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Public Relations Global Network Enters Into Distribution Agreement With News Direct

News Direct

The Public Relations Global Network [ PRGN ], a consortium of 50 leading PR agencies known for their local market expertise, has entered into an affinity relationship with News Direct, providing its members with access to the industry's most innovative content distribution platform. Member agencies will be able to provide their clients with added value, and significantly heightened ROI, by leveraging News Direct's expansive global distribution network, flat rate pricing model (including international distributions with human prepared translations), actionable analytics, and the ability to distribute standalone multimedia assets. News Direct has created a new industry paradigm for news distribution through its intuitive workflow, disruptive rate structure, and industry-leading security utilizing the latest cloud isolation technology. With member agencies on six continents, PRGN offers the scale of a large international PR agency but differentiates itself with its intimate knowledge of local market conditions. The result is a customized communications solution, often the collective work of multiple agencies working in unison with the shared goal of ensuring client success. "We welcome the opportunity to make our services available to PRGN's global membership," noted Gregg Castano, founder and CEO of News Direct. "Just as PRGN provides a turnkey global solution to its clients, News Direct similarly provides PRGN agencies with a seamless, singular solution for all their distribution needs, regardless of targeted geographic region, or industry sector." “Independent agencies are increasingly proving their strength in uncertain times. We see clients turn to PRGN member agencies more than ever these days for their boots on the ground experience and approach. And we applaud News Direct for being among those service providers who recognize this trend and the important role independent agencies play in the communications arena,” PRGN President Robert Bauer said. “I’m convinced our member agencies – as well as their clients – will greatly benefit from having an easier access to News Direct’s content distribution platform and the ROI it generates for them.” 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. About the Public Relations Global Network (PRGN) Clients across six continents depend on the combined resources of the Public Relations Global Network (PRGN) to deliver targeted public relations campaigns in markets around the world. PRGN is one of the world’s largest international networks of independent public relations agencies, measured by revenue. PRGN harnesses the resources of 50 independent public relations firms in 52 locations and close to 1,000 communications professionals to connect international companies and organizations with individual and culturally diverse markets globally. Visit PRGN online at www.prgn.com or on Twitter at @PRGN Contact Details Martha Pearlstone +1 203-295-7566 martha.pearlstone@newsdirect.com Company Website http://www.newsdirect.com

April 08, 2021 09:07 AM Eastern Daylight Time

COMCAST ANNOUNCES RURAL BROADBAND EXPANSION IN WHATCOM COUNTY

Comcast West Division

Comcast today announced it will expand service to 815 homes in the City of Sumas, a rural community of Whatcom County. Over the next two years, Comcast will invest $4.2 million, to bring the entire suite of Xfinity and Comcast Business services to the citizens and businesses of Sumas. The planned network expansion is the latest example of the company’s investment made in Washington state. Comcast has invested over $990 million in capital expenditures in Washington over the past three years, including investments in the company's network. “This is welcome news for Sumas residents, especially in a world where we are increasingly reliant on a broadband connection to work, learn, and teach. Washington has some of the world’s largest technology companies but too many residents still don’t have affordable and reliable internet access,” said Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01). “Bold investments like these will help families during this difficult time and beyond.” “Thank you to Mayor Christensen and to the City Council in Sumas for working with Comcast to bring high speed internet infrastructure to the people of Sumas,” said Senator Doug Ericksen, 42nd Legislative District. “America was built by private sector innovation and private sector innovation will continue to lead in building a better Washington State for all of us." “We are very excited to have Comcast coming to Sumas. They provide quality services and have a solid infrastructure,” said Kyle Christensen, Mayor, City of Sumas. “This will be a big benefit to our residents and businesses.” Sumas residents will have access to the entire Xfinity product suite, including Xfinity Internet, Xfinity Mobile, Xfinity X1, Xfinity Home and Internet Essentials, the largest and most comprehensive low-cost Internet adoption program for low-income Americans. Since 2011, Comcast has connected 560,000 low-income individuals statewide to broadband internet over the last decade, including 15,200 residents in Whatcom County. The Sumas businesses community will have access to the full suite of Comcast Business Internet, voice, and video services, including WiFi, Voice, TV and managed enterprise solutions for businesses of all sizes. We’re pleased to invest in our infrastructure in Whatcom County and excited to expand our network to the City of Sumas,” said Rodrigo Lopez, Region Senior Vice President, Comcast Washington. “As connectivity becomes ever more important, we’re working hard to expand our smart, reliable network that delivers fast Internet speeds for customers to browse, videoconference, stream and game.” Comcast serves more than 1.6 million residential and business customers throughout Washington state. Comcast is Washington’s leading provider of Xfinity video, high-speed Internet, smart home and phone services. To learn more about Comcast in Washington, visit: https://washington.comcast.com/ 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 Andy Colley +1 425-248-5438 Andy_Colley@Comcast.com Company Website https://washington.comcast.com/

April 07, 2021 08:55 AM Pacific Daylight Time

Focused Image President Toby Eckhardt Appointed to Forbes Council

Focused Image

Toby Eckhardt, founder and president of Focused Image, Inc., one of the top communications firms in the D.C. area, has been appointed to the Forbes Agency Council, an exclusive group of thought leaders from successful advertising, public relations and digital marketing agencies across the nation who publish insights and articles on the prestigious Forbes business news platform. “I am honored to have been welcomed into the Forbes Agency Council,” said Toby Eckhardt, CEO of Focused Image. “I applaud Forbes’ mission to bring together successful and knowledgeable industry leaders and create this community of collaboration and expertise sharing to benefit others across our industry. I look forward to being a part of the national conversations that shape our industry, and to sharing insights from our work and experiences over the past 35 years with leading brands in aerospace, defense, consumer and emerging technology.” Eckhardt had more than 40 years’ experience in communications and founded Focused Image in 1985. Since then, the firm has become and remained a top agency in the greater Washington Metropolitan area, playing a key role in major campaigns over the years, including supporting AOL’s rapid growth and success, launching XM Satellite Radio, and helping many GovCon brands catapult to the top of the government services market. As a member of the Forbes Agency Council, Eckhardt will share insights through original business articles on Forbes.com and contribute to published Q&A panels alongside other industry experts. “We are honored to welcome Toby into the community,” said Scott Gerber, founder of Forbes Councils, the collective that includes Forbes Agency 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.” Eckhardt was vetted and selected by a review committee based on the depth and diversity of his experience. Criteria for acceptance into the council include a track record of successfully impacting business growth metrics, as well as personal and professional achievements and honors. Eckhardt’s latest article, “ 5 Ways To Encourage Creativity And Productivity Within Remote Teams,” provides ideas for leaders across any type of organization about ways to encourage productivity and creativity as many continue to work remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic. The shift to remote work has made it increasingly difficult for creative collaboration among teams, which is why companies must create new strategic processes and steps to engage their team virtually and boost company productivity. Read the full article here: https://bit.ly/39FPmtr. About Focused Image, Inc. Focused Image Inc. is an award-winning marketing communications agency that specializes in branding, advertising, public relations and digital marketing. Based in Falls Church, Va., the agency is a recognized leader in the greater Washington Metropolitan area communications industry. Focused Image was founded more than 35 years ago by Toby Eckhardt, a leading national authority on strategic marketing and branding. Since then, it has been helping clients from Fortune 500 companies to fast-growing technology startups build brands and launch new products with strategies and creative communications concepts and programs that deliver results. More information about the agency is available at www.focusedimage.com. About Forbes Council Forbes Councils is a collective of invitation-only communities created in partnership with Forbes and the expert community builders who founded 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 Agency Council, visit forbesagencycouncil.com. To learn more about Forbes Councils, visit forbescouncils.com. Contact Details Focused Image Kristina Messner +1 703-678-6023 kmessner@focusedimage.com Company Website https://www.focusedimage.com/

April 06, 2021 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Velocity Global acquires iWorkGlobal to accelerate remote work and global expansion platform; receives $100M growth investment from FFL Partners

Velocity Global

Velocity Global, the leading provider of global expansion solutions, today announced its acquisition of iWorkGlobal, a wholly owned subsidiary of Gary D. Nelson and Associates, and a $100 million growth investment from private equity firm FFL Partners. The combined company, under the Velocity Global name, creates the largest U.S. domestic and global Employer of Record (EoR) and accelerates the future of remote work for companies around the world. The investment from FFL Partners, a firm focused on growth investments in middle market companies, will also be deployed by Velocity Global to support additional strategic acquisitions, technology development, and to further expand the company’s global footprint. “This strategic acquisition combines scale and expertise in a single platform for companies to employ top talent in another state or another country, quickly and compliantly,” said Ben Wright, Velocity Global founder and CEO. “We welcome the iWorkGlobal team, its clients, supported employees, and partners to the Velocity Global family at an inflection point for companies as we exit a pandemic that fundamentally removed the worker from the workplace.” “At iWorkGlobal, we viewed ourselves as a strategic partner to our clients and this outlook aligns with the ‘People First’ brand of Velocity Global,” said Jeff Phelps, iWorkGlobal co-founder and CEO. “Combining our strengths allows us to deliver complementary expertise, capabilities, and new geographies to clients and their supported employees in the U.S. and around the globe.” “As workforces have become more distributed, iWorkGlobal positioned itself as a leader in talent engagement solutions,” said Craig Nelson, Board Chairman of Gary D. Nelson and Associates. “It’s a testament to Jeff's leadership and the hard work and dedication of the iWorkGlobal team that Velocity Global proactively sought out this combination of market leaders." Expanded Services in Domestic U.S. and Globally Brands rely on Velocity Global’s expertise and global infrastructure to hire compliantly without the cost or complexity of setting up their own foreign legal entities or state registrations. As the Employer of Record, Velocity Global manages in-country and in-state compliance, payroll, and benefits for its clients’ supported employees. As a result of this transaction, Velocity Global expands its offering to include EoR services in all 50 United States in addition to its industry-leading EoR capabilities in more than 185 countries. The combined company also offers Independent Contractor Compliance to assess a workforce and Agent of Record (AoR) to streamline payments to contractors globally. Velocity Global’s platform combines these elements with a personalized customer experience, best-in-breed technology, and increased scale for companies to grow their remote workforce. Velocity Global now guides, counsels, and serves more than 700 brands and their 4,000 supported employees. Clients include small start-ups to enterprise businesses. The combined company has supported remote teams for hundreds of public companies with an aggregated market capitalization of more than $2 trillion, and private companies funded by more than $60 billion. “We serve as a single partner for a business to scale its remote workforce from one employee to multinational teams,” said Wright. “We have a global footprint that will grow to nearly 50 wholly-owned foreign legal entities in the most desired international markets by year’s end, and now in all 50 states, to enable companies to compliantly employ top remote talent across a state line or country border.” Market Growth The rapidly maturing global EoR and AoR industries are key drivers of the “future of work” or gig economy worth $4.5 trillion according to a 2020 report from Staffing Industry Analysts. The investment from FFL Partners will help ensure Velocity Global is able to not just meet demand, but extend its market leadership position. “We have all seen the nature of work evolve drastically over the past 12 months, and we are very excited to make this investment in Velocity Global, a pioneer in this space fast-tracking the future of work,” said Cas Schneller, FFL Managing Partner. “Velocity Global achieved a 400% organic growth rate over the past three years while maintaining disciplined financials and delivering an exceptional customer experience. We are confident FFL’s deep business services experience can help accelerate this remarkable success.” Combined Company Velocity Global welcomes 40 iWorkGlobal employees as part of the transaction, growing its team to approximately 300 employees worldwide. Ben Wright leads the company headquartered in Denver with regional headquarters in Amsterdam, Bogotá, and Singapore. The combined company operates additional regional offices in Bangalore, Dubai, London, Mexico City, São Paulo, and Toronto. Local Velocity Global employees in 16 countries contribute cultural and market knowledge for clients and a personalized supported employee experience. Maria Goyer joins the Velocity Global executive team as Chief Innovation Officer, reporting to Wright, after serving as senior vice president of Strategy for iWorkGlobal. She will drive strategic initiatives and innovative best practices across the organization to serve the growing global customer base. Goyer applies more than 20 years of industry and strategic expertise in the development of all aspects of Business Process Outsourcing, including pioneering work in the Managed Service Providers (MSP), Vendor Management Systems (VMS), payroll, and compliance industries through Software as a service (SaaS) applications for global contingent workforce programs. View Velocity Global leadership here. 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 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 FFL PARTNERS Founded in 1997, FFL Partners is a San Francisco-based private equity firm with over $4.5 billion under management. FFL pursues thematic investments in business services and healthcare services partnering with exceptional management teams where the firm's high engagement operating model and extensive network can help accelerate growth and unlock value. Growing our businesses has provided over 75% of the value created by FFL for its investors. For additional information please visit  www.fflpartners.com. Contact Details Velocity Global John Hall +1 720-650-4348 johnhall@velocityglobal.com For FFL Partners Kelly Holman +1 (646) 502-3509 KHolman@Stantonprm.com Company Website https://velocityglobal.com/

April 06, 2021 05:30 AM Mountain Daylight Time

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Comcast Partners with Harris County to Bring WiFi Connected “Lift Zones” to More Students

Comcast West Division

As part of its ongoing commitment to help connect low-income families to the internet so they can fully participate in educational opportunities and the digital economy, Comcast today announced plans to equip Harris County community centers with WiFi enabled “Lift Zones” to provide students who do not have Internet at home with safe spaces to participate in distance learning. In partnership with Harris County, Comcast is providing robust WiFi hotspots to help students get online, participate in distance learning and do their homework. This initiative provides free connectivity inside partner community centers for the next three years. “Over the past year, we’ve seen how digital access provides a critical lifeline for families,” said Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo. “Tackling the digital divide takes creative solutions and partnerships like this one and I’m appreciative of this partnership and innovative model as we work to ensure every child in Harris County has access to high-speed internet.” “We are honored to partner with Harris County to provide students with safe, fast and reliable connectivity to keep up with school and prepare them for a bright future,” said Ralph Martinez, regional senior vice president, Comcast Houston. “The COVID-19 crisis continues to put many low-income students at risk of being left behind, accelerating the need for comprehensive digital equity and Internet adoption programs to support them. We expect these Lift Zones will help those students who, for a variety of reasons, are unable to connect to effective distance learning at home.” “We are providing Internet to many community centers already, but this partnership will expand our efforts and help us focus on educational gaps.” shared Rick Noriega, executive director of Harris County Universal Services. It’s a winning situation for everyone.” In addition to Comcast’s multiyear commitment to launch more than 1,000 WiFi-connected Lift Zones in community centers nationwide, they recently announced a $1 billion investment over the next 10 years to help further close the digital divide and give even more low-income Americans the tools and resources they need to succeed in an increasingly digital world. 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 Michael Bybee +1 281-605-9658 Michael_Bybee@comcast.com Comcast Misha McClure 832-547-6783 Misha_McClure@cable.comcast.com Company Website https://houston.comcast.com/

April 05, 2021 10:35 AM Central Daylight Time

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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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Forte and CivicPlus® Partner to Deploy End-to-End Payments Solution for Local Governments

CSG

Forte Payment Systems ®, a CSG ® (NASDAQ: CSGS) company, and CivicPlus today announced a strategic partnership to offer a full end-to-end payments solution that delivers a superior citizen engagement digital experience for local governments nationwide. “The ability for local government agencies to provide services online is a core component to meeting the needs of the citizens they serve,” said Ryan Strait, CivicPlus senior product director. “We are excited to partner with Forte and offer the public sector a full solutions suite that provides ease of use and process efficiencies along with a high level of security and stability needed to ensure a seamless payments experience.” Together, Forte and CivicPlus will offer a solution that accelerates the evolution of traditional payments services that meets the needs of today’s digital-savvy citizen while providing key capabilities needed to drive an industry-leading online payments experience: • Enhanced security: E2E encryption protects sensitive card data throughout the transaction lifecycle. • Seamless payments: Secure, online payments received instantly through an intuitive, easy to use platform. • Check processing with verification: Gives government agencies the ability to accept checks with confidence, providing checking account validation. Verification capabilities meet new requirements set forth by Nacha. • Updated payment status: Automatically records the payments status to keep the system updated in real-time. “For years, Forte has been a trusted payments provider for local government agencies and municipalities nationwide, delivering a robust, secure and innovative technology suite to support acceptance and processing of payments,” said Jeff Thorness, president of Forte, CSG’s Payments solutions unit. “Our partnership with CivicPlus will allow us to expand our offerings and reach more than 4,000 local governments serving 250 million citizens and provide them with a seamless online payments experience.” With a 20-year history in processing ACH transactions, Forte delivers innovative and secure payment solutions that help businesses and government agencies reduce transaction costs, mitigate risk, and increase efficiencies. The company was recently named a Preferred Partner for Account Validation by Nacha, recognized for offering products and services that increase or enhance the use of secure ACH payments, information and messaging by financial institutions and end-user entities. # # # About CSG For more than 35 years, CSG has simplified the complexity of business, delivering innovative customer engagement solutions that help companies acquire, monetize, engage and retain customers. Operating across more than 120 countries worldwide, CSG manages billions of critical customer interactions annually, and its award-winning suite of software and services allow companies across dozens of industries to tackle their biggest business challenges and thrive in an ever-changing marketplace. CSG is the trusted provider for driving digital innovation for hundreds of leading global brands, including Airtel Africa, América Móvil, AT&T, Charter Communications, Comcast, DISH, Formula 1, Hutchison 3 Indonesia, Inmarsat, Mastercard, Maximus, Mediacom, Microsoft, Mobily, MTN, New Leaf Service Contracts, State of California, TalkTalk and Telstra. To learn more, visit our website at csgi.com and connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter. Copyright © 2021 CSG Systems International, Inc. and/or its affiliates (“CSG”). All rights reserved. CSG® is a registered trademark of CSG Systems International, Inc. All third-party trademarks, service marks, and/or product names which are referenced in this document are the property of their respective owners, and all rights therein are reserved. About CivicPlus CivicPlus provides integrated technology solutions for over 4,000 local governments and their over 250 million citizens. Its solutions enable municipalities of all sizes to rapidly and efficiently migrate traditional citizen services online to meet the new online imperative of local government. Our solutions include website content management, agenda and meeting management, parks and recreation management, citizen request and work order management, employee management, routine and mass notification software, and ready-to-use mobile apps and forms. For more information, visit civicplus.com. Contact Details CSG Global, North America, Asia-Pacific Brad Jones +1 303-200-3001 brad.jones@csgi.com CSG Europe, Middle East, Africa Kristine Østergaard +44 (0)75 0051 8412 kristine.ostergaard@csgi.com Civic Plus Jessica Marabella marabell@civicplus.com Company Website https://www.csgi.com

March 31, 2021 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

COMCAST APPOINTS SHAKIRA SHANKS TO OVERSEE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE IN WASHINGTON

Comcast West Division

Comcast today announced Shakira Shanks as the new Director of Customer Experience in Washington. In this role, Shanks will manage customer experience efforts across all lines of business in the state. “Our goal is to deliver a simple, consistent, and excellent service experience that exceeds the needs and expectations of Comcast customers in Washington,” said Rodrigo Lopez, Region Senior Vice President, Comcast Washington. “ I am delighted to have Shakira Shanks as our new Customer Experience Director. She is the leader we need to meet that commitment." Before joining Comcast, Shanks worked at Verizon for 20 years, in roles spanning customer experience, retail and management, including leadership of a 1,000-person team responsible for addressing customer escalations and supporting frontline operations. Shanks has a Bachelor of Arts in Social Science and Human Development & Criminal Justice from Washington State University. She is a valued member of two Comcast employee organizations; the board of the Washington Region Black Employees Network and on the West Division Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council. She is also a member of the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle Young Professionals network. Comcast is deeply committed to Washington, where employees serve more than 1.6 million residential and business customers throughout our state footprint. Comcast is Washington’s leading provider of XFINITY video, high-speed Internet, “smart home” and phone services. Our Comcast Business team offers Ethernet, Internet, WiFi, Voice, TV, and Managed Solutions to help businesses transform with technology. Since 2011, Comcast has invested $2.5 billion in Washington to build, enhance, and maintain our systems, networks, and infrastructure. As a result, we have been able to continuously increase the features, capacity, reliability, and performance we offer our customers. Comcast has invested billions of dollars in its network, locally and nationally, to meet consumer demand, and it has now increased speeds 18 times in the last 18 years, delivering speeds in most of Washington State from 15 Mbps up to 1 Gbps for residential customers and up to 10 Gbps for business customers. 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 Andy Colley +1 425-248-5438 andy_colley@comcast.com Company Website https://washington.comcast.com/

March 30, 2021 08:55 AM Pacific Daylight Time

The IRONMAN Group Partners With PRophet To Help Tell Stories Of Triumph

PRophet

PRophet, the first-ever AI-driven platform to help predict media interest, sentiment and spread, announced that The IRONMAN Group and its portfolio of events including the IRONMAN® and IRONMAN® 70.3® Triathlon Series and Rock ‘n’ Roll® Running Series, is the most recent company to partner with the platform, bringing PRophet’s active user base to 20 since making the technology commercially available to brands in January of this year. The groundbreaking platform is also now available to agencies and their clients through PRophet’s Agency Partnership Program which allows account teams and their clients unlimited access and use of the platform together. “Platform interest, usage and now real-life use cases underscore the growing acceptance of AI-based technologies like PRophet to help improve human performance,” said Aaron Kwittken, founder and CEO of PRophet. “We look forward to continuing to grow the platform’s reach to agencies and their clients alike and provide additional market-first capabilities in the months to come.” “As a performance-driven organization ourselves, PRophet helped us uncover additional journalists who we had not engaged with previously, leading to an overall placement increase of over 30%. More importantly, the platform is helping us share more stories around an athlete’s journey of triumph which is of core importance to us. Being able to use PRophet’s pitch data and analytics to better inform our press strategies amongst high quality, high authority outlets is a game changer for us, helping to put the spotlight on our deserving athletes,” said Dan Berglund, Vice President of Global Communications, The IRONMAN Group. Agencies and brands can contact PRophet at sales@prprophet.ai for a demonstration of the platform’s capabilities and request a complementary, two-week trial. For more information on PRophet, visit www.prprophet.ai. About PRophet PRophet is the first-ever AI-driven software-as-a service (SaaS) platform designed by and for the PR community that samples past stories to better predict future media interest, sentiment, and spread through natural language processing and machine learning. PRophet is owned by Ahteed, LLC, an MDC Ventures company and was founded by marketing industry thought leader and entrepreneur Aaron Kwittken alongside former political strategist, technologist, and author Mark Penn, currently President of Stagwell Group and chairman and CEO of MDC Partners and formerly with Microsoft. To learn more, visit www.prprophet.ai. Contact Details KWT Global for PRophet Jason Fagan +1 646-761-1206 jfagan@kwtglobal.com Company Website https://www.prprophet.ai/home

March 30, 2021 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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