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U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol Announces Levi Strauss & Co and Their Legacy Brands as New Members

U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol

The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol welcomes new members Levi Strauss & Co, one of the most recognizable denim companies worldwide, and their legacy brands Levi’s®, Dockers®, Denizen® by Levi’s®, and Signature by Levi Strauss & Co.™ More than 90 percent of Levi Strauss & Co’s products are cotton-based. The company has committed to sourcing 100 percent more sustainably grown cotton focusing on decreasing water use, cutting carbon emissions, and reducing fertilizer and pesticide use. This corporate commitment to more sustainable and resilient cotton sourcing is part of a broader internal initiative designed to move the company toward a more sustainable and circular product strategy. “At Levi Strauss & Co., the quality and sustainability of the cotton we use is critical to our business and important to our customers,” said Jeffrey Hogue, Chief Sustainability Officer, Levi Strauss & Co. “Membership in the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol will be an important step and a key partnership in our efforts to source 100 percent more sustainably grown cotton.” The Trust Protocol will aid Levi Strauss & Co.’s efforts by providing verified data on sustainability practices from U.S. cotton growers and access to aggregate year-over-year data on critical metrics including water use, greenhouse gas emissions, energy use, soil carbon, soil loss and land use efficiency. Levi Strauss & Co will also participate in the pilot phase of the Protocol Credit Management System which provides its members with complete supply chain transparency through use of TextileGenesis’ blockchain technology. “Levi Strauss & Co. is a globally recognized and respected brand and we are proud to welcome them as members,” said Dr. Gary Adams, president of the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol. “During the past 35 years, the U.S. cotton industry has made significant progress in reducing our environmental impact and the Trust Protocol is aligned with the 2025 national goals to further those improvements. As a member, Levi Strauss & Co. will receive farm level data which will help them progress their sustainability efforts and achieve their cotton sourcing goals.” The Trust Protocol has welcomed more than 450 brand, retailer, mill and manufacturer members since its launch in 2020. This includes Gap Inc. and its collection of purpose-led lifestyle brands Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic and Athleta as well as global apparel manufacturer Gildan. The Trust Protocol has also welcomed UK retailers Tesco, Byford and Next Plc. Other Trust Protocol member announcements include the first 10 U.S. mills to join and the first members in Latin America. The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol is aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, recognized by Textile Exchange and Forum for the Future, and part of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, Cotton 2025 Sustainable Cotton Challenge, Cotton 2040 and Cotton Up initiatives. About the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol In a period of ever-greater supply chain scrutiny and a growing demand for transparency, the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol will set a standard for more sustainably grown cotton. It brings quantifiable and verifiable goals and measurement to the issue of responsibly-grown cotton production and drives continuous improvement in key sustainability metrics. The Trust Protocol underpins and verifies U.S. cotton’s progress through sophisticated data collection and independent third-party verification. Choosing Trust Protocol cotton will give brands and retailers the critical assurances they need that the cotton fiber element of their supply chain is more sustainably grown with lower environmental and social risk. Brands and retailers will gain access to U.S. cotton with sustainability credentials proven via Field to Market, measured via the Fieldprint Calculator and verified with Control Union Certifications. The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol is overseen by a multi-stakeholder Board of Directors comprised of representatives from brands and retailers, civil society and independent sustainability experts as well as the cotton-growing industry, including growers, ginners, merchants, wholesalers and cooperatives, mills and cottonseed handlers. About Levi Strauss & Co. Levi Strauss & Co. is one of the world's largest brand-name apparel companies and a global leader in jeanswear. The company designs and markets jeans, casual wear and related accessories for men, women and children under the Levi's®, Dockers®, Signature by Levi Strauss & Co.™, and Denizen® brands. Its products are sold in more than 110 countries worldwide through a combination of chain retailers, department stores, online sites, and a global footprint of approximately 3,100 retail stores and shop-in-shops. Levi Strauss & Co.'s reported 2020 net revenues were $4.5 billion. For more information, go to http://levistrauss.com, and for company news and announcements go to http://investors.levistrauss.com. Contact Details Media Contact Janice Walters +1 571-527-9840 janice.walters@hkstrategies.com Company Website https://trustuscotton.org/

July 07, 2021 06:02 AM Central Daylight Time

Pension Protection Act Overlooked by Many Retirees.

Jennifer Lang Financial Services, LLC

Contact Details Jennifer Lang Financial Services, LLC. Jennifer Lang +1 651-314-4812 mail@jenniferlangfinancialservices.com Company Website https://www.annuityquoteadvisor.com/

July 06, 2021 10:05 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Video

‘Forge Ahead’ podcast provides inside look at future of work

Velocity Global

Hosted by Velocity Global founder and CEO Ben Wright Features conversations with forward-thinking business and tech leaders Debut episode with “Shark Tank’s” Robert Herjavec “ Forge Ahead,” a new podcast uniquely focused on the future of work through insights from forward-thinking business leaders, launched today. Hosted by Ben Wright, Velocity Global founder and CEO, “Forge Ahead” explores how the world embraces and overcomes challenges of new ways of working, from remote work to distributed teams. The debut episode is a conversation with Robert Herjavec, founder and CEO of global cybersecurity firm, Herjavec Group, and a lead investor on the Emmy Award-winning show, “Shark Tank.” “Now is the perfect time for these conversations about how people want to work, and how us as business leaders must blaze a new path,” said Herjavec. “My conversation with Ben allowed me to look inward at what I’ve learned. One topic we touched on was that the true driver of remote work is that customers now accept it like never before. Employees have proven able to embrace remote work, and the tech tools have been available, but now that the customer cadence is not disrupted, we’ll never look back.” “In ‘Forge Ahead’ we go beyond the buzzwords and get inside the heads of business leaders who shape the future of work,” said Wright. “Robert is the first of many leaders I am humbled to learn from as listeners get to hear his personal story and how he runs a business.” “Forge Ahead” will release a new episode every two weeks on leading podcast platforms. In subsequent episodes, Wright speaks with thought leaders such as USA Today’s “Gratitude Guru” Chris Schembra, and 6-time PGA TOUR champ Billy Horschel. Listeners will hear a mix of personal stories and actionable insights from successful leaders so they are prepared to embrace the future of work. Ben Wright founded Velocity Global in 2014 and applies two decades of experience supporting companies’ global business growth and remote teams. As the largest Employer of Record in 185 countries and all 50 United States, brands rely on Velocity Global’s expertise and global infrastructure to employ a compliant workforce without the cost or complexity of setting up their own foreign legal entities or state registrations. Listen and subscribe to the “Forge Ahead” podcast at forgeaheadpodcast.com, or search for it on leading podcast platforms including Spotify, Google Podcast, and Apple Podcast. ABOUT VELOCITY GLOBAL Velocity Global accelerates the future of work beyond borders. Its platform helps companies compliantly employ distributed teams and expand internationally through best-in-breed technology, global expertise, and scale. As the largest global Employer of Record (also known as International PEO) in 185 countries and all 50 United States, more than 700 brands rely on Velocity Global to build global teams without the cost or complexity of setting up foreign legal entities or state registrations. Named a "Leader" in Global Employer of Record services by prominent analyst firm NelsonHall, Velocity Global offers additional services including Immigration, Independent Contractor Compliance to assess a workforce, and Agent of Record (AoR) to streamline payments to contractors. Founded in 2014, Velocity Global has hundreds of employees in 16 countries. For more information visit velocityglobal.com. Contact Details Velocity Global Eli Rice +1 720-650-4348 news@velocityglobal.com Company Website https://velocityglobal.com/

July 06, 2021 07:02 AM Mountain Daylight Time

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Spiceology Teams Up with Craft Beer Pioneers New Belgium Brewing to Introduce Beer-Infused Blends

Spiceology

Spiceology, the fastest-growing spice company in America, announced today its latest innovation in partnership with New Belgium Brewing with the release of six new beer-infused blends. The launch of this line follows Spiceology’s 2020 launch of fan favorite beer-infused blends made in collaboration with over-the-fire cooking expert Derek Wolf. Spiceology and New Belgium Brewing are taking summer barbecue plans by storm with these new rubs, featuring bold summer-inspired flavors. The new beer-infused blends were carefully curated to inspire friends and family to come together and experiment with flavor with innovative profiles, including Citrus Ginger, Habanero Grapefruit, Hot Honey, Moroccan Tagine, Summer BBQ, and Sweet & Sour. “When you think of Spiceology, you think of big and bold experimentation. And that’s exactly what you think of when you think of New Belgium,” said Tony Reed, Chef and Director of Innovations and Partnerships at Spiceology. “When we had the chance to pair the iconic flavors of New Belgium brands like Fat Tire and Voodoo Ranger with our spices, we knew that the flavors of barbecuing would never be the same.” Both companies aim to bring delicious flavor to all through spice blends and beer, and most importantly aim to make the world a better place while doing so. At Spiceology, the team believes in better flavor, not just through good ingredients and unique combinations, but also through responsible business practices designed to create a better world, with diversity and inclusion at the heart of the workforce. 63% of the executive leadership team at Spiceology is made up of women, and benefits are offered equitably across the company, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. As a chef-owned and operated company, Spiceology is committed to supporting fellow LGBTQ+ community members all year long through its ‘Love is Love’ product, which donates 10% of sales to a different LGBTQ+ organization every month. “Just like New Belgium, we believe that business should be a force for good,” said Chip Overstreet, CEO at Spiceology. “While we’ve always been a fan of New Belgium for their delicious beers, this partnership really came to life when we realized our desire to use our business for good was synergistic.” For 30 years now New Belgium has crafted world class beer while pushing forward solutions to the biggest social and environmental challenges of our time. New Belgium was the first brewery to be alternatively-powered and is a certified B Corp, and recently announced their flagship, Fat Tire, as the first carbon neutral beer in America. “We’re always evolving at New Belgium and looking for partnerships that support our goal of being a force for good. Collaborating with Spiceology gives us the opportunity to pair our world-class beers with custom-blended rubs while working with a company that shares our values” said Shaun Belongie, VP of Marketing at New Belgium Brewing. “As we celebrate our 30 th anniversary this year and look ahead to the future, we remain committed to partnering with brands like Spiceology who give us the opportunity to experiment in ways we haven’t before.” With this delicious new line of beer-infused rubs, Spiceology and New Belgium invite consumers to come together and experiment with bold flavors both in the kitchen and beyond. find all six new beer-infused blends on Spiceology’s website. For more information on Spiceology and its products, please visit Spiceology.com, or follow the brand on Instagram. ABOUT SPICEOLOGY Founded in 2013, Spiceology is the fastest-growing privately owned spice company in America, who set out on a mission from day one to eliminate dull flavor. The chef-owned and operated, one-stop spice shop offers innovative signature blends and over 300 fresh small-batch ground spices, herbs, chiles, salts, confections, fruit and vegetable powders, and modernist cooking ingredients. By bringing both staple and unique flavor to leading restaurants and directly to your home kitchen, Spiceology aims to change how its community adds flavor to their food, for good. The brand is sold direct to consumers and chefs across the U.S. and Canada, with customers as far-reaching as Australia and Dubai. For more information or to place an order, visit www.spiceology.com or follow us on Facebook and Instagram. For recipe inspiration, visit here. ABOUT NEW BELGIUM BREWING New Belgium Brewing is recognized as a leader in sustainability and social responsibility. Founded in 1991 in Fort Collins, Colorado, the company expanded to Asheville, North Carolina in 2016, Denver, Colorado in 2018, and San Francisco, California in 2021, and is now the 4 th largest craft brewery in the U.S. Dedicated to proving that business can be a force for good, New Belgium is a Certified B Corp and was the first brewery to join 1% for the Planet. The brewery has donated over $29 million to charitable causes since 1991. New Belgium is famous for its flagship beer, Fat Tire Amber Ale, along with year-round favorites like Voodoo Ranger IPA, Sour IPA and La Folie Sour Brown Ale; as well as an award-winning wood-aged sour program and innovative limited release beers. To learn more about the full product lineup and New Belgium’s Human Powered Business model, visit NewBelgium.com. Contact Details Cassidy Levine +1 908-770-7880 cassidy@spiceology.com Company Website https://spiceology.com/

July 06, 2021 08:01 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Motiva launches a ‘life changing’ product, the first-ever clinically proven to help improve Alzheimer’s patients

Fine Hygienic Holding

Motiva Neuro Booster offers higher absorption of six key functional foods New product is clinically proven to improve brain health Worldwide, approximately 44 million people suffer from Alzheimer’s disease and approximately 2.5 million suffer from Multiple Sclerosis (MS) today. With the former expected to rise to 115 million cases by 2050 as well as being the leading cause of institutionalization among the elderly, it remains the only disease on the top 10 list of killers that has no cure, preventative measure, or medication to delay progression. Similarly, MS therapies are noncurative, and except for interferon-based disease-modifying therapies, nearly all are associated with a risk of potentially life-threatening complications. Additionally, MS patients experience a multitude of symptoms and frequent treatment side effects causing significant impairment in all phases of life, including cognition and mood. However, there is hope. The brain, like every other organ in the body, needs essential nutrients to function properly. Dr. John E. Lewis, from the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, one of the world’s leading experts in nutrition and dietary supplements, has been conducting research on how certain key nutrients can help the brain, with a study on Alzheimer’s patients. His study was a first great step in demonstrating the power of specific nutrients in the face of a serious brain health challenge. As part of the study, each subject took an aloe polymannose multinutrient complex (APMC), a unique blend of nutrients, polysaccharides, phytochemicals, molecules, and elements that are typically uncommon or even missing from the modern diet, for 12 months. The findings at the end of the study were nothing short of remarkable, with the team demonstrating significant and sustained improvements in cognitive function and inflammatory status and a significant increase in the production of stem cells, which may lead to neuro-regeneration, as well as a correlation between cognitive and immune functioning. Unlike research on Alzheimer’s medications, which demonstrate at best only a slowing of disease progress, this product actually showed IMPROVEMENT of cognitive function of Alzheimer’s patients. On learning of this research, Fine Hygienic Holding, behind its Motiva brand of science-based supplements, teamed up with Dr. Lewis to develop the MOTIVA Neuro Booster, a new all-natural product based on the formula that has been clinically proven to improve cognitive function in all, including those with Alzheimer’s. Designed, created, and developed by Dr. Lewis, the MOTIVA Neuro Booster is a powerful combination of six functional foods typically uncommon or even missing from the modern diet, including the very potent acemannan from aloe vera. This unique blend of nutrients, phytochemicals, and polysaccharides, all 100% natural ingredients, gives the product the highest levels of bioavailability and effectiveness. In layman’s terms, MOTIVA Neuro Booster means higher absorption, less dosage, and hence better value for money, a far better value than many prescription medications. Dr. Lewis firmly believes that this dietary supplement is the real deal for brain health, immune support, and overall wellbeing. “I am extremely proud to team-up with a world-class wellness company like Fine Hygienic Holding to bring Motiva Neuro Booster to the world. This is a product that enhances life and can change the trajectory of diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and MS.” The MOTIVA Neuro Booster’s unique blend of ingredients, often lacking in the modern diet, is highly concentrated and comes in an easy-to-digest powder form, enabling it to be easily absorbed by our bodies. The supplement assists focus, maintains memory, and supports overall brain well-being in addition to being clinically proven to support the immune system. MOTIVA is produced in a GMP-CERTIFIED FACILITY in the USA and is the only supplement of its kind to be recommended by the prestigious Medical Wellness Association, based in Houston, Texas, USA. In clinical testing, users of Neuro Booster have reported improved energy, deeper sleep, a happier mood, sharper focus, heightened awareness, and a better sense of overall well-being. What’s not to like about a product that comes from natural ingredients? The Alzheimer’s study’s first published article is on PubMed. The product’s ability to provide enhanced absorption largely comes from BiAloe®, the most bioavailable source of aloe vera polysaccharides known as acemannan. Found in the inner leaf gel of the aloe plant, it is responsible for most of the health benefits associated with aloe vera. Added to that, ingredients such as stabilized rice bran contains more than 200 amino acids, minerals, and vitamins with significant health properties; sunflower lecithin is rich in choline necessary for brain and heart health; and tart cherry, dioscorea, and citric acid offer a host of health benefits for immunity, cholesterol regulation, and enhancement of key cellular processes. Motiva Neuro Booster is being rolled out globally by Fine Hygienic Holding and can be purchased online for global deliveries via our e-commerce website, TheFineShop.com. About Fine Hygienic Holding: Fine Hygienic Holding (FHH), one of the world’s leading wellness groups and the MENA’s leading manufacturer of hygienic products, serves consumers in more than 80 countries around the world. Originally established as a paper manufacturer, FHH has transformed into a wellness company dedicated to enhancing global health and wellbeing. With its commitment to becoming “the shining star of the Arab FMCG business world,” the Group focuses on wellness, sustainability, state-of-the-art production processes, pioneering CSR programs, and award-winning products. The company offers a diverse array of products including sterilized facial tissues, napkins, kitchen towels, toilet paper, baby diapers, adult briefs, jumbo rolls, as well as away-from-home products to accommodate all types of private and public institutions, in addition to innovative personal protective equipment (PPE), long lasting germ protection solutions and natural nutritional supplements. Contact Details Sean Muir sean.m@actionprgroup.com Company Website https://www.finehh.com/

July 05, 2021 09:02 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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

Pocono Organics

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

July 01, 2021 09:15 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Nottingham Welcomes Seasoned Industry Professionals

Nottingham

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

July 01, 2021 09:04 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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

PRophet

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

July 01, 2021 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Valley Produce Joins FreshEdge

Rotunda Capital Partners LLC

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

July 01, 2021 08:56 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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