Tag: New Jersey

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Healthcare Lifestyle Science

The Endometriosis Foundation of America applauds passage of New Jersey Legislation for Endometriosis Screening and Awareness Program

NEW YORK — (BUSINESS WIRE) — #UpEndo — The Endometriosis Foundation of America, and its UpEndo Coalition, applaud passage of New Jersey General Assemblywoman Shanique Speight’s bill, A3212, to establish a Women’s Menstrual Health Screening Program and requirements to screen appropriate patients for endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). On Thursday, September 29, the New Jersey Assembly Women and Children Committee, chaired by Assemblywoman Gabriela Mosquera, passed the bill with bipartisan unanimous support.

“The passing of this important legislation will help young people get diagnosed earlier and treated quicker for menstrual disorders like endometriosis that have an enormous impact on their fertility, mental health, and ability to thrive in society. Early recognition of what is and is not normal for those experiencing menstrual symptoms will have a huge social and economic impact. By raising awareness through screening programs, we can reach more young people at the right place and time to truly make a difference in their lives.” – Tracey Haas, DO, MPH – Interim Executive Director, Endometriosis Foundation of America

 

Assemblywoman Speight’s bill represents a major step forward in ensuring that women in New Jersey receive early screening and diagnosis and help spread greater awareness of endometriosis through the creation of the Women’s Menstrual Health Screening Program within the New Jersey Department of Health. Importantly it would also ensure greater education and awareness of endometriosis within the medical community.

 

“Today has been a historic day for New Jersey. The Assembly women and children committee has voted on 7 bills that address Menstrual health. Legislation such as these will positively impact women and girls in the state of New Jersey, especially A3212 which establishes a menstrual health screening program for individuals suffering from endometriosis and PCOS.” – New Jersey Assemblywoman Shanique Speight

 

Diana Falzone, Endometriosis Foundation of America Ambassador and Executive Producer and host of EndoTV, submitted testimony to the committee in support of the bill. The UpEndo Coalition was created by the Endometriosis Foundation in 2021 to promote a better understanding of the extent and long-term health implications of endometriosis with the public, Congress, and state legislative leaders, build awareness about the short- and long-term consequences of living with this debilitating disease, and ensure policymakers are advancing research funding and other policy priorities.

 

“The passing of this important, impactful legislation for women’s health thanks to Assemblywoman Speight, will undoubtedly have a positive impact on many people’s lives and overall well-being. The sooner diseases like endometriosis are diagnosed, the quicker medical intervention can begin which can hopefully spare many years of pain, misdiagnosis or lack thereof, suffering, and financial costs. Today is a win for bettering the healthcare system and bettering the lives of New Jerseyans.” – Diana Falzone, Endometriosis Foundation of America Ambassador

 

The bill will now go before the full New Jersey Assembly and Senate in order to be sent to the Governor for the final signature. The UpEndo Coalition supports the signing of A3212 in to law, and respectfully urges Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin and Senate President Nicholas Scutari to bring the bill up for a vote in the full legislature.

 

Contacts

Jeanne Rebillard, Jeanne@EndoFound.org

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Business Lifestyle Technology

The Atlantic Federal Credit Union selects Upstart for personal lending

SPRINGFIELD, N.J. & SAN MATEO, Calif. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — The Atlantic Federal Credit Union, a community-chartered credit union serving Essex and Union counties in New Jersey,  announced that it has partnered with Upstart (NASDAQ: UPST), a leading artificial intelligence (AI) lending marketplace, to provide personal loans to new and existing members.

“We are a credit union focused on providing high quality service through digital automation, personal assistance, and market-leading products, which is why we chose to partner with Upstart,” said Jason Reed, Chief Operations Officer for The Atlantic Federal Credit Union. “Upstart has successfully provided our credit union with an opportunity to lend to a wider range of borrowers through an all-digital platform powered by AI and is helping us achieve our lending goals.”

 

As an Upstart lending partner since September 2021, The Atlantic Federal Credit Union (The Atlantic) is part of the Upstart Referral Network. With the Upstart Referral Network, qualified personal loan applicants on Upstart.com who meet The Atlantic’s credit policies will receive tailored offers as they seamlessly transition into an Atlantic Federal Credit Union-branded experience to complete the online member application and closing process.

 

“We are excited to be partnering with The Atlantic Federal Credit Union to provide a modern, all-digital personal lending experience to more people,” said Michael Lock, SVP of Lending Partnerships for Upstart. “Through the Upstart Referral Network, The Atlantic is leveraging Upstart’s AI lending platform to serve new and existing members while expanding access to affordable credit.”

 

To learn more about The Atlantic Federal Credit Union and the partnership with Upstart, please watch the webinar, “Driving Member Engagement & Growth during Uncertain Times with AI: A Case Study with The Atlantic Federal Credit Union.” To learn more about Upstart for Credit Unions and the Upstart Referral Network, please watch this video.

 

About Upstart

Upstart (NASDAQ: UPST) is a leading AI lending marketplace partnering with banks and credit unions to expand access to affordable credit. By leveraging Upstart’s AI platform, Upstart-powered banks and credit unions can have higher approval rates and lower loss rates for every race, ethnicity, age, and gender, while simultaneously delivering the exceptional digital-first lending experience their customers demand. More than two-thirds of Upstart loans are approved instantly and are fully automated. Upstart was founded by ex-Googlers in 2012 and is based in San Mateo, California and Columbus, Ohio.

 

About The Atlantic Federal Credit Union

The Atlantic Federal Credit Union was founded in 1935 as a not-for-profit financial cooperative to meet the savings and borrowing needs of Members. Today, The Atlantic Federal Credit Union exclusively serves Essex and Union counties in New Jersey with financial wellness resources, competitive rates and technology-driven solutions for personal and business banking needs. For full eligibility criteria and more information, visit AtlFedCU.com.

Contacts

press@upstart.com

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Business Lifestyle Technology

U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Soldier Center utilizes Aetrex Technology for Department of Defense Footwear Initiative

Cross-service effort focusing on design and fit improvements for female Warfighter combat and safety footwear

 

TEANECK, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — Aetrex, Inc. (“Aetrex”), the global market leader in foot scanning technology, orthotics and comfort & wellness footwear, today announced the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Soldier Center’s (DEVCOM SC) rental of the brand’s Albert 2 Pro 3D foot scanner for use in their investigation of the need for – and potential impact of – combat and safety footwear designed for women, specifically. This is a cross-service effort between DEVCOM SC, the Navy Exchange Service Command’s Navy Clothing and Textile Research Facility (NCTRF) and Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) to make design and fit improvements for combat and safety footwear for U.S. female Warfighters. After the rental period was over, NCTRF purchased an Albert 2 Pro 3D scanner and used it for the last test location.


The Army Combat Boot Improvement and cross-service Female Fit and Size efforts aim to bring the issue of fit to the forefront, as well as determine whether female Warfighters are adequately accommodated by the current combat and safety footwear.

 

Fit plays an all-important role in Warfighter footwear because improperly fitted boots can cause discomfort and impact performance. Improperly fitted boots can also increase the risk of injuries, including blisters and stress fractures. The goal of the footwear fit effort is to improve the fit of combat boots for female service members, ultimately improving Soldier performance, enhancing comfort, and preventing injuries.

 

With the help of the Albert 2 Pro, DEVCOM SC, NCTRF, and AFLCMC teams will be able to gain a better understanding of the unique requirements of female Warfighters’ feet. The effort will help to determine if there is a need for female-specific footwear “lasts” (the forms on which footwear is constructed) and which design and fit improvements are key.

 

“The Albert 2 Pro provides a streamlined process for accurately collecting scientific data, including 3D foot measurements, static pressure underfoot, and the dynamic pressure for gait analysis, in a matter of seconds,” said Larry Schwartz, CEO at Aetrex. “For the past 20 years, our scanners have performed over 40 million foot scans that have helped inform our footwear and orthotics designs. With the innovative capabilities of our premium scanner, we are confident that researchers will find the information needed to determine the best approach for their cross-service Female Fit and Size efforts.”

 

To learn more about Albert 2 Pro and Aetrex’s technology suite, 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 Pro, a CES 2022 Innovation Award Honoree, 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

Categories
Business Lifestyle

11:11 Systems to acquire recovery business of Sungard Availability Services

Acquisition Will Establish 11:11 Systems as Leading Provider of Cyber Resiliency and Disaster Recovery Solutions

 

FAIRFIELD, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#PE—11:11 Systems (“11:11”), a managed infrastructure solutions provider, today announced that it has entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement to acquire Sungard Availability Services’ (“Sungard AS”) Recovery Services business. The parties anticipate receiving bankruptcy court approval of the sale by mid-October, and the transaction is expected to close later this fall alongside 11:11 Systems’ simultaneous acquisition of Sungard AS’ Cloud and Managed Services (CMS) business.

Once completed, acquiring these two Sungard AS businesses will cement 11:11 Systems as one of the largest and most experienced cyber resiliency and disaster recovery providers. At the beginning of 2022, 11:11 Systems announced the acquisition of both Green Cloud Defense and iland, two market leaders in the cyber resiliency and disaster recovery space.

 

Once the two Sungard AS acquisitions are complete, the combined resources, experience, talent, solution offerings and customer and partner ecosystems will be brought together to establish an in-depth, comprehensive and global cyber resiliency and disaster recovery practice within 11:11.

 

Further, the addition of Sungard AS’ infrastructure recovery, backup and vaulting, managed recovery and consulting services will perfectly complement 11:11’s cloud, backup, disaster recovery and managed security solution suite. This combination of solutions, services and expertise form the most complete cloud, recovery and resiliency offering available regardless of the customer use case or where data resides.

 

“We know that more than half of all companies today have experienced some sort of cyber-attack within the past 18 months. With these strategic acquisitions, 11:11 Systems is the best option on the market for helping customers of any size – no matter how simple or complex their needs are – prepare for and defend against cyber-attacks and other business interruptions,” said Brett Diamond, CEO, 11:11 Systems. “We are bringing together the market’s best players in cyber resiliency, harnessing their experience and strength and will add to it an innovation platform that will not only convey our combined customer ecosystem safely into the future, but also will optimize their environments for efficiency, cost and availability.”

 

Collectively, the companies integrating into the 11:11 Systems platform have been recognized for the following:

  • iland named a Leader and Sungard AS named a Visionary in key analyst report for Disaster Recovery as a Service
  • Sungard AS cited as a Leader and iland cited as a Strong Performer in key Disaster-Recovery-As-A-Service Providers report
  • VMware Cloud Verified status achieved by Green Cloud, iland and Sungard AS
  • Veeam Cloud & Service Provider Impact Partner of the Year, North America: iland named in 2021 for the sixth time
  • Zerto Cloud Partner of the Year Award: iland named in 2020 for the fourth time
  • Zerto Alliance Partner – Gold Partner status achieved by iland and Sungard AS

 

Further Sungard AS has been recognized for the following:

  • Business Continuity Institute (BCI) Hall of Fame
  • Amazon Web Services Storage Competency Status, Managed Service Provider Partner Status, and Advanced Consulting Partner in the AWS Partner Network- Sungard AS

 

As a part of this transaction, 11:11 will gain a large team of highly skilled employees as well as 13 new cloud points of presence, which when combined with the 13 cloud points of presence included in 11:11’s acquisition of Sungard AS’ CMS business totals 26 new cloud points of presence for 11:11’s customers.

 

“Our goal is to enhance the cyber resiliency and disaster recovery team within 11:11 Systems by combining the best talent from the industry’s top data protection providers to expand options for our existing customers and blaze the path for business resiliency in the future,” said Justin Giardina, CTO, 11:11. “The well of experience, expertise and solution excellence is deep, and we intend to fully optimize this unique opportunity to the benefit of our customer and partner ecosystem.”

 

11:11 is backed by Tiger Infrastructure Partners, a middle-market private equity firm that invests in growing infrastructure platforms.

Q Advisors, a global TMT investment banking boutique, acted as exclusive financial advisor to 11:11 in connection with this transaction. Perkins Coie acted as legal advisor to 11:11. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

 

ABOUT 11:11 SYSTEMS

11:11 Systems is a managed infrastructure solutions provider that holistically addresses the challenges of next-generation managed cloud, connectivity and security requirements. The 11:11 model empowers customers and partners to “Rethink Connected,” which includes fully-integrated, fully-automated services, activities and delivering increased performance, optimization and savings. Learn more at 1111Systems.com.

 

ABOUT TIGER INFRASTRUCTURE PARTNERS

Tiger Infrastructure Partners is an innovative, middle-market private equity firm that invests in new and growing infrastructure platforms. Tiger Infrastructure targets investments in communications (digital), energy transition, transportation, and related sectors, primarily located in North America and Europe. For more information, visit www.tigerinfrastructure.com.

Contacts

Candice Mayan

cmayan@1111systems.com
440-879-8643

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Business Culture Lifestyle Travel & Leisure

New Jersey Transit Innovation Team named winner in Second Annual IDC Best in Future of Digital Innovation Awards

NEEDHAM, Mass. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — #DigitalInnovation–International Data Corporation (IDC) today announced winners of the second annual IDC Future Enterprise Best in Future of Digital Innovation North America Awards. Winning projects successfully showcased the ability to source, augment, develop, and/or distribute software IP (intellectual property) to deliver differentiation, disrupt the market through external products or services, or have a significant positive impact on internal operations. Winners will be recognized during a live, virtual event on November 2nd at 2 pm U.S. Eastern Time. To register, please visit HERE.

 

  • Check out our Future of Digital Innovation eBook HERE.

The Best in Future of Digital Innovation North America Award winners for 2022 include:

 

 

Overall Winner

New Jersey Transit – Innovation Train: NJ TRANSIT’s Innovation Train project is a multi-phase initiative spanning R&D, implementation, and specification development that overhauls outdated technologies used in the transit industry to connect all NJ Transit Assets (vehicles, stations, track) to provide situational awareness, command, control, financial, and communications operations. No current single product can fulfill NJT’s goals. As a result, NJT “invented” the future — a “single stack” configuration of hardware, software, and standard operating procedures. The team-built technology delivers: a private mesh network that integrates NJT assets; 10G/s backbone providing internet access to the mesh; edge computing for video upload and analytics; onboard and station Wi-Fi; automated passenger analytics; UWB-based wayfinding; and IoT-based elevator/escalator monitoring. To accomplish this goal, NJ Transit built a laboratory at NJT headquarters and deployed the technologies for integration and testing. After confirming the technology, the Innovation Team installed the configured objects in four train stations and two trains. As a result, the time to offload video from vehicles dropped from 48 hours to 10 minutes – a reduction of 99.65%, which increased video storage length by 333%, allowing NJT to reduce false insurance claims by up to $4-5 million annually.

 

Edge Innovation Category Winner

PCL Constructors Inc. – Job Site Access: Job Site Access (JSA) is a cloud-based access control tracking platform designed and built in 2021 by PCL’s Business Technology department specifically to support the tracking, management, and control of workforce access on job sites promoting site security, safety, and efficient operations management. JSA is designed to scale to meet the demands of varying project sizes and configurations and provides flexible options based on specific construction, regional, security, or operational requirements. Projects can choose the type of monitoring access method from cost effective QR printed badges to innovative facial recognition biometric authentication methods as well as various hardware integration options from industrial grade turnstile gate structures, guard operated checkpoints, or self-service reader stations. The JSA solution enables field operations teams to be connected through remote mobile functions with the JSA Site Mobile app for iOS or Android devices. From simple worker tracking to complex authorization and security, Job Site Access is the security solution for smart connected construction sites providing a safer work environment by restricting unauthorized access, reducing opportunities for job site theft, and tracking time on site as a source to verify payroll or labor costs.

 

Innovation in Information Management Winner

National Fire Protection Association – NFPA LiNK: Developed by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), NFPA LiNK is an application-based platform containing real-time code information and situational content. Subscribers can add personalized notes in addition to bookmarking and sharing specific sections of code. With the flexibility to be used online or offline via mobile, tablet, laptop, or desktop devices, NFPA LiNK provides quicker access to crucial content while transforming the way information is delivered and used in the codes and standards industry. People around the world have turned to NFPA codes and standards to do their jobs efficiently and effectively for more than a century, but in recent years NFPA has seen a shift in the ways that people learn and do their jobs. Today’s workers do not find a physical book or a static digital version of a book to be the best means to help solve problems on a real-time basis. Instead, they want to connect the dots on safety and glean real-world, real-time understanding. With 54% of NFPA LiNK subscribers being first time NFPA customers, the platform has successfully reached a broad range of customers. Not only does NFPA LiNK support individuals, but the application also supports the differing needs of small businesses and large organizations.

 

“Winners in our annual Best in Future of Digital Innovation Awards represent those modern organizations that have successfully transformed from digital technology consumers to large-scale digital innovators,” said Nancy Gohring, research director, Future of Digital Innovation at IDC. “We are thrilled to shine a spotlight on the organizations operating as digital innovation factories, building differentiating products and services to create greater value for customers and the business.”

 

For more information on the IDC Future Enterprise Awards Program, please contact Heather Ball at hball@idc.com.

 

About IDC’s Future of Digital Innovation Research Practice

Leveraging a framework that illustrates the interdependencies among three core components of digital innovation – defined business outcomes, an innovation foundation, and a flywheel of innovation, IDC’s Future of Digital Innovation research practice helps organizations generate the sustainable momentum necessary for the continued development of innovative digital products and services.

To learn more about IDC’s Future of X research practices, please visit https://www.idc.com/FoX

 

About IDC

International Data Corporation (IDC) is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets. With more than 1,300 analysts worldwide, IDC offers global, regional, and local expertise on technology, IT benchmarking and sourcing, and industry opportunities and trends in over 110 countries. IDC’s analysis and insight helps IT professionals, business executives, and the investment community to make fact-based technology decisions and to achieve their key business objectives. Founded in 1964, IDC is a wholly owned subsidiary of International Data Group (IDG), the world’s leading tech media, data, and marketing services company. To learn more about IDC, please visit www.idc.com. Follow IDC on Twitter at @IDC and LinkedIn. Subscribe to the IDC Blog for industry news and insights.

Contacts

Sarah Murray

Attune Communications

781-378-2674

sarah@attunecommunications.com

Mary Conroy

IDC

508-935-6964

mconroy@idc.com

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Art & Life Business Lifestyle

VeeFriends launches collectible characters exclusively for Macy’s and Toys”R”Us

Move takes Gary Vaynerchuk’s IP from digital to physical collectibles

The first-ever limited collection of plush and vinyl characters is available at Toy”R”Us at all Macy’s nationwide, on Macys.com and internationally through shop veefriends.com

 

NEW YORK — (BUSINESS WIRE) — VeeFriends, created by serial entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk, will launch its first-ever limited series of collectible characters exclusively at Macy’s and Toys”R”Us®. The collection will be available for pre-sale starting today, launching on October 17.

 

This is the first step in bringing the VeeFriends characters to life, from digital NFT collectibles to physical collectibles, giving access to any consumer to own a VeeFriends character – expanding beyond its robust NFT community and NFT holders. In addition, each product will come with a printed QR code that leads to 3D animated heartfelt short films and other character songs.


VeeFriends was developed around characters, all of which Vaynerchuk imagined, created, and drew himself, with traits that he admires and believes will lead to happiness and success. Vaynerchuk’s vision is to scale his ideas through the characters and the traits they represent.

 

Ranging in price from $9.99 to $29.99, the collection features plush and/or vinyl character sets designed by London-based entertainment company, Toikido, that will be exclusively available at macys.com/toysrus.com, the Macy’s mobile app, at all Toy”R”Us at Macy’s stores nationwide, and on shop.veefriends.com for international consumers.

 

Vaynerchuk curated the ten special characters out of the 283 characters in VeeFriends for this first collection. “This partnership means way more to me than you could ever imagine. The thought that VeeFriends will be in Macy’s and Toys”R”Us simultaneously is incredible,” said Gary Vaynerchuk, CEO & Creator of VeeFriends. “I fondly remember growing up in Edison, New Jersey, walking down these stores’ aisles as a kid. We chose characters that we think embody exciting features for first-time collectors, much like some of the toys I picked up on the shelves of Toys”R”Us the first time. I can’t wait to see them in-store and on the shelves – it’s a full circle moment for me and a very big step for the company.”

 

Each VeeFriends figure and plush character has a unique story behind their bespoken trait including Practical Peacock, Willful Wizard, Genuine Giraffe, Adventurous Astronaut, Gratitude Gorilla, Patient Panda, Empathy Elephant, Common Sense Cow, Heart Trooper, and Be the Bigger Person. You can learn the story of each VeeFriends character through the printed QR code that leads to 3D animated heartfelt short films and other character songs.

 

“Gary Vaynerchuk has created an extraordinary digital community. We are excited to partner with Gary and VeeFriends to bring his signature NFT characters to life exclusively at Macy’s, reaching a new set of fans for us,” said Stephen Moore, SVP of Merchandising at Macy’s. “VeeFriends collectible plush and vinyl sets have unique stories and design, and we can’t wait for both parents and children to enjoy.”

 

In celebration of the launch of the collection, Vaynerchuk will be having two in-store appearances: in Chicago on October 17th and in New York City on October 21st, where he will also participate in Macy’s Live. Macy’s Live is the retailer’s streaming show that offers exclusive offers and content live from their new studio located at the flagship Herald Square store in New York. VeeFriends will share further information on how to join the in-store events on their website: veefriends.com.

 

Beginning on October 4 through October 18, VeeFriends is offering token holders with specific characters a free figure that they can claim. “VeeFriends wants to bring value to our NFT community – not only will they get first access to claim the collection, they also get priority at the in-store events. It’s just one more way we want to connect with our NFT holders and show them how we are developing the IP behind the characters,” Andy Kraniak, President of VeeFriends. Token holders of both VeeFriends Series 1 and Series 2 will be able to claim their figure through https://series2.veefriends.com/experiences/macys-claim.

 

About Macy’s

Macy’s, the largest retail brand of Macy’s, Inc. (NYSE: M), serves as the style source for generations of customers. With one of the nation’s largest e-commerce platforms powered by macys.com and mobile app, paired with a nationwide network of stores, Macy’s delivers the most convenient and seamless shopping experience, offering great values in apparel, home, beauty, accessories and more. Macy’s gives customers even more ways to shop and own their style through an off-price assortment at Macy’s Backstage and at our highly curated and smaller store format, Market by Macy’s. Each year, Macy’s provides millions with unforgettable experiences through Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks® and Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade® and helps our customers celebrate special moments, big and small. We’re guided by our purpose—to create a brighter future with bold representation—that empowers more voice, choice and ownership for our colleagues, customers and communities.

 

About TOYS”R”US®

For more than 70 years, Toys”R”Us has been the global leader in the toy category celebrating the joys of childhood and play with kids of all ages. Geoffrey the GiraffeTM, the beloved mascot of Toys”R”Us, is adored by millions of kids and their families around the world. Toys”R”Us today has over 1,000 stores and e-commerce businesses in more than 25 countries. Toys”R”Us is owned by WHP Global, a leading brand management firm with a portfolio of consumer brands that generate over USD$4.5 billion in retail sales.

 

About VeeFriends

An NFT project that brought to life Gary’s ambitions of building a community around his creative and business passions using NFT technology and their smart contract capabilities. There are 283 VeeFriends all of which Gary imagined, created, and drew himself. Each character represents traits and qualities Gary admires and hopes to inspire in others. Every VeeFriends token is admission to VeeCon 2022, 2023, and 2024. For more information, visit https://veefriends.com/ and join the discord channel.

 

About Gary Vaynerchuk

Gary Vaynerchuk is a serial entrepreneur and serves as the Chairman of VaynerX and the CEO of VeeFriends. Gary is considered one of the leading global minds on what’s next in culture,relevance, and the internet. Known as “GaryVee,” he is described as one of the most forward thinkers in business – he acutely recognizes trends and patterns early to help others understand how these shifts impact markets and consumer behavior. In addition, Gary understands how to bring brand relevance to the forefront, whether it’s emerging artists, esports, NFT investing, or digital communications. He is a prolific angel investor with early investments in Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Venmo, Snapchat, Coinbase, and Uber.

 

Contacts

Media: Julissa Bonfante and Gillian Boyland, communications@macys.com
Investors: Pam Quintiliano, investors@macys.com

Categories
Business Lifestyle Science Technology

Velodyne Lidar acquires AI software company Bluecity

Acquisition Bolsters Velodyne’s Lidar Solutions for Intelligent Infrastructure

 

SAN JOSE, Calif. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — $VLDR #ai—Velodyne Lidar, Inc. (Nasdaq: VLDR, VLDRW) today announced the company has acquired Bluecity, a Montreal-based artificial intelligence (AI) software company whose next-generation, lidar-based solutions solve safety, traffic and infrastructure issues. The all-stock acquisition reinforces Velodyne’s commitment to enabling customer success by delivering industry-leading, AI-powered autonomous vision solutions. The addition of Bluecity is expected to be immaterial to operating expenses and cash usage. Bluecity’s executive, software development and sales teams will join Velodyne.


Velodyne and Bluecity have been partnering for many years to deliver lidar-based solutions for smart city applications. Velodyne’s Intelligent Infrastructure Solution (IIS) combines the company’s award-winning lidar sensors and Bluecity’s AI software. IIS delivers traffic monitoring and analytics to improve road safety and efficiency, and helps cities plan for smarter, greener transportation systems. The solution is deployed across four continents with 74 installations, including systems rolled out domestically in California, Colorado, Florida, New Jersey, Maryland, Texas, Nevada and Michigan and internationally in Canada, China, UAE, India, Finland, Germany and Australia.

 

“We are excited to welcome Bluecity as full members of the Velodyne team. They are an exceptionally talented group of innovators with game-changing AI and analytics software that perfectly complements our lidar sensors and Vella software,” said Dr. Ted Tewksbury, CEO, Velodyne Lidar. “The customer response to Velodyne’s lidar-based system solutions has been incredibly positive. Customers are using our lidar and AI-powered analytics to obtain business insights and improve safety, sustainability, efficiency and transportation equity in ways that were never possible with traditional cameras or radar alone. Our acquisition of Bluecity further affirms that a system solutions approach integrating software and hardware is a major competitive advantage for Velodyne across all our end markets.”

 

“Bluecity is a big believer in Velodyne’s vision of being the leading provider of AI-powered autonomous vision systems,” said Dr. Asad Lesani, Co-Founder and CEO, Bluecity. “Our experience working with Velodyne’s world-class lidar sensors has shown the power their solutions can bring in making communities safer and more efficient. Our team is thrilled to now be part of Velodyne.”

 

Velodyne Expands Full-Stack Solutions Portfolio

Velodyne will continue to expand its Intelligent Infrastructure Solution’s capabilities, including monitoring flows of people and vehicles to create a range of new full-stack infrastructure solutions for applications such as parking, retail, casinos and stadiums. According to Yole Intelligence, part of Yole Group, the smart infrastructure market for lidar will grow from $108M in 2021 to $1.1B in 20271. To serve these growing markets, Velodyne will integrate Bluecity’s robust AI and analytics software, delivered in a Software as a Service (SaaS) model, with Velodyne’s Vella lidar perception software. This integration will facilitate the creation of new Velodyne lidar-based software solutions for industrial, robotics and intelligent infrastructure, enabling the acceleration of customers’ time to market with autonomous vision systems for these markets.

 

Vella software translates lidar data into actionable information so that autonomous systems can observe and understand the environments they are operating in. Vella’s real-time data enables autonomous systems to make decisions and take action, such as a robot or vehicle moving safely, and provide analytics, for example a traffic solution helping communities understand root causes of near-miss collisions, red light running and other road user behavior.

 

1Source: LiDAR 2022 – Focus on Automotive and Industrial Report, Yole Intelligence, 2022

 

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 robotics, industrial, intelligent infrastructure, autonomous vehicles and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). Through continuous innovation, Velodyne strives to transform lives and communities by advancing safer mobility for all.

 

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

Investor Relations
Jim Fanucchi

Darrow Associates, Inc.

InvestorRelations@velodyne.com

Media
Jane Maynard

Velodyne Lidar

PR@velodyne.com

Categories
Business Culture

AM Best to participate at Insurance Internal Audit Group’s Fall Conference

OLDWICK, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — AM Best will join the general session of the Insurance Internal Audit Group (IIAG) Fall Conference, which takes place Oct. 5-7, 2022, in Boston.

Anthony Molinaro, senior financial analyst, AM Best, will participate in the presentation that opens the conference at 3:00 pm (EDT). The session is titled, “ESG and AM Best Perspectives: What Internal Auditors Should Know and Do Now, Next and Later,” and is sponsored by Baker Tilly. Molinaro, who has been at AM Best since 2019, works in the property/casualty ratings division of AM Best, covering a diverse portfolio of companies. He also spent time at Prudential Financial in its financial reporting area, with a similar role at American International Group.

 

The Insurance Internal Audit Group is a non-profit organization founded over 50 years ago to provide its members with the tools to expand their knowledge and skills in the field of insurance Internal Auditing. For more information about the conference, which is taking place at the Boston Sheraton Hotel, please go to the event page and agenda.

 

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

 

Copyright © 2022 by A.M. Best Company, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Contacts

Christopher Sharkey
Manager, Public Relations
+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5159
christopher.sharkey@ambest.com

Al Slavin
Communications Specialist
+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5098
al.slavin@ambest.com

Categories
Business Culture

Best’s Review explores auto manufacturers’ initiatives to offer insurance

OLDWICK, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — The October issue ofBest’s Review covers auto manufacturers’ initiatives to offer insurance for their vehicles.

 

Also included in the October issue:

 

Best’s Review is AM Best’s monthly insurance magazine, covering emerging issues and trends and evaluating their impact on the marketplace. Access to the complete content of Best’s Review is available here.

 

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

 

Copyright © 2022 by A.M. Best Company, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Contacts

Patricia Vowinkel
Executive Editor, Best’s Review®
+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5540
patricia.vowinkel@ambest.com

Categories
Business Culture Entertainment News International & World

Prudential powers inclusion and economic growth in New York City and across the globe through support of Curtain Up Broadway Festival

  • Leads title sponsorship of the free Curtain Up Broadway Festival for the second year in a row
  • Donates $110K to power inclusion and economic growth for Broadway and local theater communities
  • Partners with acclaimed actress Brittney Johnson to shine a spotlight on access and inclusion

 

NEWARK, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — For the second year in a row, Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), in collaboration with Playbill, Times Square Alliance, and The Broadway League, is proud to be the title sponsor of the Curtain Up Broadway Festival. The free, three-day outdoor event will take place Sept. 30 – Oct. 2 in the heart of Times Square and celebrates Broadway, a cultural icon that drives inclusion and economic growth in New York City and beyond.


Through this sponsorship, Prudential is reaffirming its commitment to Broadway, which serves as a foundation for the New York City arts community. Prior to the pandemic, Broadway contributed $15 billion to the larger $110 billion culture sector across the city, and Prudential is proud to be a rock of support for this event celebrating the iconic institution. Beyond New York City, Broadway’s economic reach extends far and wide through touring shows that infuse almost $4 billion into nearly 200 cities across the U.S. and Canada.

 

As part of the Curtain Up event, Prudential is also expanding access to the arts, theater community, and education programs, creating opportunities for more inclusion on Broadway. Since last year’s festival, Prudential has given away 2,400 tickets to Broadway shows at local theaters across the country through the Prudential Standing Ovations Ticket Giveaway. This year, thanks to Prudential’s support, the festival hopes to double the number of in-person guests to Times Square for the event. In addition, Curtain Up has partnered with WABC-TV to broadcast the finale concert throughout the tri-state area and with Playbill to livestream the event on its website.

 

“We know that Broadway and local theaters help to drive inclusion and economic growth in New York City and around the world. That’s why we are so proud to bring the Curtain Up Broadway Festival back again this year and to be a rock that helps fuel the industry and welcomes more people from more places to experience it,” said Susan Somersille Johnson, Prudential’s chief marketing officer. “I’m also pleased to announce Prudential is donating a total of $110,000 to the Entertainment Community Fund and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, two cultural institutions that support performing arts and entertainment professionals.”

 

As part of its sponsorship, Prudential has partnered with Brittney Johnson, an accomplished actress and the first Black woman to play the role of “Glinda” in the Broadway musical Wicked, to shine a spotlight on the need and opportunity for more inclusion in Broadway.

 

“The arts are unique in that they allow us to really see each other. To me, there is no greater vulnerability than to share something you have created with another person. Theater teaches and requires us to have empathy for each other and for ourselves in real time,” said Johnson. “To walk with a character, a person unlike yourself, through a pivotal moment in their lives, and learn something about yourself in the process — that is the power of theater. To watch other people around you feel empathy for a person onstage and feel valued as a result — that is the power of inclusion.”

 

In partnership with Johnson, Prudential will donate $50,000 to a nonprofit of her choosing, the Entertainment Community Fund (formerly known as The Actors Fund), an organization that embraces diversity and seeks equity and inclusion as it helps provide stability for performing arts and entertainment professionals throughout their lifetime. This effort builds on last year’s $50,000 donation that supported the organization’s critical programs that address unique needs of those working in the entertainment industry, including financial wellness workshops, support groups, online resources, and emergency financial assistance. Prudential’s financial wellness portal will be accessible to the arts community through the fund, and financial advisors will be on-site at the festival to provide information.

 

“We’re thrilled to be back with Curtain Up in the heart of Times Square, celebrating everyone onstage and off who works so hard to bring the magic of Broadway to life,” said Entertainment Community Fund President and CEO Joe Benincasa. “And we’re so grateful to Brittney Johnson and Prudential for this incredible donation that will help us continue to support our community when they need us the most, now and in the years to come.”

 

Prudential is also making a $60,000 donation to Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, which is helping transform the arts landscape in the company’s hometown of Newark, New Jersey, and plays a crucial social role, using the beauty and humanity of the African American heritage and the modern dance tradition to unite people of all races, ages and backgrounds. This donation is in addition to the financial support the organization has received from Prudential for over 30 years.

 

“Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performances uplift, enlighten and unite. Like the organization’s various education programs, they illuminate the human spirit, unlock potential, and spark change,” stated Robert Battle, the organization’s artistic director. “We’re thrilled to be in the heart of Times Square to invite new audiences to join in a dance workshop inspired by Alvin Ailey’s must-see masterpiece Revelations. Thank you to Prudential for this generous gift, and for a legacy of extending Ailey’s reach to connect with so many communities in meaningful ways.”

 

Throughout the Curtain Up festival, Broadway fans can enjoy free live performances featuring marquee talent, a block party and more, culminating in the finale concert featuring a host of Broadway favorites. More information about Prudential’s on-site activities is featured below.

 

INTERACTIVE ON-SITE EXPERIENCES, COURTESY OF PRUDENTIAL

Be a STAR on Broadway – An in-person, augmented reality experience where participants can see themselves on a Times Square billboard in costumes from some of their Broadway shows such as Dear Evan Hansen, The Phantom of the Opera, Beetlejuice, and Into the Woods.

Light the Way for Broadway – Curtain Up participants will be able to see their name in lights on Prudential’s Broadway marquee in Times Square.

Dueling Piano Bar Experiences – Prudential will be hosting Broadway stars in dueling piano sing-along moments throughout the course of the event.

ADDITIONAL ON-SITE ACTIVITIES FEATURING PRUDENTIAL

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30

2:00–3:00 p.m. – Official Curtain Up Kickoff

Curtain Up Broadway Festival kicks off with guest speakers from title sponsor Prudential, Playbill, The Broadway League, and the Times Square Alliance. In addition, Broadway stars, including Brittney Johnson (Wicked) and Norm Lewis (The Phantom of the Opera), will deliver onstage performances.

5:00–6:30 p.m. – The Broadway Block Party

Prudential, Playbill, and the Times Square Alliance will “ignite the night” with The Broadway Block Party — a large-scale street party that invites revelers to dance and sing to classic and contemporary Broadway songs.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1

10:30–11:15 a.m. – Ailey’s Revelations Dance Workshop

Event-goers can join a processional of Ailey’s West African drummers and dancers from Duffy Square to the Curtain Up mainstage, where they’ll learn modified excerpts of Alvin Ailey’s masterwork Revelations taught by former Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater members Renee Robinson and Amos Machanic.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2

10:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m. – Curtain Up! LIVE from Broadway Concert

Hosted by Amber Ruffin and Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Curtain Up LIVE from Broadway will spotlight marquee talent and showcase Broadway musicals and plays, marking the culmination of Curtain Up Broadway Festival. This concert will also air live on WABC-TV and be livestreamed at Playbill.com/CurtainUp.

 

For more information about Prudential’s Curtain Up sponsorship, please visit www.Prudential.com/landing/CurtainUp.

 

ABOUT PRUDENTIAL

Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), a global financial services leader and premier active global investment manager with more than $1.5 trillion in assets under management as of June 30, 2022, has operations in the United States, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Prudential’s diverse and talented employees help make lives better by creating financial opportunity for more people by expanding access to investing, insurance, and retirement security. Prudential’s iconic Rock symbol has stood for strength, stability, expertise, and innovation for more than a century. For more information, please visit news.prudential.com.

Contacts

MEDIA: Marisa Amador

973-802-8969

marisa.amador@prudential.com