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Velodyne Lidar wins 2022 SXSW Innovation Award

Velodyne’s Intelligent Infrastructure Solution Selected as Best-in-Class in Smart Cities, Transportation & Delivery Awards Category

 

SAN JOSE, Calif. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — #VelodyneLidar—Velodyne Lidar, Inc. (Nasdaq: VLDR, VLDRW) recently announced its Intelligent Infrastructure Solution won the 2022 SXSW Innovation Awards by the South by Southwest® (SXSW®) Conference and Festivals. Velodyne’s smart city solution was recognized for its exemplary innovation in the Smart Cities, Transportation & Delivery Awards category.


Intelligent Infrastructure Solution (IIS) delivers traffic monitoring and analytics to improve road safety, efficiency and air quality, and help cities plan for smarter, safer transportation systems. The full stack solution, combining Velodyne’s award-winning lidar sensors and Bluecity’s AI software, is deployed across three continents, including systems rolled out in Texas, Florida, Nevada, California, New Jersey, Missouri and Canada. Among these implementations is Austin, Texas, home of SXSW, where the city is using IIS to assess traffic conditions and identify proactive safety measures that can be taken to help save lives.

 

By improving traffic flow and reducing congestion, Intelligent Infrastructure Solution improves energy efficiency and reduces greenhouse gas emissions for a more sustainable future. In 2021, the solution received a Smart 50 Award presented by Smart Cities Connect to honor the 50 most transformative smart cities projects in the world.

 

“The SXSW Innovation Award provides further validation for the breakthrough capabilities of Velodyne’s Intelligent Infrastructure Solution in solving traffic and safety challenges,” said Sally Frykman, Chief Marketing Officer, Velodyne Lidar. “We are working with cities like Austin to help them achieve their Vision Zero goal of eliminating traffic fatalities and severe injuries. IIS allows cities like Austin to implement street improvements, policy changes and educational efforts that will protect vulnerable road users. IIS advances Velodyne’s mission of creating smart technologies for a world in motion and their vision of science in service of safety.”

 

The SXSW Innovation Awards recognize and celebrate the most exciting tech developments in the connected world. The Smart Cities, Transportation & Delivery category honors innovations in eco-friendly or sustainable energy, transportation, delivery and Internet of Everything (IoT) technology, making life in the connected world smarter, cleaner, greener and more efficient.

 

Velodyne’s Intelligent Infrastructure Solution

Velodyne’s Intelligent Infrastructure Solution creates a real-time 3D map of roads and intersections. It provides precise traffic monitoring and analytics that is not possible with other types of sensors like cameras or radar. The solution stands out in how it improves traffic and crowd flow efficiency, advances sustainability and protects vulnerable road users. It reliably collects data in any lighting or weather condition, supporting year-round operation, while also protecting people’s privacy. The solution advances safety through multimodal analytics that detect various road users including vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists. It can predict, diagnose and address road safety challenges, helping municipalities and other customers make informed decisions to take corrective action. For more information on the Intelligent Infrastructure Solution, contact Velodyne Sales: 669.275.2526, sales@velodyne.com.

 

About Velodyne Lidar

Velodyne Lidar (Nasdaq: VLDR, VLDRW) ushered in a new era of autonomous technology with the invention of real-time surround view lidar sensors. Velodyne, the global leader in lidar, is known for its broad portfolio of breakthrough lidar technologies. Velodyne’s revolutionary sensor and software solutions provide flexibility, quality, and performance to meet the needs of a wide range of industries, including autonomous vehicles, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), robotics, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), smart cities and security. Through continuous innovation, Velodyne strives to transform lives and communities by advancing safer mobility for all. For more information, visit www.velodynelidar.com.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 including, without limitation, all statements other than historical fact and include, without limitation, statements regarding Velodyne’s target markets, new products, development efforts, and competition. When used in this press release, the words “estimates,” “projected,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “forecasts,” “plans,” “intends,” “believes,” “seeks,” “may,” “will,” “can,” “should,” “future,” “propose” and variations of these words or similar expressions (or the negative versions of such words or expressions) are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, conditions or results and involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors, many of which are outside Velodyne’s control, that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Important factors, among others, that may affect actual results or outcomes include uncertainties regarding government regulation and adoption of lidar, the uncertain impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Velodyne’s and its customers’ businesses; Velodyne’s ability to manage growth; Velodyne’s ability to execute its business plan; uncertainties related to the ability of Velodyne’s customers to commercialize their products and the ultimate market acceptance of these products; the rate and degree of market acceptance of Velodyne’s products; the success of other competing lidar and sensor-related products and services that exist or may become available; uncertainties related to Velodyne’s current litigation and potential litigation involving Velodyne or the validity or enforceability of Velodyne’s intellectual property; and general economic and market conditions impacting demand for Velodyne’s products and services. For more information about risks and uncertainties associated with Velodyne’s business, please refer to the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Risk Factors” sections of Velodyne’s SEC filings, including, but not limited to, its annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to Velodyne as of the date hereof, Velodyne undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Contacts

Velodyne Investor Relations

InvestorRelations@velodyne.com

Media

Codeword

Liv Allen

velodyne@codewordagency.com

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Lifestyle Local News

D&R Greenway Land Trusts reopens the Marie L. Matthews Art galleries with ‘Space to Dream: Nature and Creative Freedom’

PRINCETON, N.J. — D&R Greenway Land Trust’s exhibition “Space to Dream: Nature and Creative Freedom” showcases the relationship between open spaces and artistic expression with three themed galleries: On the Water, Within the City, and In the Wild.

 

The artwork is on view March 21 through May 27, 2022 at D&R Greenway’s Johnson Education Center, One Preservation Place, Princeton. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Friday, 10:00 am-2:00 pm and on the following Saturdays: March 26, April 9 and May 7, 12 noon – 4:00 pm.

 

Meet the artists and welcome spring while enjoying beautiful Greenway Meadows at an outdoor reception on Friday, April 29, from 4:30-6:00 pm; RSVP requested at drgreenway.org or info@drgreenway.org.

 

“Space to Dream” extends an invitation to explore the many open spaces in nature that foster human creativity and artistic expression. From still waters to the lively city park to the vibrant wilderness, preserving land allows future generations to draw inspiration from wild and precious natural environs.

 

Colorful maple leaves float with ‘Koi Fish’ by artist Ting Ting Hsu as one enters the galleries. ‘Crested Penguin’ by artist Moss Freedman provides whimsy as it evokes glacial waters and brings to mind climate change. A nearby quote by Sir David Attenborough reminds the viewer to “Cherish the natural world, because you are a part of it and you depend on it.”

 

Erica Harney’s ‘Tondo’ paintings enchant with brilliant colors and images, from blooming daffodils to saguaro cacti. Melanie Lopez’ purple mountains blend into a peach sky in ‘Q ij’that depicts a sunset in Guatemala. Susan DeConcini’s ‘shades of dawn’ invites meditation with purple hues over the water, while Léni Paquet-Morante’s ‘Pebbled Shallow” contrasts with strong greens, oranges and browns. “Did you know” facts throughout the exhibit remind that, among other important facets of the natural world, “Water is one of the most valuable resources on our planet.”

 

Artist Sean Carney’s unique style of painting that uses Minwax woodstain and Dremel on wood is seen alongside large canvases by Tricia Zimic with bears and coyotes bringing nature into cityscapes.  Kate Graves, known for her sculpture, exhibits paintings of landscapes reminiscent of Georgia O’Keefe’s New Mexico alongside her expression of the ‘Delaware Water Gap’. Charles David Viera invites the viewer to dive with a girl off a pier in ‘Reflection in the Bayside’.  His imaginative study of dogwalkers is a delight to see.

 

“D&R Greenway invites the public into this magical new exhibit as we celebrate spring and the ability to share our galleries once again,” says the nonprofit’s president and CEO Linda Mead. “I am especially pleased to announce that this exhibit was envisioned and implemented by first-time curator Ayame Whitfield, our yearlong Fellow and a graduate of Princeton University.” Whitfield worked with long-time D&R Greenway curator Diana Moore, who said of the exhibit, “It’s beautifully balanced with interesting art that engages the viewer to see and feel the importance of the world around us.”

 

Exhibiting artists include Sean Carney, Susan DeConcini, Moss Freedman, Kate Graves, Erica Harney, Ting Ting Hsu, Léni Paquet-Morante, Charles David Viera, Tricia Zimic. This exhibit will also feature art from students in the Latin American Legal Defense and Education Fund’s FUTURO program, which is an inclusive and diverse youth mentoring program for promising first and second-generation immigrant students.

 

D&R Greenway Land Trust is an accredited nonprofit that has preserved over 22,000 acres of land and 44 miles of trails throughout central New Jersey since 1989. This land includes a diverse range of forests, meadows, rivers, and parkland, providing countless ways for people from all walks of life to connect with the land.  Art sales benefit the mission of D&R Greenway to preserve and care for land and trails that provide the public access to the natural world. Information on the exhibit and other events may be found at www.drgreenway.org.

 

Background

By protecting land in perpetuity and creating public trails, D&R Greenway gives everyone the opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors. Through strategic land conservation and stewardship, D&R Greenway nurtures a healthier and more diverse environment for people and wild species, working to combat climate change, protect birds and wildlife, and ensure clean drinking water for future generations. D&R Greenway’s mission is to preserve and care for land and inspire a conservation ethic, now and forever. www.drgreenway.org; info@drgreenway.org. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

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Culture Lifestyle Local News

Mercer County bike-share program returns

HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP, N.J. — The County of Mercer, the Mercer County Park Commission, and Verve have restarted the bike-share program at three locations around the County park system — Mercer County Park, Rosedale Park and the Red Barn in Mercer Meadows.

 

Eight bikes are at each location and can be rented by downloading the Verve Micro-mobility Sharing app from the App Store or Google Play.

 

“Mercer County is becoming more bike-friendly through our county roadways and in our parks,” said County Executive Brian M. Hughes. “The bike share program continues to provide our park users with an inexpensive and convenient way to enjoy biking without needing one of your own.”

 

Park patrons are encouraged to create a VerveS account, where users can rent a bike from Mercer County Park near the 9/11 Memorial; Rosedale Park on Federal City Road; and at the Red Barn at Keefe and Cold Soil roads. The cost of the ride is $1 to start and 18 cents per minute thereafter. Users must be 18 years or older to rent a bike and rentals must be returned to one of the three county parks locations.

 

“I was very pleased to see our park patrons take advantage of this amenity during the past couple of years,” said Aaron T. Watson, Park Commission Executive Director. “This bike share program makes it easy for families to explore our parks and the Lawrence Hopewell Trail.”

 

Verve has been in business since 2018 with a focus on eco-friendly transportation. Verve scooters are set up at several East Coast HBCUs and are also available at Live Nation festivals around the country, including in New Orleans, Atlanta, Philadelphia and San Francisco. Verve’s relationship with the Park Commission began in 2021, which was its first time offering bicycles.

 

The Mercer County Park Commission has diverse recreational activities and natural resources for all ages to enjoy with more than 10,000 acres of parks, facilities and preserved open space. For up-to-date information on programming, recreation and events, please visit www.mercercountyparks.org or follow the parks on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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Business Lifestyle

Castine announces the expansion of its Outsourced Trading module for brokers worldwide

Custom reporting added to its client portal

RIDGEWOOD, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — As more asset managers and hedge funds adopt outsourced trading, they’ve come to want more than an efficiency play; they expect expanded capability and services from their brokers. For brokers offering outsourced trading services, providing the highest level of service is a critical competitive advantage.

 

To meet this need, Castine has expanded its Outsourced Trading module with a client-managed reporting tool to the client portal. This gives clients the benefit of running reports when and how they want, in addition to the existing statements and standardized reports within the system.

 

With the growing adoption of Castine’s Outsourced Trading module by brokers wanting to offer outsourced trading services to their clients, Castine has looked for ways to help brokers as they work with more and more clients. “Enabling clients to run their own reports across all of their outsourced trades – filtering and sorting however they wanted – was a gamechanger for clients and brokers alike,” says Robin Hodgkins, Castine’s President.

 

The Outsourced Trading Module is a component of Castine’s C3 platform that allows brokers to offer clients a simple high touch trading desk or full-service outsourced trading, managing all trades, commissions and soft dollar/CSA’s with all counterparties. The client portal gives clients visibility into all activity the outsourced desk performs on their behalf. Brokers have had the ability to run reports on a client’s trades and statements, but can now let clients run their own custom reports whenever they like. “There is no one size fits all, standardized approach to outsourced trading,” stated Tom Smith, Castine’s Executive Vice President. “Adding ad-hoc reporting to the client portal means brokers can save time and clients are not locked into a single set of standardized reports.”

 

Castine’s Outsourced Trading module can be used on its own by brokers wanting to expand into this growth area or it can be used with other C3 modules. Many broker clients of Castine offer outsourced trading side-by-side with CSA commission management, compensation, invoicing, and other Castine modules.

 

About Castine

Castine LLC is an industry leader in commission management, compliance, and compensation systems. Castine’s C3 Suite is used worldwide by retail and institutional brokers, asset managers, and hedge funds.

Contacts

Liam McCarthy

Head of Business Development, lm@CastineLLC.com

Categories
Business Lifestyle

EVgo energizes new station at Wawa in Philadelphia bringing Evgo chargers to 6 stores across the convenience retailer’s chain

New charging station in Philadelphia is the first operational EVgo station at a Wawa store in Pennsylvania

LOS ANGELES — (BUSINESS WIRE) — EVgo Inc, the nation’s largest public fast charging network for electric vehicles (EVs) and Wawa Inc., a regional convenience store retailer, yesterday announced the opening of the first live EVgo public fast charging station at a Wawa store in Pennsylvania. The new charging station, located at 3901 Aramingo Ave in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, powers four charging stalls through two 100 kW fast chargers and one 350 kWh fast charger, capable of simultaneous charging. The launch of this new station marks EVgo’s sixth charging site at a Wawa location, and was celebrated with a ribbon cutting ceremony and lineup of local speakers on-site yesterday, March 9th.


“Our partnership with EVgo ensures Wawa stores are able to provide convenient EV charging services along with other amenities drivers are looking for,” said Vincent Cipollone, Director of Retail Fuels, Wawa. “Our store on Aramingo Avenue provides EV charging services to Philadelphia and is part of our current network of 80 stores hosting EV charging, which builds upon our mission of providing conveniences designed to meet the needs of our customers and furthering our commitment to sustainability through our partnership with EVgo.”

 

EVgo customers charging and shopping at Wawa have the added flexibility of going into the store for fresh, built-to-order foods, beverages, and coffee or taking advantage of Wawa’s curbside delivery through the Wawa app.

 

“Many convenience stores are strategically located along high-traffic areas, and EVgo and Wawa are a great match – as a priority destination for customers seeking quick access to food and fuel,” said Cathy Zoi, CEO of EVgo. “An effective transition to electric vehicles requires infrastructure and our work with Wawa allows us to provide ideal locations for customers, particularly in the dense urban area of Philadelphia where many EV drivers may not have access to home chargers. We look forward to bringing more sites online with Wawa.”

 

Built in collaboration with General Motors and funded in part by the Pennsylvania Department of Environment Protection’s Driving PA Forward initiative, this new station will provide a convenient and reliable EV charging experience close to where drivers live, work and play. Within Pennsylvania, public DC fast chargers are an integral part to achieving the state’s climate objectives of a 25% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2025 and an 80% reduction by 2050. EVgo and Wawa are slated to develop additional fast charging infrastructure in the state, bringing more charging options and working towards the goals of the Pennsylvania Climate Action Plan.

 

EVgo and Wawa have two additional charging sites currently under construction – one site in Pennsylvania and another in Maryland – which are expected to be operational in the next few months. Today, EVgo’s public fast charging network in Pennsylvania features 40 charging stalls, 32 DC fast chargers and 7 L2 chargers.

 

With stores in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Florida and Washington, D.C. Wawa’s partnership with EVgo builds upon the company’s existing EV charging offerings and recent milestones, such as surpassing one million EV charging sessions in 2021. Currently, Wawa offers EV charging at 80 locations across its operating area.

 

A ribbon cutting ceremony took place at the new charging site yesterday, March 9th, and featured a lineup of local officials including Vincent Cipollone, Director of Retail Fuels, Wawa; Patrick McDonnell, Pennsylvania Environmental Protection Secretary; Christine Knapp, Director of the Office of Sustainability for the City of Philadelphia; and Ted Brooks, Vice President of Investor Relations at EVgo.

 

For more information around the locations of EV chargers within the EVgo charging network, visit www.evgo.com.

 

About EVgo

EVgo (Nasdaq: EVGO) is the nation’s largest public fast charging network for electric vehicles, and the first to be powered by 100% renewable energy. With more than 800 fast charging locations, EVgo’s owned and operated charging network serves over 68 metropolitan areas across 35 states and more than 310,000 customer accounts. Founded in 2010, EVgo leads the way on transportation electrification, partnering with automakers; fleet and rideshare operators; retail hosts such as hotels, shopping centers, gas stations and parking lot operators; and other stakeholders to deploy advanced charging technology to expand network availability and make it easier for drivers across the U.S. to enjoy the benefits of driving an EV. As a charging technology first mover, EVgo works closely with business and government leaders to accelerate the ubiquitous adoption of EVs by providing a reliable and convenient charging experience close to where drivers live, work and play, whether for a daily commute or a commercial fleet.

 

About Wawa, Inc.

Wawa, Inc., a privately held company, began in 1803 as an iron foundry in New Jersey. Toward the end of the 19th Century, owner George Wood took an interest in dairy farming and the family began a small processing plant in Wawa, PA in 1902. The milk business was a huge success, due to its quality, cleanliness and “certified” process. As home delivery of milk declined in the early 1960s, Grahame Wood, George’s grandson, opened the first Wawa Food Market in 1964 as an outlet for dairy products. Today, Wawa is your all day, every day stop for freshly prepared foods, beverages, coffee, fuel services and surcharge-free ATMs. Wawa stores are located in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Florida and Washington, D.C. The stores offer a large fresh foodservice selection, including Wawa brands such as custom prepared hoagies, freshly-brewed coffee, hot breakfast sandwiches, specialty beverages and an assortment of soups, sides and snacks. Forbes.com Ranks Wawa as #29 of America’s Largest Private Companies in 2021 and #12 on Forbes 100 Halo List in 2022. For more information, visit us on www.wawa.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram at @wawa.

 

Contacts

For Investors:

Ted Brooks, VP of Investor Relations

investors@evgo.com
310-954-2943

For Media:

press@evgo.com

Categories
Business Lifestyle

Provenir appoints Francisco Franch to lead expansion in Spain

Demand for company’s AI-powered risk decisioning software continues to drive global expansion

 

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — #AI—Provenir, a global leader in AI-powered risk decisioning software, today announced Francisco Franch will be leading Sales in Spain to serve the growing number of financial services organizations seeking AI-powered risk decisioning solutions. Franch will oversee sales operations, business development and go-to-market strategies for Spain.

Franch brings more than 18 years’ experience in financial services, including four years in Sales for EMEA at Provenir. He also held several progressive sales roles at Ejecutivo de Cuentas developing marketing strategies and identifying and building technology partnerships to reach new customers.

 

“Customer expectation for real-time decisions continues to drive fintechs and financial services providers to find solutions to meet this demand,” said Frode Berg, Provenir’s Managing Director of EMEA. “Across EMEA, we’re experiencing significant growth and interest in our real-time decisioning solution. Francisco will lead Sales in Spain where we are expanding quickly. Customers and prospects will benefit significantly from his experience with Provenir’s AI-powered risk decisioning software and his rich industry knowledge.”

 

Provenir’s AI-powered risk decisioning software is the industry’s first, true risk-decisioning ecosystem for financial services organizations. It provides a comprehensive real-time view of unified decisioning-performance, third-party and historical data, as well as automated analytics. Through one unified digital experience, users can create the platform-as-a-service (PaaS) cloud solution that best fits their business needs.

 

About Provenir

Provenir helps fintechs, financial institutions, and payment providers make smarter decisions faster by simplifying the risk decisioning process. Its no-code, cloud-native SaaS products form a risk decision engine for real-time approvals and make it easy to rapidly create sophisticated decisioning workflows. With a global data marketplace for seamless integration, powerful AI and machine learning models, and real-time insights, Provenir has supercharged decisioning speed. Provenir works with disruptive financial services organizations in more than 40 countries and processes more than 2 billion transactions annually.

Contacts

Erin Lutz

Lutz Public Relations and Marketing (for Provenir)

949-293-1055 | erin@lutzpr.com

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Business Lifestyle

Crumbl Cookies, the nation’s fastest-growing gourmet cookie company, to open in Clark, New Jersey

CLARK, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — Crumbl Cookies is set to open its very first North Jersey location at 1255 Raritan Road in the Clark Commons Shopping Center. Known for its weekly rotating menu, famous pink box, and passionate social media following, their highly anticipated Grand Opening is set for Friday, March 11th.


“We are so excited to bring Crumbl to Clark, New Jersey and hope the local residents love these cookies as much as we do,” said Jason McGowan, Crumbl Co-founder & CEO. “We love the traditional flavors, but also like to surprise our customers with new and fun concepts. My personal favorite is the raspberry cheesecake cookie. Our cookies are great for sharing with family members and friends, and even treating yourself! We offer unique gifting and catering options as well.”

 

Inside every Crumbl store, staff members mix, bake, and prepare the cookies fresh in an open kitchen for all to see. Cookies are then packaged in Crumbl’s famous pink box and taken home to be enjoyed. “Having our customers see every cookie being made is one of the best experiences of our stores,” said Sawyer Hemsley, Crumbl Co-founder & COO. “Each ingredient is carefully chosen to provide customers with the highest quality cookie on the market.”

 

Clark, New Jersey’s Grand Opening week menu will contain 6 of the 120+ rotating weekly flavors Crumbl has to offer including Crumbl’s staple chilled sugar and award-winning milk chocolate chip. Cold milk and gourmet ice cream can also be added to any order.

 

“Nothing beats biting into a warm, delicious cookie that you can enjoy whether delivery, curbside pickup, or in-store takeout,” said Earl Koskie, Clark Crumbl owner. “We’re really excited to bring this experience to the Clark community.”

 

Some of the Crumbl specialty cookies include: Cornbread, Cookies and Cream, S’Mores, Key Lime Pie, Peppermint Bark, Orange Roll, Buttermilk Pancake, Galaxy Brownie, and many, many more.

 

About Crumbl

Crumbl: It started with one big dream, two crazy cousins, and the perfect combination of flour, sugar, and chocolate chips. Crumbl was established in 2017 in Logan, Utah. Since that time, more than 300 additional locations have been built to satisfy cookie cravings in over 36 states across the nation!

 

Crumbl is rapidly expanding across the country with 100 additional locations slated to open in the coming year. Crumbl is open from 8-10pm on weekdays, 8am-midnight each Friday and Saturday and is closed on Sundays. Visit Crumbl online at crumblcookies.com, on social media, (@crumblcookies), or any of their 300+ locations. Order cookies online at crumblcookies.com.

Contacts

Earl Koskie

Clark Crumbl Cookies Franchise Owner

nj.clark@crumbl.com, (385) 985-8555

Categories
Business Healthcare Lifestyle

Legal cannabis industry is the most prolific job creator in America – Supporting more than 428,000 jobs

Leafly’s sixth annual Cannabis Jobs Report shows America’s cannabis industry sold nearly $25 billion in products and created more than 100,000 new jobs in 2021 – enough people to fill the Rose Bowl.

 

SEATTLE — (BUSINESS WIRE) — Leafly (LFLY), one of the leading online cannabis discovery marketplaces and resources for cannabis consumers, today released its sixth annual cannabis industry jobs report. This year’s report found there are now 428,059 full-time equivalent jobs supported by the legal cannabis industry in the U.S. Leafly’s research also shows that America’s 11 operating adult-use markets and 27 medical states combined sold just under $25 billion worth of cannabis products – more than $6 billion more from the previous year. Looking ahead, the report forecasts that the total employment potential in a mature US legal cannabis market will be approximately 1.5 to 1.75 million workers, almost 4 times as many workers as in this year’s report.


This year’s report, created in partnership with Whitney Economics, shows that despite the ongoing economic and employment challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic, cannabis continues to be the most powerful job creator in America – with no other industry coming close. 2021 was the fifth year in a row the cannabis industry saw an annual job growth rate higher than 27% – with a 33% increase in cannabis jobs in just a single year. To put that in perspective, employment in business and financial occupations is only projected to grow 8% through the decade. With states like New Mexico, New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut expected to open their first adult-use cannabis stores within the next 18 months, America’s cannabis job creation boom is expected to continue through at least 2025.

 

There has never been a better time to land a job in the legal cannabis industry. The Leafly Jobs Report found that nationwide cannabis sales increased 33% in 2021, and the investment capital that fled the cannabis space in early 2020 has largely returned, giving companies the money needed to increase payroll. One problem: not enough applicants. As with other industries, cannabis companies are struggling to find new employees in this era of the Great Resignation. And they’ll need them soon. With stores in New York, New Jersey, New Mexico, and Connecticut opening soon, the demand for workers—experienced or not—is only expected to get hotter.

 

Key findings from the 2022 Leafly Cannabis Jobs Report include:

  • 2021 marked the first year that cannabis job creation hit six figures. After adding 32,700 jobs in 2019 and 77,300 jobs in 2020, the industry added 107,059 new jobs in 2021.
  • The United States now has three times as many cannabis workers as dentists.
  • There are more people employed in the cannabis industry than there are hair stylists, barbers, and cosmetologists—combined.
  • In 2022, three out of four Americans live in a state where cannabis is medically legal.
  • The total cannabis sales figure found in this year’s report—$25 billion—represents only about 25% of the total potential US cannabis market.
  • By 2025, America’s total annual legal cannabis revenue is forecast to be closer to $45 billion, which is still less than half the total potential market.
  • Last year, America’s legal cannabis industry created more than 280 new jobs every day. In 2021, someone was hired for a cannabis-supported job every 2 minutes of the work day.

 

“Since 2014, when the nation’s first adult-use cannabis stores opened, the industry has created hundreds of thousands of new American jobs – and there are still plenty more yet to be created. We know the potential cannabis has as both an economic driver and force for good, and it’s heartening to see employment numbers continue to reflect this strong growth,” said Leafly CEO Yoko Miyashita. “Leafly is proud to step up and fill the gap created by a lack of federal reporting, and to advocate for federal legalization that’s equitable and accessible to all communities. During this midterm election year, it’s essential our elected officials recognize the reality that cannabis is a leading, homegrown American industry, and help us achieve our goal of an inclusive and profitable cannabis industry for all.”

 

The 2022 Leafly Cannabis Jobs Report includes detailed state-level data for nine states at various stages of legalization, and can be accessed here.

 

Methodology

The 2022 Leafly Jobs Report calculates the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) American jobs supported by legal cannabis. Working in partnership with Whitney Economics, Leafly undertakes this annual project to provide data missing from state and national labor studies, which refuse to count cannabis jobs due to federal prohibition. Each of the 38 states with some form of legal cannabis maintains its own unique set of regulations, which can profoundly affect the opportunity for cannabis sales and employment. Thus, each state requires a custom job-support calculation.

 

The Leafly/Whitney Economics team drills down into each state’s specific regulatory environment, investment climate, cannabis license data, and past performance to shape each state’s employment calculation. Macro events—like 2020’s Covid pandemic, investment scarcity, and hiring pessimism—are factored in, as are other data points like a state’s number of active cannabis worker cards. Added to that information are spot-check interviews with cannabis business owners and managers, as well as financial statements published by publicly traded cannabis companies.

 

About Leafly

Cannabis discovery marketplace Leafly aims to help more than 100 million visitors discover cannabis this year. Our powerful ecommerce tools help shoppers make informed purchase decisions and empower cannabis businesses to attract and retain loyal customers through advertising and technology services. Learn more at Leafly.com or download the Leafly mobile app through Apple’s App Store or Google Play.

 

About Whitney Economics

Whitney Economics is a global leader in cannabis and hemp business consulting, data, and economic research. The firm regularly consults with private companies as well as local, state, and national government agencies, applying economic principles to create actionable policies and strategies.

Contacts

Josh deBerge, pr@leafly.com

Categories
Business Lifestyle

NICE Nexidia Analytics bolsters digital transformation for leading universal bank

Capturing and analyzing 100% of customer calls, Siam Commercial Bank sees 27% increase in customer satisfaction scores and dramatic improvements in AHT and agent compliance

 

HOBOKEN, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — #NICE—NICE (Nasdaq: NICE) today announced that Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) has seen rapid and significant advances in contact center agent productivity and customer service after implementing NICE Nexidia Analytics. With all calls automatically tracked and evaluated by the interaction analytics solution, the bank’s contact center succeeded in reducing average handle times, increasing compliance with service level expectations, and improving customer satisfaction.

Siam Commercial Bank, Thailand’s first indigenous bank, and the first financial institution in Thailand to implement NICE Nexidia Analytics, offers a full range of financial services and an extensive branch network. Its contact center staff of 1,500 agents handles more than 1.5 million outbound and inbound calls each month. Because the NICE Nexidia Analytics solution is fully integrated with Workforce Management and NICE Performance Management, the contact center’s agents can facilitate rapid, targeted action based on in-depth interaction analysis.

 

Since implementing the solution, SCB has benefited from increases in agent productivity, service quality, efficiency and customer satisfaction. Average handle times were reduced, thanks to Nexidia’s capability to drill down into long calls and identify root causes related to agent behavior or technical bottlenecks. Similarly, agent compliance with script and service requirements improved with the introduction of Nexidia’s actionable intelligence, leading to a 27% jump in customer satisfaction.

 

“Our services are backed by our continual pursuit of technological innovation,” said Surawat Shinawatra, Head of Customer Service, Siam Commercial Bank. “With NICE Nexidia Analytics we gained insight into 100% of our calls, which allowed us to understand where we had to improve and what advantages we could leverage to improve our customers’ experiences. It was a simple-to-implement, quick-win solution, delivering business value in a short period of time, with significant improvement in agent performance across multiple dimensions of contact center interactions.”

 

In response to rapid changes in the financial services industry, which is being reshaped by digital technology, regulatory change and new customer behavior, SCB has established a strategic plan called SCB Transformation. The program is designed to upgrade the bank’s infrastructure and enhance its long-term competitiveness.

 

“NICE is pleased to be a part of Siam Commercial Bank’s digital transformation, helping them achieve advanced customer service and agent performance,” said Darren Rushworth, APAC President, NICE. “With Nexidia Analytics, the bank’s contact center team is benefiting from a deeper understanding of consumer expectations, leading to the confidence, stability and personalization that is so critical in the financial services industry.”

 

About NICE

With NICE (Nasdaq: NICE), it’s never been easier for organizations of all sizes around the globe to create extraordinary customer experiences while meeting key business metrics. Featuring the world’s #1 cloud native customer experience platform, CXone, NICE is a worldwide leader in AI-powered self-service and agent-assisted CX software for the contact center – and beyond. Over 25,000 organizations in more than 150 countries, including over 85 of the Fortune 100 companies, partner with NICE to transform – and elevate – every customer interaction. www.nice.com

 

Trademark Note: NICE and the NICE logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of NICE Ltd. All other marks are trademarks of their respective owners. For a full list of NICE’s marks, please see: www.nice.com/nice-trademarks.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements, including the statements of Mr. Rushworth, are based on the current beliefs, expectations and assumptions of the management of NICE Ltd. (the “Company”). In some cases, such forward-looking statements can be identified by terms such as “believe,” “expect,” “seek,” “may,” “will,” “intend,” “should,” “project,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “estimate,” or similar words. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results or performance of the Company to differ materially from those described herein, including but not limited to the impact of changes in economic and business conditions, including as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic; competition; successful execution of the Company’s growth strategy; success and growth of the Company’s cloud Software-as-a-Service business; changes in technology and market requirements; decline in demand for the Company’s products; inability to timely develop and introduce new technologies, products and applications; difficulties or delays in absorbing and integrating acquired operations, products, technologies and personnel; loss of market share; an inability to maintain certain marketing and distribution arrangements; the Company’s dependency on third-party cloud computing platform providers, hosting facilities and service partners;, cyber security attacks or other security breaches against the Company; the effect of newly enacted or modified laws, regulation or standards on the Company and our products and various other factors and uncertainties discussed in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). For a more detailed description of the risk factors and uncertainties affecting the company, refer to the Company’s reports filed from time to time with the SEC, including the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise them, except as required by law.

Contacts

Corporate Media
Christopher Irwin-Dudek, +1 201 561 4442, chris.irwin-dudek@nice.com, ET

Investors
Marty Cohen, +1 551 256 5354, ir@nice.com, ET

Omri Arens, +972 3 763 0127, ir@nice.com, CET

Categories
Art & Life Business Lifestyle

Aetrex presents new comfort dress shoe designs for fall 2022 based on scientific data

Brand to exhibit its year-round comfort footwear collection at 2022 Atlanta Shoe Market, booth #1537

 

TEANECK, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — Aetrex, Inc. (“Aetrex”), the global market leader in foot scanning technology, orthotics and comfort & wellness footwear, today announced its plans to showcase its new Fall/Winter 2022 collection at this year’s Atlanta Shoe Market, Feb. 19-21. In addition to successful year-round casual and athleisure styles, Aetrex will be showcasing its comfort-driven, fashion-forward dress styles, such as the Corey and Finley heeled clogs. Unique to all Aetrex shoes, these styles feature the company’s proprietary arch support for proper alignment plus additional healthy ingredients for all-day comfort.


“Retailers are well stocked with cozy footwear and athleisure styles that have been driving the market throughout the pandemic,” said Renee Newman, VP Footwear Sales at Aetrex. “Consumers are ready and excited to get back to work in person and resume public social events. They are looking for fresh, fun dress styles for these occasions, but they don’t want to sacrifice the comfort they’ve become accustomed to.”

 

Renowned for comfort, the Aetrex footwear collection delivers the perfect balance of health benefits and trend-right styling. In particular, the company’s fall clog styles, such as the Corey and Finley (MSRP $164.95), provide versatile looks that transition well across seasons.

 

Both silhouettes feature Aetrex’s Signature Arch Support, which is designed to provide alignment, minimize over-pronation and help prevent common conditions such as plantar fasciitis, arch pain and metatarsalgia. Other healthy ingredients include an antimicrobial microfiber footbed, memory foam cushioning for added comfort, suede and leather uppers, and a 3’’ lightweight cork heel for comfortable wear without a clunky feel. Additional notable features include:

 

  • Corey – a braided belt for an additional flare and a stretch gore side for optimal comfort and fit.
  • Finley – an adjustable quarter strap with a hook and loop closure system for a personalized fit.

 

For years, Aetrex has been recognized as an orthotic sandal brand, thriving during the Spring season. “Over the past couple of years, we’ve seen significant growth in our Fall/Winter collection and athleisure styles that transition well from season to season,” said Newman. “We’re excited to continue this momentum in our Fall 2022 lineup with fashionable, fun options, like these new dress styles that offer heel height and take her easily from work to dinner without sacrificing the comfort she has come to expect from Aetrex.”

 

It’s well known that heeled footwear typically isn’t comfortable or very supportive. However, Aetrex’s mission is to help people stay comfortable on their feet in all types of footwear. It all starts with a comprehensive foot scan. Over the past 20 years, Aetrex has placed more than 10,000 foot scanners around the world and performed more than 40 million scans.

 

“With all this data, it’s no surprise that we really know feet. And we recognize this is our secret sauce for developing great shoes and orthotics. Our unique, premium footwear designs are all based on scientific data to ensure maximum comfort, support and a better overall fit,” said Larry Schwartz, CEO Aetrex.

 

Available in August 2022, Aetrex’s Fall/Winter 2022 line will also include new athluxe sneakers, cozy, weatherproof and fashion-forward boots with sherpa features, new slippers for at-home comfort, and much more. Atlanta Shoe Market attendees can stop by the booth (#1537) to experience this unique footwear collection.

 

To learn more about Aetrex, please visit www.aetrex.com.

 

About Aetrex

Aetrex Worldwide, Inc. is widely recognized as the global leader in foot scanning technology, orthotics, and comfort and wellness footwear. Aetrex has developed state-of-the-art foot scanning devices, including Albert, Albert 2 and iStep, designed to accurately measure feet and determine foot type and pressure points. Since 2002, Aetrex has placed over 10,000 scanners worldwide that have performed more than 40 million unique customer foot scans, currently averaging more than 2.5 million scans a year.

 

The company is renowned for its over-the-counter orthotics – the worlds #1 premium foot orthotic. With fashion, function and quality at the forefront, Aetrex also designs and manufactures stylish, performance footwear. Based in New Jersey, Aetrex is consistently named one of New Jersey’s Top 100 Privately Held Companies and was also included in NJBIZ’s Top 30 Manufacturing Companies. It has remained privately owned by the Schwartz family for three generations. For additional information, visit www.aetrex.com.

Contacts

Media
Rajira Hernandez

Matter Communications

978-225-8082

aetrex@matternow.com