Island and Spokane counties since fall 2020. These locations offer Internet connectivity to students and families that lack broadband access in the home. Lift Zones complement Comcast’s Internet Essentials program and is part of the company’s ongoing commitment to help connect low-income families to the Internet in and outside of the home. Internet Essentials is Comcast’s signature digital equity initiative and the nation’s largest and most comprehensive broadband adoption program. Since 2011, Internet Essentials has connected 560,000 low-income individuals statewide to broadband internet, including 336,000 people in the Puget Sound area. Today’s announcement also comes on the heels of Comcast’s recent $1 billion commitment over the next 10 years to help further close the digital divide and give even more low-income students and families the tools and resources they need to succeed in a digital world. “We are thrilled to partner with UHeights and add robust WiFi coverage to this historic building that is a community-focused center for education, arts and culture, civic involvement and more,” said Rodrigo Lopez, Region Senior Vice President, Comcast Washington. “Whether connecting people to the Internet at home through Internet Essentials or providing free WiFi at community centers with our Lift Zones program, we’re helping to ensure our community members have multiple options to get online.” Internet Essentials has a comprehensive design that addresses each of the three major barriers to broadband adoption. This includes multiple options to access free digital literacy training in print, online, and in person; the option to purchase a heavily subsidized, low-cost Internet-ready computer; and low-cost, high-speed Internet service for $9.95 a month, plus tax. For more information about Internet Essentials and Comcast’s commitment to education and digital equity, please visit https://corporate.comcast.com/education. To apply, visit www.internetessentials.com or call 1-855-846-8376 for English or 1-855-765-6995 for Spanish. About University Heights Center Founded in 1989 by University District residents and businesses who believed this building would serve as a vital gathering place for the community, University Heights Center has been serving the Greater Seattle area since 1902. We continually provide new programs, services & activities to the center aimed at strengthening our neighborhoods while meeting the needs of our diverse and growing communities This includes the addition of many critical human services to support people who are unhoused and those disproportionately affected by COVID-19--the Safe Lot, Vehicle Residency Outreach program, free food truck, Seattle Community Fridge, and the 24/7 hygiene station. Visit https://www.uheightscenter.org for more information about our arts and cultural events, human services, community partners, and find out how you can get involved. About Comcast Corporation Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company that connects people to moments that matter. We are principally focused on broadband, aggregation, and streaming with over 56 million customer relationships across the United States and Europe. We deliver broadband, wireless, and video through our Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky brands; create, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, Universal Studio Group, Sky Studios, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, multiple cable networks, Peacock, NBCUniversal News Group, NBC Sports, Sky News, and Sky Sports; and provide memorable experiences at Universal Parks and Resorts in the United States and Asia. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information. Contact Details Comcast Washington Andy Colley +1 425-248-5438 Andy_Colley@Comcast.com Company Website https://washington.comcast.com/

June 14, 2021 08:55 AM Pacific Daylight Time

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