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Locality Appoints John Brohel as Chief Financial Officer

Locality

Locality, the industry’s preeminent local television solutions provider, today announces the appointment of John Brohel as Chief Financial Officer. Brohel brings 30+ years of experience in global financial and strategic planning to his new role, and has proven to be a key player in the accelerated growth of major entertainment studios. He will play a crucial role in Locality’s investments in technology, people, and products related to solving the needs of advertisers and inventory owners across local broadcast and streaming advertising. He will report directly to Ann Hailer, president of broadcast, and Keith Kazerman, president of streaming at Locality. Brohel joins Locality from AMC Networks where he was executive vice president of finance and responsible for global financial and strategic planning, as well as overall financial management of AMC International business units. Prior to AMC, Brohel held the position of chief financial officer at Leftfield Entertainment. There, Brohel led the financial management of the company's four business units — Leftfield Pictures, Sirens Media, Loud TV, and Outpost Entertainment. “This is an exciting strategic addition to our team,” said Ann Hailer, president of broadcast at Locality. “John’s expertise in financial planning and building structured processes for overall financial success for companies will play a pivotal role in the continued growth of Locality and in turn, our clients.” Keith Kazerman, president of streaming at Locality, added, “John's vast experience, particularly within the entertainment sector, positions us strongly as we bridge the traditional and digital realms within local video. His strategic approach to value creation and financial management will be instrumental in realizing Locality's long-term vision.” “I’m excited to join the Locality team as chief financial officer,” said Brohel. “Locality is committed to increasing collaboration across streaming and broadcast. As chief financial officer, I’m in a unique position to help the company develop new opportunities for clients and drive more dollars to local TV by investing in the right tech, people and products that push our solutions forward.” About Locality Locality is the industry’s preeminent local television solutions provider, committed to addressing the evolving needs of advertisers by unlocking the power of local and driving dollars to the local video marketplace. Locality brings together the best talent in both broadcast and streaming helping brands tap into the mindset of the local consumer and precisely reach optimal markets, nationally. Having served more than 1,500 ad agencies and 4,500 advertisers, to date, Locality offers the best premium inventory that the industry has to offer to help brands optimize their spend and target audiences at scale. Our team resides in 11 office locations across the U.S. designed to strategically service 100% of DMAs. For more information, please visit www.locality.com. Contact Details Julia Worthington +1 973-722-7881 julia@kitehillpr.com

September 28, 2023 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Goodway Group Secures Spot on Newsweek’s Top 100 Most Loved Workplaces List 2023

Goodway Group

Goodway Group has been named to Newsweek’s Top 100 Most Loved Workplaces for 2023, ranking #65 among U.S. companies that have successfully established a workplace culture characterized by respect, inspiration, appreciation and employee-centric values. This annual ranking is a result of Newsweek 's collaboration with the Best Practice Institute (BPI), a renowned leadership development and benchmark research company. Results were determined based on a comprehensive survey that included feedback from over 1.4 million employees across different-sized businesses, with workforces ranging from 50 to over 10,000 employees. Based on BPI's Spark Model, the analysis evaluated key areas such as Systemic Collaboration, Positive Vision of the Future, Alignment of Values, Respect and Killer Achievement. Factors like employee engagement, workplace positivity and commitment to the organization's success were carefully considered to identify the Top 100 Most Loved Workplaces. “At Goodway Group, we pride ourselves in how we navigate change, foster a growth mindset and set ourselves and our clients up for continued success. We believe this recognition is a genuine testament to our unwavering dedication to maintaining an award-winning remote work culture – one that puts transparency and employee well-being above all else,” said Kandi Gongora, Chief Transformation and People Officer at Goodway Group. “We strongly believe our success is intertwined with our employees’ success. That’s why our infinity loop approach ensures our people feel valued, supported and empowered so they in turn can provide the highest level of service to our clients.” Our fully remote team comes together twice a year for an incredible week-long experience in a different U.S. city where employees can learn, collaborate for strategic alignment and build meaningful connections. And that's not the only way we bring our team together – all our employees receive an Oculus headset upon hire and are encouraged to participate in virtual team-building activities throughout the year. At Goodway, we understand the importance of ongoing education to stay relevant and ahead of the competition, which is why we offer employees a comprehensive learning platform, a $1,500 personal learning budget each year, tuition reimbursement and even set aside a day each month for employees to focus solely on upskilling and building future-ready skills. We believe investing in our employees' growth is crucial to providing our clients with the best possible outcomes. Amidst the hustle and bustle of modern corporate culture, Goodway also gives employees the opportunity to embrace the power of deep focus and uninterrupted productivity. With our innovative flex Fridays initiative, we recommend no internal meetings to provide our employees with ample time and space to dwell deeply on critical work projects, ideate new strategies or simply recharge their batteries. And unlike many holding companies that are moving employees to a hybrid work environment or back to the office full-time post-pandemic, this isn’t Goodway’s plan: We’ve been a remote workplace since 2006 – trailblazing this space long before it gained popularity in the pandemic era. “With the dynamic workforce and competition for top talent, more companies are recognizing the importance of employee engagement and commitment,” said Nancy Cooper, Global Editor in Chief, Newsweek. “The workplaces that have demonstrated a commitment to their employees in 2023 are more likely to attract top talent and deliver strong business outcomes.” "Attracting and retaining top talent continues to be a challenge and top priority of executive leadership,” said Louis Carter, CEO, Best Practice Institute. “The companies on this list have committed to listening intently to their employees and then creating a better workplace where employees love to come to work.” See Newsweek’s full 2023 Most Loved Workplaces list. Methodology To identify the top 100 companies for the Newsweek ranking, companies were evaluated and scored as follows: 35 percent of the initial score was based on employee survey responses; 25 percent was derived from analysis of external public ratings from sites such as Comparably, Careerbliss, Glassdoor, Indeed and Google; and 40 percent came from direct interviews with and written responses from company officials. Newsweek then conducted additional research into every company on the list, as well as the top runners-up, to determine the final list of 100 companies and their ranking. (The list includes both U.S. firms and companies with a strong U.S. presence that are based overseas.) To learn more about career opportunities at Goodway Group, please visit our Careers page. About Goodway Group Goodway Group is a leading data-driven and technology-enabled digital media and marketing services firm with teams in the U.S. and the U.K. Our diverse team of digital strategists, media practitioners, technologists and data scientists have won the most prestigious awards for innovative marketing technology, impactful work and inclusive remote-first places to work including being honored as a multiyear Ad Age Best Places to Work, AdExchanger’s Best Use of Technology by an Agency Award and three MarTech Breakthrough Awards. The firm deploys deep expertise across both consumer and B2B marketing, including brand-performance advertising, retail media and commerce, and advanced analytics using proprietary digital programmatic technologies, data, analytics methodologies, and consultation. Goodway Group is an independent and remote-first media and marketing services firm with a 90+ year history. Find Goodway Group online at Goodwaygroup.com or follow us on Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter) or LinkedIn. Contact Details Julia Worthington +1 972-722-7881 julia@kitehillpr.com Company Website https://www.goodwaygroup.com/

September 27, 2023 01:41 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Shopistry Launches White-Label eCommerce Platform Enabling Banks, Merchant Acquirers, and Payment Processors

Shopistry

Toronto, Ontario -- Shopistry, a leading commerce solution provider powering local merchants to leading brands, today announced the launch of Private Label Commerce, the industry’s first white-label eCommerce solution. Banks, merchant service providers, payment providers, and software companies can now offer merchants a modern, no-code online store and omni-channel solution, integrated with their existing offerings, growing client value, gaining revenue, and reducing churn. The innovative approach is designed to empower traditional fintechs to deepen client relationships and compete with software providers that are increasingly offering payments and financial products to business owners as a catalyst for growth. “Owning the customer relationship is critical and the more indispensable you become to your merchant’s business the better. This why eCommerce software companies have increasingly moved into payments, loans, and more, putting pressure on traditional fintech companies. Shopistry’s Private Label Commerce levels the playing field; it’s a game changer to offer your clients a Shopify-like solution without the work,” said Jaafer Haidar, CEO at Shopistry. Private Label Commerce is the latest from Shopistry and introduces a focus on small/medium businesses to compliment the company's existing products for leading brands and media and entertainment that powered growth at Oura Ring, Black Rifle Coffee, NEON and other leading brands. “We’re focused on running our business and needed a solution that’s easy and integrated with our payments and banking so we can manage everything in one place. We tried others but Shopistry is easy to use and has a lot of features. The fact that it’s offered by our payments company means we only have one place to go for anything we need,” said Matt Boom, partner at Boomerz Boxing & Fitness.” Shopistry has partnered with major merchant service providers and is now open for additional partners. Key benefits include: White-Label & Supported: End-to-End software, videos, managed support by Shopistry Sales Enablement Program: Sales support and training to enable your sales effort Turn-key Mobile & Web Stores: Merchants quickly start selling online Dynamic Checkout: Single-page checkout, integrated payments, BOPIS, Shipping more Simplified Operations: Automatic product, inventory, order, and payment integration enables seamless operations without changes to business processes Seamless Omni-channel: Integration with in-store terminals and systems to deliver a seamless omni-channel solution Continuous Innovation with AI, Social and more: Ongoing product innovation drive further value to clients, keeping partners ahead of the game without costs To learn more about how Shopistry Private Label Commerce can benefit your organization, please visit shopistry.com contact partners@shopistry.com. For press inquiries please contact press@shopistry.com. About Shopistry Shopistry commerce software and solutions empower partners and merchants of all sizes to innovate and grow their business online hassle-free. Shopistry powers SMBs to leading growth brands like Oura Ring, Honed, NEON Studios, and more with modern functionality, simplicity, performance, and flexibility to adapt and grow as commerce continues to evolve. To learn more visit shopistry.com. Shopistry® is a registered trademark of Shopistry Inc. Third-party trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners. Contact Details Bryanne Baker press@shopistry.com Company Website https://www.shopistry.com

September 27, 2023 11:58 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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RuaTech Redefines IT Excellence Using Comcast Business Technology

Comcast New Mexico

Comcast Business today announced that it is providing RuaTech with technology solutions – including Comcast Business Mobile lines and Comcast Business Internet – that help the New Mexico-based business create a more connected, agile and productive work environment, empowering its teams to deliver exceptional results and bolster client satisfaction. Founded with a vision to redefine IT landscapes, RuaTech has rapidly emerged as a frontrunner in providing comprehensive technology solutions to businesses of all sizes. With a track record of seamlessly integrating cutting-edge systems into diverse business operations, RuaTech has gained a reputation for excellence in optimizing IT infrastructure for enhanced productivity. The company offers a variety of IT services to its clients, including diagnosing and troubleshooting technology issues as well as providing recommendations on new tools or processes needed to optimize their clients’ operations. RuaTech is a small business that operates out of Silver City, a rural area in New Mexico. With one office space in the city, the company’s employees are often connecting virtually with their clients, resolving IT issues without ever being present in a physical space. Recognizing the pivotal role that connectivity plays in its operations, the company needed to find a technology provider that offered reliable, fast service despite the less populated location it’s based in. Comcast Business was the best choice for the company’s needs. “Our customers come to us to resolve technology problems, which means we don’t have any room for technology issues on our end – thankfully, Comcast Business’ solutions have provided us with the peace of mind an IT organization needs to do business,” said José Velasco, CEO and owner or RuaTech, who also oversees day-to-day technical operations. “Moreover, they take the time to have conversations with us on our needs, which makes our small business feel just as important as any bigger company.” The technology solutions provided by Comcast Business are perfectly tailored to bolster RuaTech's IT operations. Comcast Business Mobile lines ensure that RuaTech's team can remain connected and agile, facilitating efficient communication and real-time collaboration regardless of whether they are in office, or offsite. Furthermore, Comcast Business Internet services empower RuaTech to handle complex projects, data-intensive tasks and client interactions quickly and reliably, ultimately enhancing the overall client experience. “RuaTech's innovative approach to IT services aligns seamlessly with our commitment to delivering advanced connectivity and communication tools, making them a perfect fit for Comcast technology solutions,” said Robert Thompson, vice president of business services for Comcast’s Mountain West Region. “We are proud to provide technology to help RuaTech reshape the landscape of IT support and redefine how businesses harness the power of technology.” About Comcast Business Comcast Business offers a broad suite of technology solutions to keep businesses of all sizes ready for what’s next. With a range of offerings including connectivity, secure networking, advanced cybersecurity, and unified communications solutions, Comcast Business is partnering with business and technology leaders across industries and integrating Masergy, a leader in software defined networking, to help drive businesses forward. Backed by a next-generation network, Comcast Business has been recognized for its growth, innovation, and leadership in global secure networking. For more information, call 800-501-6000. Follow on Twitter @ComcastBusiness and on other social media networks at http://business.comcast.com/social. About Comcast Corporation Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company that connects people to moments that matter. We are principally focused on connectivity, aggregation, and streaming with 57 million customer relationships across the United States and Europe. We deliver broadband, wireless, and video through our Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky brands; create, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, Universal Studio Group, Sky Studios, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, multiple cable networks, Peacock, NBCUniversal News Group, NBC Sports, Sky News, and Sky Sports; and provide memorable experiences at Universal Parks and Resorts in the United States and Asia. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information. Contact Details Chloe Huard chloe.huard@finnpartners.com Company Website https://newmexico.comcast.com/

September 27, 2023 09:09 AM Mountain Daylight Time

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Roberts & Ryan Inc., America's first Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned (SDVO) broker-dealer, is pleased to welcome Major General Austin “Sparky” Renforth (Ret.) as their latest Senior Advisor.

Roberts & Ryan, Inc.

Major General Austin Renforth (Ret.) joins Roberts & Ryan as a veteran of the United States Marine Corps. Over the course of his 40-year military career Maj. Gen. Renforth has held a variety of leadership and command positions. Maj. Gen. Renforth enlisted in the United States Navy in 1982. After two years in the Navy, he received an appointment to the United States Naval Academy, graduating with a BS degree in Mathematics and receiving a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. Maj. Gen. Renforth has had the privilege of command at every level. He served as a Rifle Platoon, Heavy Machinegun Platoon, and Dragon Platoon Commander at 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines, participating in Operation DESERT SHIELD/STORM. He also served as a Platoon Commander at 2nd Light Armored Infantry Battalion and deployed as a Detachment Commander with 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines in support of Operation PROVIDE PROMISE. Maj. Gen. Renforth commanded rifle companies at 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines and 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines. At the battalion level, he commanded the Maritime Special Purpose Force while deployed with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. Later, he commanded 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion and deployed twice in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. He later assumed command of 7th Marine Regiment and deployed in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. Afterwards, he was Commanding General of Training Command, and then Commanding General of Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island and Eastern Recruiting Region. He again deployed to Iraq as the Commanding General of Task Force Iraq in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. Maj. Gen. Renforth’s staff assignments include tours as Protocol Officer, US Central Command; Operations Officer 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines; Faculty Advisor, Amphibious Warfare School; Executive Officer, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines and deployed to Okinawa, Japan; Operations Officer, 5th Marines; Operations Officer, Regimental Combat Team 1 and deployed in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM in Fallujah; Branch Chief, Special Plans Branch, J-5, US Northern Command; and Chief of Staff, 1st Marine Division. Additionally, Maj. Gen. Renforth served as the Chief of Staff NORAD and USNORTHCOM in Colorado Springs. Most recently Maj. Gen. Renforth was the Commanding General of the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center and the Marine Corps Air Ground Training Command. Maj. Gen. Renforth is a graduate of The Basic School, the Infantry Officer Course, Amphibious Warfare School, Armed Forces Staff College, NATO Defense College in Rome, Italy, and the High Command and Staff Course in the United Kingdom. Maj. Gen Renforth was a member of the Marine Corps Rugby Team, has worked as the Head Coach for the Naval Academy Sprint Football Team, and as an assistant coach for the Navy Division 1 Men’s Rugby Team. About Roberts and Ryan, Inc. Roberts & Ryan, Inc. is a Service-Disabled Veteran Owned (SDVO) broker-dealer with execution capabilities in capital markets, equities, and fixed-income trading. The firm was founded in 1987 by a United States Marine Corps Vietnam combat veteran and Purple Heart recipient. With over $1.8 million in committed donations since 2018, Roberts & Ryan is active in donating to charitable foundations that make significant positive impacts in the lives of Veterans and their families, primarily focusing on general wellness, mental health, and career transition. Contact Details Michael C. Del Priore +1 646-859-4061 mdelpriore@roberts-ryan.com Company Website https://www.roberts-ryan.com

September 27, 2023 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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LevLane Advertising Named Finalist for Ragan's PR Daily Awards

LevLane

LevLane Advertising, a Philadelphia-based full-service advertising agency known for its expertise in strategic marketing and communications, has been named a finalist in Ragan’s PR Daily Awards for its submission: Understanding Consumer Behavior During Inflation, in the original research category. Ragan’s PR Daily Awards celebrate the successful campaigns, initiatives, people and teams in the communication, PR, marketing and employee well-being industries. LevLane worked with its client, Provident Bank (Iselin, NJ), to create an original survey that aimed to discover how consumers were adjusting their routine spending and travel habits in response to rising prices. The campaign featured the strategic use of original research to gain insights into consumer behaviors and spending habits during this time of intense inflation. By employing a comprehensive PR strategy that included open-ended survey questions, sound-bite generation, a press release, targeted pitching and social media outreach, the team achieved significant earned media coverage by top-tier and target press outlets. “We developed this survey during a time when inflation was sky high. Our main objective was to better understand consumer behaviors and sentiment related to their everyday spending, saving and travel habits at a time when inflation was at its peak,” said Liz Weir, chief marketing officer at LevLane. “The campaign earned 76 pieces of coverage across top-tier national and international media outlets. Some of our notable placements included features in “The Hill” and “The Daily Mail – US Edition,” a mention in “Fortune,” and additional coverage in various trade and local target publications.” Earned media coverage resulted in a total audience reach of 1.26 million, engaging a broad range of consumers. The press release itself achieved an overall reach of 3.6 billion, demonstrating the widespread interest surrounding the research findings. “We recognize the impact that inflation has had on consumers over the past few years and are committed to addressing the financial concerns of our customers,” said Keith Buscio, first vice president, director of public relations and communications at Provident Bank. “As bankers, it’s important for us to gain these insights to strengthen our reputation as a trusted financial advisor during challenging economic times." Along with Weir, the project team included Lauren Stralo, PR supervisor (LevLane); Lauren Hepburn, PR specialist (LevLane); Keith Buscio, first vice president, director of public relations and communications (Provident Bank); and Christina Payne, communications specialist (Provident Bank). Ragan will recognize finalists –and announce category winners – at an event on December 15 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. About LevLane LevLane Advertising is an award-winning, full-service, independent advertising agency in Philadelphia, PA that has been building brands that people love for nearly 40 years. For more information about LevLane and capabilities, please follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook. Contact Details LevLane Advertising lstralo@levlane.com +1 484-747-0172 lstralo@levlane.com Company Website https://www.levlane.com

September 26, 2023 10:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Minuteman Press Franchise in Westlake, Ohio Moves to New Location, Expands Business

Minuteman Press International Inc

Jennet and Dan Foster are the owners of the Minuteman Press franchise in Westlake, Ohio. The family business first opened in 2004 and 19 years later, Jennet and Dan celebrated their relocation from North Olmsted to Westlake with a grand opening event on June 15, 2023. Minuteman Press in Westlake is located at 26145 Center Ridge Road, Unit A, Westlake, OH 44145. Expanding & Relocating the Business On the relocation, Jennet shares, “We acquired some new machines (Xante envelope press and Duplo cut, score, perf machine) and we were looking to expand. We first thought about expanding into the empty space next door and continuing to lease but then we decided to invest in ourselves instead and bought a commercial property. With room for the new equipment, we can offer in-house services that were previously vendor jobs, so the turnaround times on certain products is now even quicker for our clients.” Jennet continues, “Now, we have the space to expand even more. We just purchased a used booklet maker and will eventually add another color digital press. We also now have double doors, so we don't have to have pallets dropped on the sidewalk and disassemble them to bring them in. Our new facility also has more desk space for our staff. There are currently 5 people on our team and it’s been a great move! It was a little sad to leave North Olmsted but Westlake has welcomed us with open arms and we're happy to be here.” Reflecting on the grand opening, Jennet says, “The grand opening was held on June 15. We couldn't believe the number of people that attended. We had over 100 people and our giant parking lot was overflowing. It was packed inside and outside at the cornhole boards. The Chambers of Commerce that I'm involved with were fantastic in getting the word out. It was a great party that really came together nicely.” Growth & Getting Involved in the Community One key to growth has been Jennet’s community involvement. She shares, “I'm super involved with many organizations. I'm in four Chambers of Commerce including being on the board of one and different committee roles on the others. I am also a member of BNI as well as the National Association of Women Business Owners. In 2019, I did the 10,000 Small Businesses Program and that was really helpful in understanding different aspects of business. As a member of NAWBO, I do outreach to graduates of the program.” Jennet continues, “I am not just in these organizations, I am personally involved, which helps me get to know so many people. And it’s so true that people want to do business with people they know, like, and trust. We also advertise as a sponsor within these organizations and we advertise with direct mail to our customers and potential customers. You have to let people know about all of the products and services that you provide. Otherwise, how will they know that they need them?” She also credits the Minuteman Press support team for helping her business stay on track. Jennet says, “Last year, we were understaffed and had a family emergency. Both our RVP Rich DeRosa & field rep Ryan McIntyre were there for us to help out at the shop to keep things moving. It was a real lifesaver and very much appreciated. They have also helped with hiring and are also good to bounce ideas off of when you're considering new equipment, and they offer assistance when we need help with vendors. The FLEX software is great, too.” Minuteman Press Reflections As they approach 20 years in business as Minuteman Press owners, Jennet shares, “When we started Minuteman Press with my dad, Dan and I were just newlyweds. One of the things that has been wonderful for us about owning the business is that we can be there for our 3 kids. When they were younger, we were able to pop out in the middle of the day to help with a class party or read the class a story or whatever they needed. Today, they're now 13, 15, and 17. Having Minuteman Press as our business allows us to have that freedom to be there for our family.” It’s also clear that Jennet and Dan simply love what they do. She says, “What we love about this industry is helping our customers. They will come in with just an idea. We will then give a little guidance, design it, produce it, and wow them with the finished product, which they use to achieve their purposes.” She adds, “We love to watch our customers grow and succeed and we appreciate them letting us help them with that!” Minuteman Press in Westlake is located at 26145 Center Ridge Road, Unit A, Westlake, OH 44145. For more information, visit their website: https://minuteman.com/us/locations/oh/westlake/ Learn more about #1 rated Minuteman Press franchise opportunities and read Minuteman Press franchise reviews at https://minutemanpressfranchise.com. Contact Details Minuteman Press International Chris Biscuiti +1 631-249-1370 cbiscuiti@mpihq.com Company Website https://minutemanpressfranchise.com

September 26, 2023 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Peer39 Goes Live with Compliant for Compliance Metrics

Compliant

Compliant, a data compliance technology company, has partnered with Peer39, the leading global provider of pre-bid contextual suitability and quality solutions for modern marketers, to introduce and offer its customers a data compliance metric for programmatic media campaigns. For the first time ever, advertisers, agencies and publishers will have a scalable solution for measuring data compliance in digital media campaigns and eliminating risk within their marketing efforts – while simultaneously signaling to regulators and consumers their commitment to acting lawfully. “It’s unthinkable in today’s environment that any marketer would spend money on media that puts their brand at risk. This is no different than when the industry asked itself why would we pay for ads that no one sees. No brand should be asked to buy media that is non-compliant.” said Jamie Barnard, CEO, Compliant. “By joining Peer39's marketplace, we are expediting the ways in which brands can use data compliance metrics across the programmatic ecosystem.” Through Peer39’s Contextual Data Marketplace, Compliant’s automated solution provides ad buyers with a Campaign Compliance Index (CCI) which measures the level of data compliance within a brand’s media campaign. The CCI score provides metrics that regulators are focused on such as consent, data leakage, and number of unauthorized tags and data resellers. With this new level of transparency in the publisher inventory, brands can protect themselves from activating media dollars with non-compliant publishers. “Our industry is at another important tipping point. Just like the uprising around brand safety or viewability or most recently made for advertising, data compliance will be as transformative and likely much more consequential from both a consumer trust and enforcement perspective,” said Mario Diez, CEO, Peer39. "With Compliant now enabled through Peer39’s Data Marketplace, brands can see the compliance of their media, and take action, avoiding high risk inventory and rewarding trusted environments." Data Compliance Research Pinpoints the Industry Need The lack of transparency in the digital supply chain means that unlawful and unethical data practices go unseen, potentially exposing companies to irreparable harm. A study conducted by Compliant, which will be released tomorrow at the World Federation of Advertisers' Digital Governance Exchange in New York, looks at over one billion impressions measured across more than 1,000 programmatic media campaigns. The results found that: Two out of three digital U.S. publishers (67 percent) do not offer consent choices for consumers Nearly all (91 percent) of U.S. publishers with a Consent Management Platform are currently passing Personally Identifiable Information (PII) to third parties before consent 82 percent of U.S. publishers have elevated data leakage risk through excessive vendors, piggybacking or tags With consumers increasingly concerned about brands tracking their online behavior, and intensifying FTC enforcement, data compliance is quickly becoming a new brand standard in digital media. With this new offering, brands and agencies can now adopt data compliance as a primary input to their responsible media frameworks and media quality initiatives. About Compliant Compliant is pioneering a new standard for data compliance in the digital marketing industry. The compliance technology company offers risk management solutions to brands, agencies and publishers. Amidst ever-evolving privacy regulations and consumer expectations, Compliant provides the digital ad industry the tools it needs to be compliant. The company’s suite of data compliance solutions measure systematic privacy and compliance risks across owned-and-operated media and paid media, allowing companies to benchmark risk by market, category and brand. This industry-leading scoring system has been used in thousands of compliance audits across the world's leading advertiser and publisher sites. Compliant boasts a strong senior leadership team with unmatched expertise across privacy, digital governance and compliance technology, including Elliot Bell (former Facebook), Magid Souhami (former P&G), and Jamie Barnard (former Unilever). For more information and to view Compliant’s Annual Publisher Audits, visit www.compliant.global. About Peer39 Peer39 is an independent data company that provides the largest data set available in the digital advertising ecosystem. Every day, the industry’s leading brands, agencies, and publishers trust Peer39’s AI-powered semantic analysis engine to provide a holistic understanding of page content, meaning, and sentiment. We do this by analyzing the relationship between words on a page, the content of a video, or in an app, ensuring appropriate classification. As people’s time and attention become more fragmented, Peer39 believes that to succeed, you need as much contextual understanding of your audience as possible. We believe that it’s as much about the digital environment as it is about the physical environment. Only then can you deliver the right ad to the right user in the right context. Contact Details Kite Hill PR for Compliant +1 724-787-1565 compliant@kitehillpr.com

September 26, 2023 09:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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VPN Trust Initiative: VPN Trust Seal Accreditation Program Launch

VPN Trust Initiative

The Internet Infrastructure Coalition (i2Coalition) launched the VPN Trust Initiative (VTI) in 2020 to establish a baseline for how virtual private network (VPN) providers should operate. The goal is to help avoid oversights, misunderstandings, or vague legislation that could invite abuses of power and short-sighted legislation of helpful technology. As a result of collaborative efforts, the VTI Principles serve as a comprehensive set of best practices for VPN providers that bolster consumer confidence and provider accountability, promoting wider VPN adoption and access to the technology’s benefits. Today VTI is announcing the launch of the VPN Trust Seal accreditation program, which provides a clear public indicator that a participating VPN provider follows established best practices for delivering service in the following five areas: Security: VPNs will use the necessary security measures, including strong encryption and authentication protocols, to appropriately address the risks. Advertising Practices: Given the complexity and different use cases for VPNs, claims must not mislead. Privacy: VPNs should keep as little data as they deem necessary to provide the service and only produce data to law enforcement when legally required. Disclosure and Transparency: To foster trust, member companies must take steps toward informing users and the public about their actions and procedures. Social Responsibility: VPN providers will promote VPN technology to support access to the global Internet and freedom of expression. Principles guiding VPN Trust Seal accreditation are informed by input from businesses, legislators, free speech advocates, and other outside experts to protect the privacy and security of VPN users; offer practical policy guidelines for VPN providers; and ensure policymakers, regulators, and the wider market have access to clear criteria for evaluating these technologies. The inaugural group of VPN providers that have earned accreditation includes Certida, FastVPN, IvacyVPN, NordVPN, PureVPN, Surfshark, Texas.net, IPVanish, StrongVPN, eVenture Ltd, and ExpressVPN. “Now when VPN customers try to determine which providers align with their ethics, they can look for the VPN Trust Seal and gain some assurances about the commitments behind the products they are looking to purchase,” said Christian Dawson, Co-Founder & Executive Director, i2Coalition. For more detailed information on each of these principles and how to get the VPN Trust Seal, please visit the VTI website. About i2Coalition’s VPN Trust Initiative i2Coalition’s VPN Trust Initiative (VTI) is an industry-led consortium that promotes consumer safety and privacy online by increasing understanding of VPNs and strengthening business practices in an industry that already protects millions of Internet users. The VTI leverages first-hand knowledge to advocate, create, vet, and validate guidelines that strengthen trust and transparency and mitigate risk for users. To learn more about the VTI, please visit vpntrust.net. About the i2Coalition The Internet Infrastructure Coalition (“i2Coalition”) ensures that those who build the infrastructure of the Internet have a voice in public policy. We are a leading voice for web hosting companies, data centers, domain registrars and registries, cloud infrastructure providers, managed services providers, and related tech. We protect innovation and the continued growth of the Internet’s infrastructure which is essential to the global economy. Our coalition launched at a significant time in our industry’s history. The genesis of the organization began in 2011 when many of the i2Coalition founding and charter members joined forces during the successful effort to prevent SOPA and PIPA from becoming United States law. After mobilizing to ensure the Internet’s free flow of information and commerce, we realized the ongoing need for an industry voice, founding formally in 2012. To learn more about the i2Coalition and explore membership, please visit i2Coalition.com. Contact Details Aaron Alberico +1 202-744-0786 aalberico@raynoravenue.com Company Website https://vpntrust.net/

September 26, 2023 09:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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