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Biometric Authentication Could Be The Perfect Solution To Tackle Cyber Attacks On Educational Institutions

BIO-key International, Inc.

The changing nature of delivering education post-pandemic has boosted cyber security awareness, and addressing its flaws has become a necessity for educational institutions. Schools and colleges were already vulnerable to cyber attacks before COVID-19, and the rise in the education sector’s reliance on online learning platforms post-pandemic may have exacerbated existing problems. Today, institutions are more susceptible than ever to disruption through ransomware and phishing attacks. Higher education institutions store vast amounts of personal information about students, faculty, and staff and keep valuable research data on file, making them particularly vulnerable to cybercrime. Cyber Security Attacks On Educational Institutions At An All-Time High Academic institutions and research organizations were the top targets globally for cyber attackers in 2021. At an average of 1,605 attacks per organization per week, this was a 75% increase from 2020, according to research by Check Point Software Technologies. Microsoft Corp. ’s (NASDAQ: MSFT) security intelligence blog highlights similar statistics, with over 80% percent of nearly 10 million malware encounters in recent months targeted at the education sector. The key attack vehicles for cyber threats in the education sector reportedly include ransomware and phishing, and such attacks could prove costly for the institutions targeted. Some examples from recent years: The University of California San Francisco (UCSF) paid $1.14 million in Bitcoin in June 2020 to recover School of Medicine data that's important to the university’s academic work. Attackers demanded $2 million in Bitcoin from New York City-based Monroe College after disabling its technology systems in July 2020. The University of Utah paid nearly $500,000 to recover data following a ransomware attack. Lincoln College, a private school based in Illinois, announced this week that it will be closing permanently after 157 years following a ransomware attack. Why Attack Educational Institutions? Many colleges and universities — especially those that rely on public funding — are ill-prepared to prevent or deal with cyber-attacks because of budgetary constraints and a lack of adequate security awareness. Reports show that more than 30% of higher education breaches are a result of students falling victim to email scams, misuse of social media, or activities relating to password sharing. A Modern Yet Simple Solution May Be Found In Biometrics BIO-key International Inc. (NASDAQ: BKYI), an Identity and Access Management (IAM) solutions provider, says it may have a robust solution to tackle this problem. According to the company, educational institutions could benefit from including biometric authentication options — especially for end users such as students, who would be able to avoid password fatigue or memorizing complicated passwords. Most universities the company has dealt with use multi-factor authentication involving passwords and physical tokens or one-time passwords via mobile phones to tackle the increasing threat of cyber attacks. And although strong multi-factor authentication would always be more secure than a username and password, physical tokens or mobile phones involve a higher cost and have the risk of being misplaced, lost, or shared — resulting in downtime to reinstate access and the potential for cyber attacks to still occur, according to BIO-key. The company says that biometrics is a low-cost, easy-to-use, and secure method of authentication that could enable convenient and secure access to devices, information, applications and transactions. According to BIO-key, biometric authentication methods, specifically using Identity-Bound Biometrics, are the only methods that can truly verify the identity of the individual requesting access. It does not require the user to carry additional devices and cannot be used for unauthorized delegation or sharing of credentials. BIO-key’s signature solution PortalGuard Ⓡ reportedly offers both a cloud-based and on-premises multi-factor authentication solution, which is both secure and easy to use for educational institutions, covering students, staff, and faculty populations. The company says it secures access for over 200 institutions through its PortalGuard platform and has been supporting higher education for over 20 years. The platform has flexible options for single sign-on, multi-factor authentication, adaptive authentication and self-service password reset that could save money for sparsely staffed IT departments at educational institutions. Biometric verification and authentication is still new to many colleges and universities, and it may seem daunting at first for them to grasp the overall technological impact of implementing a biometric access management solution, BIO-key said. To overcome this, the company recommends starting with a smaller-scale deployment of its Identity-Bound Biometrics, such as implementing it in research labs or research areas to safeguard highly confidential resources or where work is completed on shared workstations. This would allow educational institutions to test the approach in a more controlled environment and expand to other areas over time. To learn more about implementing an IAM solution for educational institutions check out BIO-key’s higher education e-book. To learn more about BIO-key visit www.BIO-key.com. BIO-key is revolutionizing authentication and cybersecurity with biometric-centric, multi-factor identity and access management (IAM) software managing millions of users. Its cloud-based PortalGuard IAM solution provides cost-effective, easy to deploy, convenient and secure access to devices, information, applications, and high-value transactions. BIO-key's patented software and hardware solutions, with industry-leading Identity-Bound Biometric (IBB) capabilities, enable large-scale Identity-as-a-Service (IDaaS) solutions, as well as customized on premises solutions. This post contains sponsored advertising content. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Catalyst IR- William Jones, David Collins +1 212-924-9800 BKYI@catalyst-ir.com Company Website https://www.bio-key.com/

October 06, 2022 08:02 AM Eastern Daylight Time

3 Stocks to Play the Growth in Cloud-Based Services

Benzinga

The concept of cloud computing has been around for over a decade. However, the industry has rapidly evolved since its origins, which can be traced back to the 1963 DARPA initiative (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency). Cloud computing, as we know it today, is a delivery medium that can provide services, such as data storage, analytics, networking, software solutions, and more, over the internet. Before the rise of the cloud, companies were held to the old hardware approach, which would require a hefty investment in new computing technologies to achieve scale and the desired outputs. Cloud computing offers a more streamlined approach, which allows customers to only pay for the services that they need, with the option to upgrade as the client’s needs change. This allows companies to lower their operating costs, streamline their infrastructure and achieve scale when it is needed. The COVID pandemic has only accelerated the growth of cloud-based solutions, as society witnessed the rise of the work-from-home phenomenon and the continued demand from consumers for e-commerce capabilities. According to Fortune Business Insights, the global cloud computing market was valued at $405.65 billion in 2021. The industry is projected to grow to $480.04 billion in 2022 and surge to a massive $1.71 trillion by the end of 2029. This represents an enticing compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19.9% for the period between 2022 and 2029. With the growth of cloud computing still seemingly in the early stages, here are three companies that stand to benefit from the underlying industry growth: Asure Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASUR) Asure Software is an Austin, Texas-based company that offers cloud-based human capital management solutions across the United States. Serving small and medium-sized businesses across many different industries, Asure’s suite of services gives companies complete control of every aspect of human capital management, from payroll & taxes to HR decision making, employee attendance, and even 401(k) & benefits integrations. In August 2022, Asure made two big announcements regarding the expansion of its 401(k) and HR services. First, Asure announced an agreement to integrate its FlexTax payroll tax filing engine with PrismHR’s payroll system, which is currently used by over 80,000 organizations. This also gives PrismHR users access to Asure’s Payroll Tax Management Services. In short, the integration with PrismHR vastly expanded Asure’s payroll & tax services business. In a separate announcement, Asure announced further integration of its payroll systems to directly connect with over 80 401(k) providers. The traditional route for employers to offer and manage sponsored 401(k) plans is extremely work-intensive and has been a major hurdle for smaller businesses to offer employer-sponsored plans to their workers. Asure’s direct integration with 401(k) providers removes that barrier by streamlining retirement plan options for companies that may otherwise not have the resources to offer such benefits. As workers continue to expect greater benefits and retirement planning options, Asure’s integration gives small businesses an edge in being able to compete for top talent. Turning to fundamental analysis, Asure looks appealing in its current state. The company trades at nearly a 25% discount to its book value, as seen with a price-to-book value of 0.76. Asure Software is a serious cash flow generator, which can be determined with a price-to-free-cash-flow ratio of 11.07. Furthermore, the company has very minimal debt and continues to hold a cumulative analyst rating of “strong buy.” Snowflake, Inc. (NYSE: SNOW) Snowflake offers cloud-based data analytics solutions through its platform. The company's Data Cloud offering allows customers to consolidate their data into a single source to help streamline business decision-making. The Data Cloud allows companies to collaborate data on a local and global scale. Rather than having several different programs or applications to manage various cloud functions, Snowflake wants to help cut through the clutter to integrate all areas of the cloud into a single platform. On August 24, 2022, Snowflake released fiscal second-quarter 2023 earnings, which showed impressive growth amid the current economic uncertainty. Product revenue surged 83% y/y to $466 million and achieved non-GAAP product gross margins greater than 75%. In addition, Snowflake added 12 new Global 2000 customers during the fiscal Q2 2023 period. On a guidance basis, Snowflake's management estimates third-quarter product revenue to come in between $500 million and $505 million, which would represent a year-over-year growth range between 60% and 62%. The strong quarterly results prompted analysts covering Snowflake to increase their bullishness on the company. Needham analyst, Mike Cios, initiated coverage of Snowflake with a "buy" rating. The strong recovery in customer growth during fiscal Q2 helped alleviate any concerns from fiscal Q1 regarding the potential for a growth slowdown as the economy weakens. In the note, Mr. Cios said “data is the new oil,” which means Snowflake could be on the way to continued growth over the coming years. On a fundamental analysis basis, Snowflake is very well capitalized. The company has no debt and cash per share of $12.38, giving the data analytics company a very solid current ratio of 3.20. Unfortunately, the company does appear to be trading at a lofty premium when looking at its price-to-sales of 33.90, price-to-free-cash-flow of 170.36, and a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 405. CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRWD) CrowdStrike is focused on cybersecurity cloud-based solutions. In a world that is increasingly becoming more digitally connected, the need for proper security has become a major point of emphasis. The company offers a wide range of cybersecurity services, which include Zero Trust identity protection, log management, threat intelligence, IT operations management, and more. Like traditional computing, the cloud can be vulnerable to hackers and criminals who seek to steal sensitive information. CrowdStrike's Cloud Security solutions provide continuous management and breach protection for any cloud in the industry's one and only Cloud Native Application Protection Platform. The platform is powered by holistic intelligence and end-to-end protection, which gives managers greater visibility and capability to act against digital threats. During the second quarter of the fiscal year 2023, CrowdStrike reported total revenue growth of 58% y/y to $535.2 million. The cybersecurity company reported a record net new ARR of $218 million, which represents year-over-year growth of 45%. Ending ARR grew to an impressive $2.14 billion, an increase of 59% y/y. This demonstrated not only CrowdStrike's ability to retain customers but to also continue to add new clients as well. The company added 1,700 new customers during the quarter. Looking at the fundamentals, CrowdStrike trades at a considerable premium to several metrics, despite being down over 18% so far in 2022. The company's cash position is stable, but CrowdStrike does have a long-term debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60, which weighs on its current ratio of 1.80. The company does trade at a 69x multiple when looking at the price-to-free-cash-flow ratio. Price-to-sales is lofty at 21.40 and forward price-to-earnings comes in at a steep 89.49. However, the company is a growth stock and thus relies more on revenue growth than it does on some of the more value-focused metrics. Bottom line, as long as CrowdStrike can continue its dominant growth, investors will likely continue to maintain a long-term bullish stance on the company. The post “ 3 Stocks to Play the Growth in Cloud-Based Services ” first appeared on Spotlight Growth. This post contains sponsored advertising content. This content is for informational purposes only and not intended to be investing advice. Spotlight Growth is compensated, either directly or via a third party, to provide investor relations services for its clients. Spotlight Growth creates exposure for companies through a customized marketing strategy, including design of promotional material, the drafting and editing of press releases and media placement.All information on featured companies is provided by the companies profiled, or is available from public sources. Spotlight Growth and its employees are not a Registered Investment Advisor, Broker Dealer or a member of any association for other research providers in any jurisdiction whatsoever and we are not qualified to give financial advice. The information contained herein is based on external sources that Spotlight Growth believes to be reliable, but its accuracy is not guaranteed. Spotlight Growth may create reports and content that has been compensated by a company or third-parties, or for purposes of self-marketing. Spotlight Growth was compensated five thousand dollars cash for the creation and dissemination of this content by Asure Software.This material does not represent a solicitation to buy or sell any securities. Certain statements contained herein constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements may include, without limitation, statements with respect to the Company’s plans and objectives, projections, expectations and intentions. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the Company’s industry, management’s beliefs and certain assumptions made by management.The above communication, the attachments and external Internet links provided are intended for informational purposes only and are not to be interpreted by the recipient as a solicitation to participate in securities offerings. Investments referenced may not be suitable for all investors and may not be permissible in certain jurisdictions. Spotlight Growth and its affiliates, officers, directors, and employees may have bought or sold or may buy or sell shares in the companies discussed herein, which may be acquired prior, during or after the publication of these marketing materials. Spotlight Growth, its affiliates, officers, directors, and employees may sell the stock of said companies at any time and may profit in the event those shares rise in value. For more information on our disclosures, please visit: https://spotlightgrowth.com/disclosures/ Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

October 05, 2022 01:03 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Minuteman Press Franchise Owner Steve Edman Celebrates 15 Years in Houston

Minuteman Press International Inc

When it comes to operating his Minuteman Press franchise in Houston over the past 15-plus years, Steve Edman keeps it simple and sticks to what has made him successful as a small business owner. He says, “Our success and longevity can be attributed to having fantastic employees, 3 full-time and 1 part-time. I also personally stay proactive with visiting and delivering excellent printed products to our customer base.” Steve adds, “We’ve grown our business by consistently providing quality print and quick turnaround. We provide all things printing such as booklets and manuals, as well as marketing and mailing services. Whatever our customers need, we can provide.” Minuteman Press in Houston/Bellaire is located at 4662 Beechnut Street; Steve describes his business community as “positive and appreciative.” He further shares, “I originally started in the beer business for the largest wholesaler in the world as a Driver Salesman. I retired after 24 years as a Regional Manager, and then decided to buy this business. Thanks to our hard work and building real relationships with our clients, here I am 15 years later and counting.” Steve also credits being part of the Minuteman Press franchise family for supporting him along the way. He says, “Minuteman Press International is very supportive. They give me the toolbox to be successful and I have the choice to pick and choose what will help me succeed in my local market. I appreciate their local and corporate support teams that are always there for me when I need them.” “I’d like to congratulate Steve Edman for his continued dedication to the Bellaire business community and his clients for over 15 years. I look forward to continuing to support Steve and his staff as he continues to build his business,” adds Erick Rios, Minuteman Press International Area Manager, Houston. Ultimately, as he reflects on the past 15-plus years, Steve is happy with his decision to change industries following his career retirement and buy a printing business. He shares, “Printing remains vital today because it puts your products, messaging, and brand directly in the customer’s hands. We love meeting our clients’ needs by providing high quality printed products that help them reach out to and engage with their target audiences.” Steve adds, “I get great satisfaction from making those deliveries and providing the finished products to my clients. I am also very gratified with being able to build my business and reap the rewards.” As for what advice he would give to other business owners, Steve keeps it simple again and offers some poignant advice: “Hit the streets, hire the right people, and always follow up with the customer so you can learn from them. That is what has always worked for me.” Steve Edman’s Minuteman Press franchise is located in the Bellaire area at 4662 Beechnut St., Houston, Texas 77096. For more information, call 713-490-9500 or visit their website: https://minuteman.com/us/locations/tx/bellaire/ Learn more about #1 rated Minuteman Press franchise opportunities and see 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

October 05, 2022 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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COMCAST OPENS XFINITY STORE IN BEAVERTON, OREGON

Comcast Oregon / SW Washington

Comcast is hosting a Grand Opening celebration on Friday, October 7th for its new Xfinity store in Beaverton, Oregon. The 2,480 square foot store is located at 2597 SW Cedar Hills Blvd, Suite 105, Beaverton. The ribbon-cutting will take place at 2:00 p.m. with the festivities running until 4:00 p.m. The public is welcome to enjoy beverages, snacks, and giveaways. This opening marks the 19 th Xfinity store in the Oregon/SW Washington region aimed at meeting customer growth. With a welcoming and interactive environment that highlights Comcast’s entertainment and technology offerings, customers will be able to buy cell phones, pay bills, return equipment, and demo the company’s latest residential and business product offerings. Xfinity store employees will happily demonstrate the X1 entertainment platform, show how to use xFi tools to manage home internet functions (like shutting it down at dinnertime or bedtime, or ensuring the security of your network), as well as educate customers on the free mobile apps available so you can take your saved TV programs and movies on the go with you wherever you are. Jacob Mitchell, Comcast Oregon/SW Washington’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing is excited about opening the new store. “We are beyond thrilled with our new store in Cedar Hills Crossing.” He went on to say, “Xfinity has such a compelling story to tell with our unbeatable internet, as well as the fastest mobile with the lowest prices. A new, exciting physical location for our customers to come in and hear about our products is the right investment to make.” The new store will employ eight people, and will offer customer-friendly hours, open from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Sundays. 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 broadband, aggregation, and streaming with over 56 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 Comcast Amy Keiter +1 503-310-3879 amy_keiter@comcast.com Company Website https://corporate.comcast.com/

October 05, 2022 06:20 AM Pacific Daylight Time

The Channel Company Announces Acquisition of Technology Marketing Agency Lauchlan

The Channel Company

The Channel Company, global provider of news, insights, strategy, events, and marketing services for the technology industry, announces the acquisition of Lauchlan, a U.S. based global marketing agency dedicated to the technology industry. This strategic acquisition will continue to expand marketing agency services capabilities, scale creative and digital services globally and accelerate time to market for clients. Lauchlan’s marketing agency services include comprehensive marketing support, campaign creation, program execution, customized leads management and in-depth reporting to maximize IT channel marketing investment, creating a complimentary fit to continue scaling The Channel Company’s marketing services delivery capability worldwide. “The acquisition of Lauchlan, in addition to global services organization bChannels and Incisive Media’s Technology Group brands earlier this year, is another step towards our vision of becoming the leading global provider of innovative marketing services for the technology industry. We continue to invest in high-value areas that will scale and expand our capabilities to drive greater outcomes for our clients anywhere they are in the world,” said Blaine Raddon, CEO of The Channel Company. The organizations share synergies with their go-to-market strategies, technology industry expertise and agency delivery models as well as a common culture of driving client outcomes, strategic company growth and continued career development opportunities for employees. The combined strengths of the two organizations will provide immediate revenue and client expansion opportunities. Clients of Lauchlan will benefit from the extensive platform of additional marketing, events, communities, consulting, and data services that The Channel Company offers while clients of The Channel Company will have access to a broader range of marketing services to accelerate their business outcomes and investment return. The collective delivery model will continue to scale globally to deliver solutions across The Channel Company’s platform in all major regions. “Joining forces with the most respected technology channel marketing and services provider in our industry represents tremendous opportunities for our technology clients, partners, and employees. Lauchlan agency’s deep, creative development and execution capabilities paired with the depth and breadth of services available through The Channel Company allows us to provide the industry with a truly unprecedented suite of solutions for direct, and channel partner marketing on a global scale,” said Kathleen Lauchlan, CEO of Lauchlan agency. Lauchlan’s M&A advisor was Supporting Strategies and legal advisor was Bernstein Shur. The Channel Company received legal advice from Jones Day and due diligence advice from Alvarez & Marsal. About The Channel Company Headquartered in Westborough, MA, The Channel Company has been servicing the technology channel community for over 40 years. From CRN, the #1 source of technology news, insights, and analysis for the IT channel, to industry-leading events that connect clients to customers, to powerful research, consulting and engaging education to accelerate growth, to transformative marketing services to maximize investment, The Channel Company provides a full suite of outcome-driven services focused on addressing the channel’s unique needs worldwide. The Channel Company is a portfolio company of investment funds managed by EagleTree Capital, a New York City-based private equity firm. www.thechannelco.com About EagleTree Capital EagleTree Capital is a leading New York-based middle-market private equity firm that has completed over 35 private equity investments and more than 75 add-on transactions over the past 20+ years. EagleTree primarily invests in North America in the following sectors: media and business services, consumer, and water and specialty industrial. For more information, visit www.eagletree.com or find EagleTree on LinkedIn. About Lauchlan Founded in 2009, Lauchlan is a US-based, full-service agency dedicated to helping global technology marketers and their channel partners execute strategic, multi-touch, omni-channel marketing activities aimed at accelerating pipeline opportunities. Lauchlan's services provide comprehensive technology-focused marketing support, campaign creation, turnkey program execution, lead generation campaigns, live and online events, digital go-to-market strategies and in-depth ROI reporting. The agency’s dedicated team of marketing professionals is singularly focused on delivering optimal performance metrics while maximizing marketing development funds. www.lauchlanx.com Contact Details The Channel Company Corporate Communications +1 508-531-9172 corporatecommunications@thechannelcompany.com Company Website https://www.thechannelcompany.com

October 04, 2022 03:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Understanding the Importance of Lowering Your Cholesterol to Help Decrease Your Risk for Heart Disease

YourUpdateTV

A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/_EQumoCuW6U High cholesterol is the single biggest cause of illness and death in America affecting more than 94 million adults in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For some people, it is their genes that lead to very high LDL (“bad”) cholesterol. One of the most common causes of genetically high cholesterol is familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). FH impacts 1 in 250 individuals worldwide, and if untreated it leads to early heart attacks and strokes. There are already decades of research showing that high LDL cholesterol is a major risk factor for heart disease. And recent data has shown that having lower LDL for longer is one of the best things people can do to reduce your risk for heart disease. While a healthy diet and exercise are important for many reasons, diet and exercise alone cannot lower many people’s cholesterol to a safe level, especially if they have a genetic cholesterol-related disorder. There are medications that can significantly reduce the level of cholesterol in the bloodstream. Statins are the first line of defense when it comes to getting your LDL-cholesterol to a safer level. A new study on the safety and effectiveness of statins shows the vast majority of people do not have side effects from statins, and they not only reduce the LDL cholesterol, they also reduce the risk for heart attacks and cardiac death. The American College of Cardiology also just updated its expert guidance for medical experts treating patients and suggested an LDL target of less than 55 mg/dL for individuals with established cardiovascular disease. The Family Heart Foundation has a variety of resources for understanding treatment options for lowering high cholesterol and treating FH. Visit MoreFamiliesMoreHearts.org to learn more. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

October 04, 2022 03:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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SBLive Sports Announces Strategic Partnership with Campus Multimedia

Stewbowie Sports & Entertainment

SBLive, the fastest-growing high school sports media company in the nation, today announced an exclusive partnership with Campus Multimedia to enhance marketing opportunities and connect schools with scorebooklive.com and the SBLive app. The announcement comes on the heels of SBLive’s partnership with Sports Illustrated, where comprehensive high school content is amplified through Sports Illustrated’s network. As a division of Stewbowie Sports & Entertainment, Campus Multimedia is a leader within the high school sports ecosystem. Led by longtime sports and entertainment executive Karl Mawhinney, Campus Multimedia are experts at connecting athletic directors, student athletes, fans, and brands to platforms like SBLive. “SBLive Sports provides a direct marketing platform for brands to reach and engage millions of student-athletes, parents, coaches, and fans each month,” said Dan Beach, CEO and Founder of SBLive Sports. “With our traffic and awareness increasing every season, we are excited to bring the experience and sophistication of Campus Multimedia to introduce brands to our compelling platform that attracts and serves a valuable consumer audience.” “Through this partnership with SBLive Sports, we will bring the passion and magic of high school sports to national, regional, and local brands, said Karl Mawhinney, Founder and CEO of Campus Multimedia. “Our strategy focuses on supporting high schools and high school sports in their local communities. Combining SBLive’s access and offerings to our Campus Multimedia capabilities will be a significant differentiator in the marketplace.” Campus Multimedia works with a roster of blue-chip clients to help drive brand and business objectives in the space, including Jersey Mike’s, Planet Fitness, Marco’s Pizza, the U.S. Army and more. About SBLive Sports SBLive Sports (formerly known as Scorebook Live) is a tech-based sports media property with a focus on the high school and youth sports market. SBLive partners with state high school associations, athletic directors, coaches, content partners and brands to deliver sports fans with timely and relevant content to their mobile phones, desktop and social media platforms. Visit our website or download the SBLive App Today: https://scorebooklive.com/sblive-app About Stewbowie Sports & Entertainment Stewbowie Sports & Entertainment is a Brooklyn, NY-based sponsorship sales and consulting firm working with high-profile brands to help navigate the sports and entertainment sponsorship landscape while designing programs to drive business results. Campus Multimedia is the company’s high school marketing arm that enables brands to serve schools through integrated marketing programs that deliver value for schools and companies. Stewbowie believes every brand’s perfect partnership exists. Learn more at https://stewbowie.com/. # # # Contact Details Eric Nemeth +1 602-502-2793 nemeth@ericpr.com Company Website https://campus-multimedia.com/

October 04, 2022 09:03 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Companies Are Reporting Dropping Degree Requirements And Shifting To Skill-Based Hiring, But Credibility Still Looms As An Issue — A Boon For Edtech Platform Players Like Amesite (NASDAQ: AMST)?

Amesite Inc.

Learn More about Amesite Inc. by gaining access to the latest research report The talent shortage just in the information technology (IT) and cybersecurity industries has put pressure on already-overwhelmed IT businesses. An estimated 3.5 million cybersecurity jobs went unfilled in 2021 worldwide. The overall number of job openings in June was 10.7 million compared to 5.9 million unemployed, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This leaves a record 4.8 million openings to be filled. A Solution? To address the talent shortage, a growing number of companies are saying that they are reevaluating their hiring preference by removing a bachelor’s degree as a prerequisite for middle-skill or even higher-skill roles. A recent study by Harvard Business Review and Lightcast analyzed over 51 million job postings between 2019 and 2021 and discovered that employers are dropping a bachelor’s degree as a requirement for middle-skilled and some higher-skilled jobs. IBM Corp. (NYSE: IBM) is ahead of its peers in terms of stripping degree requirements for job positions. Only 29% of the company’s IT positions require a bachelor’s degree. While Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) and Alphabet Inc. ’s (NASDAQ: GOOGL) Google seem to show a heavy preference for degrees in their positions, the two tech companies are recognized for their notable progress. Between 2017 and 2021, positions requiring a degree at Apple were down 18% while they were down by 17%, according to the Harvard Business Review report. What Are Companies Looking For? In place of a four-year college degree, many enterprises, including the government, are shifting to skill-based and competency-based hiring to widen the talent pool. In June 2020 and January 2021, the White House announced limits on using educational requirements and adopting a skill-based approach when hiring federal job candidates. A number of IT companies have made public statements on stripping degree requirements for their job openings, with Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ: META) CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) Co-Founder Bill Gates are examples of what someone can achieve without a degree. “We don’t care if you have a degree, we just care if you can code,” is a popular mantra among Silicon Valley tech executives. Companies are using upskilling and reskilling existing employees as a solution for lessening the talent supply-demand imbalance. Accenture plc (NYSE: ACN) Senior Managing Director Pallavi Verma says the company spends close to $1 billion each year in learning and professional development for its employees. However, a recurring problem with upskilling and non-degree-based learning is credibility. It can be difficult for companies to analyze credentials and skills if there are limited standards across a multitude of learning options — and learners themselves have to decide among what programs will help them actually stand out. Amesite Inc. (NASDAQ: AMST) is an ed-tech player with a unique twist, it creates custom learning platforms for universities, companies, and government organizations so that the credibility of the institutions it works with is inherent in the end product. When COVID-19 hit in 2020, museums around the world were forced to close. It was during this time that many museums transitioned to delivering their content via the internet. For example, Conner Prairie, a history museum in Indiana partnered with Amesite to provide a new online learning ecosystem. Amesite’s Online Learning Community Environment system™ will offer K-12 programs for teachers, parents, lifelong learners and students. With Amesite collaborating with various colleges and universities, students who want to further their studies can enroll in programs of their choice without accumulating thousands of dollars in college debt. Additionally, companies can host in-house white labeled upskilling initiatives that give them control of the content, and the students all the credibility they may need. Learn more about Amesite here. Amesite Inc., an artificial intelligence driven platform and course designer, provides online products in the United States. The company uses machine learning to offer a mass customized experience to learners. Its customers include businesses, universities and colleges, K-12 schools, and non-profit organizations. The company was incorporated in 2017 and is headquartered in Detroit, Michigan. This post contains sponsored advertising content. This content is for informational purposes only and not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Amesite, Inc. +1 734-876-8141 info@amesite.com Company Website http://www.amesite.io

October 04, 2022 08:58 AM Eastern Daylight Time

STARTING TODAY, SMALL BUSINESSES IN KING AND PIERCE COUNTIES MAY APPLY FOR $10,000 GRANTS FROM COMCAST RISE

Comcast Washington

Comcast today announced that small businesses owned by women and people of color in King and Pierce Counties, may now apply for a $10,000 grant from the Comcast RISE Investment Fund. Comcast will award a total of $1 million in grants to 100 eligible businesses in these two counties, as well as technology and marketing resources to eligible businesses statewide. Comcast RISE Investment Fund Starting today, October 3, and through October 16, eligible businesses can apply for Comcast RISE monetary grants, and, or marketing and technology services at www.ComcastRISE.com. Winners will be notified in November. Local small businesses seeking more information about the $10,000 grants, may learn more about the Comcast RISE Investment Fund, eligibility requirements, and how to apply by watching this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXVAf3-Mxys&t=21s Last fall, more than 100 small businesses owned by people of color in King and Pierce Counties were awarded $1 million in total grants as well as technology and marketing resources, bringing the total to more than $2 million to date. These recipients are part of the more than 9,500 entrepreneurs nationwide who have been selected as Comcast RISE awardees since the program’s inception. The Investment Fund is an extension of Comcast RISE, a multi-year initiative from Comcast to support small businesses owned by women and people of color and provide the resources and tools they need to thrive for years to come. The Comcast RISE Investment Fund is focused on small businesses that have been in business for three or more years with 1-25 employees. Comcast RISE Marketing and Technology Services In addition to the Investment Fund, Comcast RISE, which stands for “Representation, Investment, Strength and Empowerment,” provides the opportunity for small businesses owned by people of color and women nationwide to apply for grants for one or more of the following support focus areas with the opportunity to receive one. Marketing Services Grant: The following services from Effectv, the advertising sales division of Comcast Cable, and its creative agency, Mnemonic, are designed to help recipients with their marketing and media campaigns, including: Media: A linear TV media campaign to run over a 90-day period. Creative Production: Turnkey 30-second TV commercial production, plus a media strategy consultation and a 90-day linear TV media campaign. Consult: Digital audits by Ureeka in the form of Website Repair Reports and SEO Keyword reports to target website mechanics and effective organic marketing Technology Makeover Grants: The state-of-the-art equipment and technology upgrade from Comcast Business includes computer equipment as well as internet, voice and cybersecurity services for up to a 12-month period. (Taxes and other fees may still apply for tech makeover services.) Monetary Grants: Monetary grants can be used for any business expense. In round one, which was announced in April of 2021, the Comcast RISE Investment Fund provided $5 million in grants to 500 small businesses owned by people of color in five cities: Philadelphia/Chester, Houston, Atlanta, Chicago, and Detroit. In round two, which was announced in September of 2021, the Comcast RISE Investment Fund provided $6 million in grants to 600 small businesses in six cities: Miami, Houston, Oakland, Seattle, the Twin Cities, and Washington, D.C. In round three, the Comcast RISE Investment Fund provided an additional $5 million in grants to 500 small businesses owned by people of color and women in five cities: Atlanta, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and the Twin Cities. As noted above, in round four, the Comcast RISE Investment Fund will provide $5 million in grants to 500 small businesses in Chicago, Miami, Oakland, Seattle (King and Pierce Counties), and Washington, D.C. Comcast RISE is part of Project UP, the company’s comprehensive initiative to advance digital equity and help build a future of unlimited possibilities. More information and the applications to apply for either the grant program or marketing and technology services are available at www.ComcastRISE.com. 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 broadband, aggregation, and streaming with over 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 Andy Colley Andy_Colley@Comcast.com Company Website https://washington.comcast.com/

October 03, 2022 08:56 AM Pacific Daylight Time