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International Minute Press Printing Franchise in Fayetteville, NC Gives Back and Doubles Sales During COVID-19

Minuteman Press International

When the COVID-19 pandemic first hit home in Fayetteville, NC, local business owner Jared Ostendorf decided that failure wasn’t an option for himself and the community he loves. Jared has owned his printing and marketing franchise International Minute Press Fayetteville for eleven years, and as an essential business he was able to remain open and use his business for good. He supplied local restaurants and other open businesses with 100 free banners that can still be seen around town and launched a free community website Bounce Back Fayetteville to support local businesses. All of his efforts have paid off as Jared has doubled his monthly gross sales in May 2020, reaching record highs at the height of COVID-19. On the success of his business during these times, Jared says, “I always go by the philosophy that we don’t tell a customer ‘No.’ When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, we didn’t stop. We got creative and listened to our customers. I looked at closing or taking time off as a personal failure so we did everything we could to stay open and our efforts paid off.” Jared has been a longstanding member of the President’s Million-Dollar Circle for his franchisor Minuteman Press International , which makes his sales success even more impressive. One of the first things Jared did when the pandemic first took hold is to use his printing and marketing capabilities to give back to other local businesses. “I reached out to local restaurants and other clients who couldn’t advertise that they were open. We printed and gave away 100 banners that were appreciated and put up around Fayetteville once the city lifted restrictions and allowed banners to fly. The message was simple, ‘WE ARE OPEN / TAKEOUT IS AVAILABLE.’ Before you know it, our banners with our branding and colors were all over Fayetteville. It sent the signal that we are open, that Fayetteville businesses are open.” Jared’s goodwill went a long way. “We wanted to do something to support local businesses because we are a local business. We generated new business from other open businesses who learned about our wide format printing services, and we gained 20 new repeat clients which helped bring us record sales in May. It was really nice to see the business community come together and our hard work come back around to help us thrive even during this time.” “You don’t tell a customer no. In times like this, you need to be creative, support others, and keep marketing . Those three things helped us achieve and exceed our sales goals during COVID-19.” -Jared Ostendorf, owner, International Minute Press, Fayetteville, NC Resiliency of the Printing Industry The printing industry has always been resilient during tough times. Jared explains how he was able to grow his business despite the effects of COVID-19. “It’s not about having the biggest customers but earning trust and having repeat customers from a diverse range of industries. We are able to do this because printing allows for such a wide range of products and services and so we can meet a diverse range of needs.” He adds, “We are producing a lot of large format printing, signage and banners right now and we also can design, print, and send direct mail marketing campaigns for clients. Having a diverse client base allows us to be steady. While one of our bigger clients has been closed for two months, we also gained other clients who have been spending more. The customers you relied on might not be there right now, but then you make up for it with new customers.” As North Carolina continues to reopen, Jared is hopeful to continue accelerating his growth. “As we enter Phase 2 in North Carolina, we are starting to see our clients come back with their normal orders and spending. Between that and the traction in sales we’ve gained, we are in a great position to help others bounce back as we all get back to more regular business.” Helping Fayetteville Businesses Bounce Back To continue the momentum and help spur Fayetteville’s reopening, Jared and his team at International Minute Press have jumped on board with a free website called Bounce Back Fayetteville , which is part of Minuteman Press International’s larger Bounce Back USA initiative that was rolled out nationwide. Bounce Back Fayetteville provides local businesses with free listings and allows community members to support local businesses to help stimulate local economic growth and recovery. Businesses also receive a free COVID-19 awareness and prevention poster that they can display in their business to keep everyone safe. “Right now, we have approximately 120 local businesses participating in Bounce Back Fayetteville. The free service is a great way to connect businesses and consumers who want to support each other. I embraced the program as soon as it was launched by Minuteman Press International and immediately called customers just to ask them how they are doing. I explained what we were doing with Bounce Back Fayetteville, and just like the banners we gave away, everyone was so appreciative.” Even the local radio stations got on board and started promoting the initiative, which keeps growing. “By staying open and reaching out to our clients with free banners and our free website Bounce Back Fayetteville, it allowed us to have a conversation and maintain a positive dialog with other local businesses. It was very heartening to see how we really are in this together, and how supporting local businesses is something we can all agree on. It’s great to be able to lift each other up.” Receiving Leadership and Franchise Support While Jared is the independent owner and operator of International Minute Press Fayetteville, as a franchisee he’s thankful to have the ongoing support from Minuteman Press International . He says, “From the beginning of COVID-19 through to today, our President Nick Titus has been incredible. Nick quickly mobilized the entire corporate and regional staff to support us and he personally stayed in contact with us frequently. I am a big fan of the initiative he’s taken as the new President of Minuteman Press International during this unprecedented time. He brings new energy, the entire team has delivered new marketing programs for us to use such as the Bounce Back initiative, and I am excited for the future under his leadership.” On the local level, Jared credits Regional Vice President David Walton for always being there for him over the past eleven years as well. “Dave is a great asset to have in my corner right here locally. Whenever I’ve needed anything over the years, Dave has been there for me. It’s also nice that Minuteman Press International allows us the freedom to run our business while also providing that support and guidance whenever we need it.” Jared concludes, “We are glad to be here, standing tall. That message of hope is one I hope to share throughout Fayetteville as we continue to reopen.” Jared Ostendorf’s International Minute Press franchise is located at 1005 Arsenal Ave., Fayetteville, NC 28305. For more information, call Jared and his team at 910-485-7955 or visit their website: https://www.fayetteville.intlminutepress.com . Learn more about Entrepreneur’s #1 rated Minuteman Press International franchise opportunities at https://minutemanpressfranchise.com . Contact Details Chris Biscuiti +1 631-249-1370 cbiscuiti@mpihq.com Company Website https://minutemanpressfranchise.com

July 07, 2020 12:07 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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National Family Support Finds Help with BlueIron

Family Support of South Carolina, Inc

National Family Support, Inc announced today that it has filed its first patent, filed through BlueIron . National Family Support is rolling out a suite of services for managing child support payments. National Family Support's program separates a non-custodial parent's responsibility of child support payments with the custodial parent's need for reliability and consistency. A parent who is required to pay child support can apply for a loan for delinquent payments, which is immediately paid to the custodial parent. Going forward, the custodial parent's payments are guaranteed. "With billions of dollars of delinquent child support payments nationally, we will arrange loans to parents who are behind and will guarantee all future payments. This means money goes right to the children it needs to help," says Dee Benedict, President of Family Support of South Carolina, Inc., that is implementing the first in the nation program in South Carolina. "Our IP portfolio lets us grow nationwide to address the child support crisis," says Frank Kristan, President of National Family Support, Inc., "It is all about the children - and BlueIron makes this possible." "Financial technology or 'fintech' is a difficult field to get valuable patents," says Russ Krajec, CEO of BlueIron. "Our investment came after a lot of due diligence and study of the marketplace and existing IP. National Family Support's innovation solves a huge problem in a very creative and protectable way." About Family Support: Family Support of South Carolina, Inc., is a private service company organized to assist in the financing of child support payments. National Family Support, Inc. is its parent company. Information is at http://www.familysupportofsc.com and e-mail: info@familysupportofsc.com. About BlueIron: BlueIron provides patent-related financing for companies ranging from startups to publicly traded companies. BlueIron finances the cost to create IP portfolios, insures those portfolios for enforcement and defense, and can provide $2-5M loans using IP as collateral. Information is at https://blueironip.com and email: russ.krajec@blueironip.com. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This press release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements other than statements of historical facts included in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements and are not guarantees of future performance or results and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Contact Details Frank Kristan +1 843-801-6384 info@familysupportofsc.com Company Website https://familysupportofsc.com

July 07, 2020 11:55 AM Eastern Daylight Time

MOBITV, Vast Broadband, and Vexus Partner to Bring Technologically-Advanced Streaming Video Services to Subscribers Across South Dakota, Minnesota, Texas and Louisiana

MOBITV

MOBITV , a global leader in app-based TV video delivery solutions, today announces that Vast Broadband and Vexus have selected the MOBITV Connect managed service for delivery of streaming video content. Vast Broadband is a leading provider of high-speed broadband, video, and voice services to residential and business customers in South Dakota and Minnesota. Vexus is a leading provider of fiber-based communications solutions for both residential and business customers across Texas and Louisiana. Together, Vast Broadband and Vexus currently serve over 75,000 customers. With MOBITV Connect, the operators can offer subscribers an optimal IP-based video streaming service without significant investments or upgrades to its existing headend, for the first time. The service was beta-tested in June 2020 with a full rollout happening in July. “Vast Broadband and Vexus have been increasing their geography, fiber penetration and service offerings to include residential services in underserved areas,” said Charlie Nooney, CEO of MOBITV. “They turned to MOBITV as a trusted provider with a full end-to-end platform that would enable them to continue to serve their traditional markets and, at the same time, offer enhanced IP-based services.” “As a competitive provider, we need to offer our subscribers innovative services in double- or triple-play bundles that will meet their viewing, broadband and telephony needs,” said Larry Eby, COO of Vast Broadband and Vexus. “MOBITV has a proven product that we could launch speedily as we build out our residential fiber-to-the-home platform in newly acquired and existing markets. MOBITV Connect will enable us to differentiate our service offerings in a competitive market.” The MOBITV app-based streaming TV service platform contains a user-friendly interface that can be customized according to the service provider’s content and design preferences. The Connect Platform includes on-demand, live TV, catch-up TV, unlimited network DVR, and recommendations. The SaaS-based platform allows for real-time enablement of new technologies such as 4K/HEVC, Cloud DVR, replay TV, and robust voice control – without the high cost of frequently replacing legacy set-top boxes in the home. Customers will simply download the app and can view television on any of their connected devices. About Vast Broadband and Vexus Vast Broadband, headquartered in Sikeston, Missouri is a leading broadband/cable company providing high-speed Internet, television and digital telephone services for residential and business customers in South Dakota and southwestern Minnesota. For more information, please visit www.vastbroadband.com . Vexus is a leading provider of fiber-based communications solutions for both residential and business customers across Texas and Louisiana. A technology leader in the industry offering an extensive range of internet connectivity over a true fiber to the premise network. For more information, please visit www.vexusfiber.com . About MOBITV MOBITV is the leading white-label Pay TV streaming service in the market, which enables Pay TV operators to rapidly launch a branded, thoroughly compliant, fully-featured app-based Pay TV service. With the explosion of smart TVs and connected devices like Apple TV, Roku and Fire TV, MOBITV has been able to extend its platform to provide a true multi-screen experience, replacing outdated set-top box solutions. Operators now have a way to offer a full cable line-up with an on-demand catalog, live TV, catch-up TV, network DVR and recommendations available on nearly every device . MOBITV powers a fully IP-based approach and, in combination with the almost two decades of MOBITV’s expertise in IP video delivery, operators can finally make the switch to a truly future-proof TV solution. For more information please visit http://www.mobitv.com . Vast Broadband Press Contact Kyle Alcorn 573-481-2732 Kyle.alcorn@vastbroadband.com Contact Details NRPR Group, Nicole Rodrigues +1 650-815-5069 nicole@nrprgroup.com Company Website https://www.mobitv.com/

July 07, 2020 06:00 AM Pacific Daylight Time

Cyber Dive Launches Free Platform for Parents to Connect with Their Children’s Digital Reality and Heightened Social Media Activity

Cyber Dive

Today Cyber Dive , an online platform that connects parents to their children’s digital reality, announced the launch of a free service that enables parents to easily view their children’s social accounts, understand their online activity and achieve peace of mind—an increasingly relevant service at a time when children are home from school for the foreseeable future. In response to the coronavirus pandemic, Education Week estimates at least 118,000 U.S. public and private schools have closed their doors . As Americans' social distancing escalates in an effort to help contain the spread of COVID-19, school closings leave 52.6 million children to their own devices—both figuratively and literally. Without a clear understanding or timeline of when everyday activities, such as working out of public offices or sending children to school and activities will resume, parents are navigating how to monitor their children’s online activity. For many, this is uncharted territory, as children have increased access to and time available for social media. With Cyber Dive, parents can easily monitor their child’s social media activity across popular social media sites including Instagram, Snapchat, VSCO and, by summer 2020, TikTok, Discord, Google, and YouTube. Key features to keep kids safe online include: Word Cloud: Provides a look into the frequency of words used on social media. Vibes Meter: Gives an overview of the emotions surrounding a child’s activity. Friends: Showcases the people a child interacts with on social media. Alerts: Displays activity that might require extra attention. Posts: Lists the posts a child makes or is tagged in on social media. Search History (summer 2020): Recent search history across all monitored platforms. “COVID-19 directly impacts us in many ways, including hunkering down at home with our kiddos for the time being. Although being able to spend more time with them is a positive, we also acknowledge the nuanced challenges we must traverse as parents of digitally connected kids,” said Cyber Dive Co-Founder and CEO Jeff Gottfurcht. “As parents of 8- to 15-year-olds, we often wonder, ‘What is my kid doing on the internet right now? Who are they interacting with? What videos are they watching? How is what they are seeing impacting how they feel?’ If you’ve ever thought about how you can mitigate the risks your children face on social media, we’ve taken those ideas and created a free, comprehensive, and easy-to-use tool. It helps keep them safe—and keeps you in the know about what your child is being exposed to and exploring.” Cyber Dive provides information on whom children interact with, how they feel about what they see, what they are searching, and alerts you to anything needing extra attention. It empowers parents to partner with trained analysts to conduct thorough social media audits (coming summer 2020), which dive deep into a child’s social media life to uncover things that might be hidden under the surface. These audits search: Dating Sites Like Bumble or Tinder: Find out whether or not your child is connecting with 18+ men/women on dating websites. Ghost Accounts (If They Exist): Some children create both “public” and “private” accounts. Children often allow their parents to only view the “public” profile because of its appropriate content. Cached & Deleted Data Search: Your child may try to delete searches. Cyber Dive may be able to recover some of that deleted information. Verify Friend Identities: Find out if your child is connected to any fake accounts, which are often created by stalkers or pedophiles to follow and learn about their targets. Reverse Image Search: Find out if your child’s images are being used by someone else on the internet. Dark Web Search: Rest assured that nothing associated with your child exists where nefarious people lurk. According to the McAfee's consumer research department , 87% of young people have seen cyberbullying online but most do nothing about it. Ditch the Label published in their bullying survey that 47% of cyberbullying victims will develop social anxiety, 37% will develop depression, and 26% will have suicidal thoughts. “We’ve seen that nearly 9 out of 10 kids avoid telling their parents about the negative things they see happening online. This leaves parents struggling to keep up, and oblivious to what’s happening beneath the surface,” said Cyber Dive Co-Founder and CTO Derek Jackson. “As an intelligence officer, my team’s job was to dig through extensive social media data and provide only the most time-sensitive information to the commander to make life-altering decisions. We took that mindset and made you, parents, the commander. We show you what’s most important, so you can initiate necessary conversations and directly impact how your child navigates social media.” Parents can sign up for Cyber Dive , free of charge, from any device. Offering a simple, intuitive sign-up process, Cyber Dive makes it easy for any parent or guardian to access the innovative technology. Cyber Dive was created by Co-Founder and CEO Jeff Gottfurcht and Co-Founder and CTO Derek Jackson , who set out to get a better grasp on social media for families everywhere—including their own. Jackson is the father of one and Gottfurcht is the father of three. Gottfurcht, the first person in the world to summit Mt. Everest with Rheumatoid Arthritis, previously worked in Silicon Valley for 14 years as a Vice President at UBS Financial, a global Swiss investment banking firm that provides services in more than 50 countries. Additionally, he was selected as Man of the Year by the United Nations and their International School for the philanthropic work he does speaking around the country, inspiring kids and adults to push through obstacles and achieve success. For more information, visit https://www.cyberdive.co . About Cyber Dive Cyber Dive is a free online platform that allows parents to monitor their children’s social media accounts. It connects parents to an overview of their child’s social profiles across platforms like Instagram, VSCO, Snapchat and, by summer 2020, TikTok, Discord, Google, and YouTube. With the ability to see the extent of their child’s social media usage, parents can begin to understand their child’s online habits, stop and/or prevent inappropriate activity and achieve peace of mind. For more information, please visit https://www.cyberdive.co/home . Contact Details April White +1 323-216-8589 cyberdive@trustrelations.agency Company Website http://www.cyberdive.co

July 07, 2020 08:08 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Center for the Study of Capitalism at Wake Forest University to Host Best Selling Author and Brand Expert Martin Lindstrom and Crisis Communications Expert Richard Levick

LEVICK

Wake Forest University’s Center for the Study of Capitalism will host a July 9 webinar titled, “The End of Brand Neutrality: How to Be Good Corporate Citizens in an Age of Civil Unrest.” Bestselling author and one of the world’s leading experts on brand and culture transformation, Martin Lindstrom, and crisis communication expert Richard Levick, will participate in a conversation with the Center for the Study of Capitalism’s Executive Director Christina Elson. They will explore how companies standing at a pivotal crossroads can reevaluate their brands and cultures to secure transformative outcomes. Martin Lindstrom is one of the world's foremost business and culture transformation experts. He is a New York Times best-selling author and speaker, as well as a consultant to numerous brand-leading companies. TIME Magazine has recognized him as among the Top 100 Most Influential People in the World. His book Brand Sense was hailed by The Wall Street Journal as “one of the five best marketing books ever published,” Small Data was praised as “revolutionary” and TIME Magazine wrote this about Buyology : “a breakthrough in branding.” Richard S. Levick, Esq. Chairman and CEO of LEVICK , an award-winning global communications firm, recently joined the Center for the Study of Capitalism as an Executive Affiliate. Levick is a pioneer of litigation communications, as well as an author, noted television news contributor on crisis and public affairs and regular columnist for multiple publications. He is a sought-after global keynote speaker and is a professor at both the Fordham and Wake Forest Schools of Law. “Companies today can no longer be neutral,” Levick said. “Nor can they handle the issue of unrest and cultural non-inclusion exclusively through advertising, social media, nascent recruiting, and corporate social responsibility. This historic moment requires new approaches to leadership.” This webcast is part of the series, “The Future of Capitalism,” hosted by the Center for the Study of Capitalism. “The goal of this effort is to confront the high-speed impact of unprecedented current events on society and the economy,” Elson said. The event is free and can be viewed live at bit.ly/CSCwebcast-corporatecitizens at 1:00 PM EDT on Thursday, July 9, 2020. For additional information on this event and the panelists, visit the website at capitalism.wfu.edu/upcoming-events . About the Center for the Study of Capitalism The Center for the Study of Capitalism at Wake Forest University is a research and teaching center and a trusted source of information about well-functioning democratic capitalism. Contact Details Maria Stagliano +1 404-245-0899 mstagliano@levick.com Company Website https://www.levick.com

July 06, 2020 12:47 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Leading Tech Firm taps into Top-Notch Engineering Talent in Aguascalientes, Mexico

Default company name

ArkusNexus recently announced the grand opening of its newest branch office in Aguascalientes, Mexico, a key milestone in the company’s ongoing plans for expansion and consolidation as a leader in the Technology Consulting and Software Development industries. From its pioneer beginnings in the nearshore software development model back in 2003, ArkusNexus has steadily grown its team of passionate technology professionals by bringing a mix of innovative culture and proven work methodology to key technology hubs across Mexico and the United States, including offices in San Diego, Irvine, Tijuana and Monterrey. “Aguascalientes made perfect sense for us. Strategically located in the heartland of Mexico, this new venture will help us tap into a highly qualified and experienced talent pool of engineers. As a technology consulting firm, exceptional staffing practices to ensure optimal service for our clients has been one of our company’s pillars from the get-go, and the opening of this new office is the latest step in this direction” , said Angel Sanchez, ArkusNexus Co-Founder and CEO. Known for its dynamic industry and the unique warm mineral springs for which the state and it’s capital city are named after, Aguascalientes is host to many multinational companies and international trade events. Thanks to government investment in training programs and higher education, this capital city boasts a well educated and skilled population. Growing opportunities for its young labor market and the city’s safe communities have also attracted talented professionals from major neighboring cities, including Guadalajara and Mexico City. Although the firm’s team in Aguascalientes is already 35 members strong, the new 7,000 ft2 office space will house and support up to 80 collaborators with fully equipped collaborative work spaces and state-of-the-art facilities. “Timing was tricky, but despite the current challenges, the entire project only took us about three weeks to implement,” Sanchez explained. “Amid current public health concerns, employee safety and well-being was definitely one of our top priorities. Special measures were taken to ensure the new team was able to quickly leverage effective telecommuting practices, one of the many permanent perks available to our more than 250 engineers across the company.” ArkusNexus has plans to open offices in more cities in the future in an effort to bolster its current talent pool, as well as venture into new areas of technology specialization to address clients’ evolving business growth needs. ArkusNexus is a multinational software consultancy firm dedicated to helping companies leverage innovative software development capacities to grow and make their business ideas come true. For over 17 years, our passionate team of top tier technologists has offered alternative solutions to traditional outsourcing and in-house development through software consultancy services, remote software development, Salesforce consultancy and seamless AI Integration for Computer Software companies in the insurance, financial services, health, wellness and fitness spaces. Contact Details Angel Sanchez +1 619-942-6366 asanchez@arkusnexus.com Company Website http://www.arkusnexus.com

July 01, 2020 05:00 PM Pacific Daylight Time

NAMEPA Launches First Holistic CSR/ESG Program Designed for the Maritime Industry

North American Marine Environment Protection Association

NAMEPA (North American Marine Environment Protection Association) has launched the first known comprehensive CSR/ESG (Corporate Social Responsibility/Environment, Social, Governance) program designed expressly for the maritime industry, with its corresponding “Maritime Sustainability Passport” (MSP) awarded to companies, organizations and individuals who meet the requirements of the platform. The program encompasses the three pillars of CSR/ESG: corporate governance, environment and the human element. The first company to qualify for NAMEPA’s Maritime Sustainability Passport is Cargill. Its ocean transportation business successfully completed all three phases of the program, including supplying supporting documentation for its claims. Their submission was then evaluated by a team of assessors to determine whether they met the criteria of the CSR/ESG program and were eligible to receive NAMEPA’s MSP Certificate and Seal. Cargill successfully demonstrated to the assessors their eligibility to qualify for the Maritime Sustainability Passport. “The maritime industry is rapidly recognizing the importance of demonstrating its commitment to sustainability” stated NAMEPA Chairman Joe Hughes of the American Club. “NAMEPA identified the need to provide the industry with a standard guideline of expectations relating to a company’s efforts in CSR/ESG. We are pleased to provide this tool for the industry to support its efforts towards sustainability.” “Cargill has made sustainable shipping a priority and an integral part of our business strategy,” remarked Jan Dieleman, Business Leader for Cargill Ocean Transportation. “We are working with partners and other industry leaders to accelerate progress across the maritime sector, with a particular focus on decarbonization.” “Our industry is changing at an unprecedented rate, with societal demands driving regulatory requirements driving technological change” observed NAMEPA Co-Founder/Executive Director Carleen Lyden Walker. “With an operating climate that is increasingly transparent, industry needs to match that transparency and demonstrate its commitment to core values contained in the CSR/ESG program. The program contains a uniform set of standards plus a toolkit for achieving them. Completion of the program results in the issuance of NAMEPA’s Maritime Sustainability Passport, which is renewed annually.” NAMEPA’s CSR/ESG program can be found at https://namepa.net/csr-esg . The North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA) is a marine industry-led organization of environmental stewards preserving the marine environment by promoting sustainable marine industry best practices and educating seafarers, students and the public about the need and strategies for protecting global ocean, lake and river resources. Visit us at NAMEPA.net . Contact Details Carleen Lyden Walker +1 203-255-4686 executivedirector@namepa.net Company Website https://namepa.net/

July 01, 2020 03:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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More than half of ecosystem types in North & South America fall short of global conservation goals

NatureServe

A study conducted by NatureServe and published in PLOS ONE yesterday documents the loss of ecosystem diversity across the Americas and terrestrial ecosystems are widely underrepresented in protected areas. The study identifies areas where conservation efforts could be directed to meet international conservation targets. The study clearly shows that, over the past few centuries, ecosystem conversion has been concentrated in agriculturally productive and accessible lands throughout the Western Hemisphere. Using two levels of classification and description of terrestrial ecosystems, we found that a staggering 70% of ecological systems [1] in North America and over 50% of vegetation macrogroups [2] across the hemisphere do not reach protection targets set under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) . According to the IUCN Red List of Ecosystems , nearly a third of these ecological systems and fully a fifth of vegetation macrogroups score as vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered. “From this study, it becomes clear that our investments in protected areas have been skewed to minimize conflict with economic development. By recognizing and conserving all natural types of ecosystems, we conserve the natural setting for species to survive and evolve.” – Patrick Comer, Chief Ecologist, NatureServe Using advanced modeling techniques and machine learning, our ecologists mapped both the current and historical extent of several hundred ecosystem types at fine thematic and spatial resolutions, allowing us to rigorously document long-term ecosystem loss to land conversion, and to much more precisely determine how well current protected areas represent ecosystem diversity. This is especially important when considering the protection of threatened ecosystems that have already experienced significant loss, like grasslands and savannas across North and South America or the iconic longleaf pine woodlands of the Southeast United States. These results provide increasingly precise direction as to where decision-makers should concentrate conservation actions to protect ecological diversity, which is essential to safeguarding ecosystem services, keeping common species common, and securing endangered ecosystems in the wake of the ongoing extinction crisis. “The analyses in this study – covering nearly a quarter of the earth’s land surface — allow us to better understand our impact on nature and give us a way to hold humanity accountable for securing ecosystem diversity as required under international agreements. It also points us toward places where we should target conservation to minimize extinction, secure critical ecosystem services, and achieve a greater degree of sustainability.” – Sean O’Brien, Ph.D., President and CEO, NatureServe NatureServe’s President and CEO, Dr. Sean O’Brien, as well as our Chief Ecologist, Patrick Comer (the study’s lead author), are both available to discuss the findings, which reflect years of ecosystem mapping and classification efforts by our world-renowned ecologists. You can learn more about NatureServe’s work to protect biodiversity here , and more specifically about the publication and related map products here . We look forward to discussing this landmark study with you in more detail soon. [1] Ecological system: A mid- to local- scale ecosystem type developed by NatureServe, useful for standardized mapping and conservation assessments of habitat diversity and landscape conditions. Terrestrial ecological systems reflect similar physical environments, similar species composition, and similar ecological processes. About 1,500 are described across the Americas. [2] Macrogroup: A combination of diagnostic plant species and diagnostic growth forms reflecting biogeographic differences in composition and sub-continental to regional differences in climate, geology, substrates, hydrology, and disturbance regimes. About 400 are described across the Americas. For nearly 50 years, NatureServe has been the authoritative source for biodiversity data throughout the Western Hemisphere. To protect threatened biodiversity, NatureServe works with nearly 100 organizations and over 1,000 conservation scientists to collect, analyze, and deliver standardized biodiversity information, providing comprehensive spatial data to meet both regulatory and conservation needs. NatureServe and its network partners develop and manage data for over 100,000 species and ecosystems, answering fundamental questions about what exists, where it is found, and how it is doing. Contact Details Samantha Belilty +1 703-908-1871 sam@natureserve.org Company Website http://natureserve.org/

July 01, 2020 01:15 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Cloud Conventions Virtual Trade Show Platform Delivers Automation to Convert Live Events into a Virtual Conference or Expo

Convey Services

The Cloud Conventions Virtual Trade Show and Conference Platform from Convey Services brings new capabilities to a marketplace looking for solutions to replace the thousands of live trade shows, annual conferences and association meetings cancelled in the wake of COVID-19. Originally launched as ConveyLive, Cloud Conventions automates exhibitors and virtual booths, attendee registration, speaker sessions and reminders, invitations and email communication, while at the same time producing detailed analytics on attendee, session and exhibitor activity. “Stringing together a series of webinars doesn't constitute an effective virtual event,” said Carolyn Bradfield, founder of Convey. “You must give attendees an interactive educational experience, opportunities to network and connect, offer promotions and giveaways, while at the same time providing ways to engage with exhibitors or sponsors. Our technology was built on a mature content delivery platform. When compared to other virtual trade show solutions, Cloud Conventions provides a more complete experience, with automation and analytics. Event hosts can offer compelling reasons for sponsors and exhibitors to participate based on their ability to attract a larger high-value audience, capture attendee information inside virtual booths and create calls to action.” Cloud Conventions fits events ranging from small association conferences to large industry expos. Events can be fully supported and managed by Convey or self-managed. Cloud Conventions automates registration and engagement with custom dashboards so attendees can navigate through the event. Automated session management allows 1-click sign-up, posting the session on attendee calendars with email and text reminders. “ Cloud Conventions has a unique ‘Hub & Spoke’ content delivery model that supports associations and trade groups that manage multiple events,” Bradfield added. “The association can maintain one centralized hub site for exhibitors to add educational and marketing assets and duplicate content selectively to regional events, gaining efficiency and saving time for chapters. Pre-designed booth templates standardize the look and feel of the show, providing a consistent attendee experience and simplifying vendor management. Cloud Conventions is designed for the non-technical user who doesn’t have HTML skills or technology training. Any marketing or event manager can easily use the platform.” The platform provides sponsors and exhibitors greater promotional opportunities with advertising, a graphical display of content and marketing assets, meeting calendars with pre-show meeting requests, live chat, giveaways and promotional points. Cloud Conventions has responsive web design and is web conferencing neutral allowing the choice of any combination of conferencing services to fit the size of the audience or the complexity of the session, with Convey offering monitoring and support if needed. Cloud Conventions is one of the first virtual trade show platforms to offer ADA compliance. It is available for single or multi-day events with the portal remaining online for extended periods to allow attendees longer-term access to session recordings, sponsors and exhibitors. For more information visit: www.cloudconventions.com or email info@cloudconventions.com. XXX About Convey Services Convey Services delivers content and marketing portals and connects them into networks to inform, educate and engage channel partners and direct sellers in the telecom/cloud space, the property and casualty insurance market and food distribution industry. Convey’s portal technology automates and organizes partner management, has tools to engage and educate partners and integrates email marketing technology for members to run packaged email marketing campaigns to their customers and prospects. For information visit www.conveyservices.com , info@conveyservices.com or call 888-975-1382. Contact Details Bruce Ahern +1 770-580-0810 bahern@conveyservices.com Company Website http://www.conveyservices.com

July 01, 2020 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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