Newsroom

• Access: The belief that individuals should have a choice as to how they look after their health, informed by the latest unbiased information available.
• Education: Providing accurate, evidence-based information about kratom (including on our website), allowing consumers to make informed decisions.
• Advocacy: Serving as a united voice for kratom consumers worldwide, seeking fair and sensible regulations that prioritize consumer safety, freedom of information, and good sourcing and manufacturing practices.
• Community: Fostering a global group of enthusiasts, experts, vendors, and advocates to promote the benefits of kratom and fight for informed and responsible use.
• Responsibility: Promoting the responsible use of kratom and encouraging vendors to adhere to strict quality and safety standards so that consumers have access to products that are safe, well-manufactured, and appropriately labeled.

Media Contact

Matthew Lowe
mlowe@globalkratomcoalition.org

• Influencers and voice-over actors: Rub elbows with influencers and voice-over actors from hit movies, games, and TV shows. Hear firsthand stories about the creation of beloved characters and the behind-the-scenes magic of game development.
• Musical performances: Enjoy electrifying performances by musicians who create music for games. Experience the power of music in gaming and celebrate the incredible soundtracks that enhance our gameplay experiences.
• Cosplay: Showcase your creativity and fandom through cosplay! Dress up as your favorite characters and compete in cosplay contests for a chance to win exciting prizes.
• Esports tournaments: Test your skills against fellow gamers in thrilling esports tournaments. Compete for glory and bragging rights in a variety of popular games.
• Board game tournaments: Compete in exhilarating board game tournaments for a chance to win exciting prizes and even earn a seat at the World Series of Board Games. Additionally, take part in sanctioned Magic: The Gathering events and more.
• Game developers: Connect with game developers and learn about the latest innovations in the digital and tabletop gaming space. Discover new games, meet the masterminds behind them, and explore the future of gaming.

• Veronica "Ash" Taylor: The voice of Ash Ketchum in Pokémon, Sailor Pluto in Sailor Moon, and April O'Neil in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
• Jon Bailey: The "Epic Voice" 4x Emmy nominee for Honest Trailers to Ryan Reynolds, Jon has booked 10,000+ voiceovers, including Optimus Prime in Transformers and characters for Animaniacs, Marvel, Disney, Star Wars, Lego, and more in his 16 years as a voice actor

Media Contact

GameAcon Events
gameaconart@gmail.com

• Richie Sambora: American musician, singer, songwriter and producer, best known as the lead guitarist, songwriter and co-founder of the rock band Bon Jovi
• Marc Martel: Vocalist in “Bohemian Rhapsody” along with Freddie Mercury and Rami Malek 
• Treach of Naughty by Nature: 4x Grammy Award-winning lead rapper of Naughty by Nature 
• MAJOR.: 2018 Grammy Award nominee, American soul, R&B singer-songwriter 
• Skip Martin: Grammy winner, Kool & The Gang + Dazz Band
• John Elefante: Grammy-winning former lead singer of Kansas 
• J.D. Shelburne: One of the fastest-rising national country music stars
• The Crashers: The best party band
• DJ 2nd Nature
• Holy Spirit School Youth Choir directed by Susan Johnston and Lacy Williams: Mixed grade youth choir

• Rauw Alejandro: 2024 Grammy Award nominee and Puerto Rican singer-songwriter with 19.1M followers on Instagram, 2.7M followers on X, and 15.5M followers on TikTok
• Chef Edward Lee: Award-winning chef and author
• Randy Travis: Grammy-winning country music artist
• Dean Norris: Actor from “Breaking Bad” and “Under the Dome”
• Mike Mills: Co-founder, co-lead singer R.E.M.
• Lisa Leslie: Former WNBA player and Olympic gold medalist
• Warren Moon: NFL Hall of Famer
• Madison Marsh: Miss America 2024 and active-duty U.S. Air Force officer
• Hanley House: Miss America’s Outstanding Teen 2024
• John Schneider: "The Dukes of Hazzard"; “The Masked Singer”
• Michael Kidd-Gilchrist: Former NBA player and University of Kentucky standout
• Johnny Edwards: Second lead singer of Foreigner
• Bob Guiney: “The Bachelor” and talk show host 
• Aron Haddad: Actor and professional wrestler
• Conrad Bachmann: Actor and founder of the Louisville Film Arts Institute
• Rob Angel: Founder of Pictionary and author
• Nick Vallelonga: 2x Academy Award winner and 2x Golden Globe winner for Best Original Screenplay and Best Picture for "Green Book"
• Harry Douglas IV: Former NFL wide receiver amd University of Louisville alumnus
• Festus Ezeli: Former NBA player with Golden State Warriors 
• Bonnie-Jill Laflin: First female NBA scout, reporter, podcaster, and author 
• Michael Colyar: Comedian and actor
• Dee Dee Sorvino: Television personality and host of podcast “Drinks with Dee”
• Jean Cruguet: Former Triple Crown winner on Seattle Slew
• Larry Demeritte: First black trainer to qualify for the Kentucky Derby
• Numerous other jockeys, many with Derby Mounts
• Others to be announced

• Mario Urrutia: Former NFL wide receiver
• Kentucky Derby Festival Court
• Madalyne Kinnett: Miss Kentucky USA 2023
• MeShyia Bradshaw: Miss Kentucky Teen USA 2023
• Mackenzie Shutt: Miss Ohio USA 2023
• Dr. Ajmal Zemmar: Physician-scientist specializing in epilepsy and functional neurosurgery at University of Louisville; featured in documentary "After Death"
• Chris Blandford: Kroger bourbon expert
• Shannon Burton: Former Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition finalist and Victoria’s Secret social media model influencer
• Ethan the Dog: Compassion ambassador
• Heather French Henry: Former Miss America
• Akoy Agau: Former University of Louisville basketball player
• The McFarlands: Social media entertainers
• Valerie Combs: Pioneering University of Louisville women’s basketball player
• Michael Bush: Former NFL running back and University of Louisville standout
• Geneo Riley: Former NFL tight end and President of NFLPA Retired Players
• Bilal Powell: Former NFL running back
• Tonya York and Tammy York: Co-Founders of Unbridled Eve Derby Gala

Media Contact

Soozie Eastman
soozieeastman@yahoo.com

Media Contact

Nico Gendron
nico.gendron@hearst.com

Cure Alzheimer’s Fund, a nonprofit dedicated to funding the most promising research to prevent, slow or reverse Alzheimer’s disease, announced today that it has reached an important milestone—awarding more than $200 million in research grants to leading scientists throughout the world investigating the disease.

Since its establishment in 2004, Cure Alzheimer’s Fund (CureAlz) has supported more than 840 innovative grants led by more than 300 scientists resulting in 1,182 published peer-reviewed papers in prominent scientific journals. Many of these projects have yielded significant breakthroughs, resulting in findings contributing to new and critical avenues for development of novel treatments.

“CureAlz was founded with one mission: to fund research that will accelerate prevention, treatment and a cure for this disease,” said Henry McCance, Chair of Cure Alzheimer’s Fund. “Since the beginning, our approach has attracted others to join us in this fight, all who have been vital to what we have achieved. It has been an honor to deploy more than $200 million dollars in funding that is enabling and accelerating extraordinary research pursued by brilliant and determined scientists around the world.”

Funded projects have included:

• The Alzheimer’s Genome Project, the first large-scale, family-based study of the human genome specific to Alzheimer’s disease.
• Projects that explore how the body’s complex immune responses may contribute to Alzheimer’s disease.
• A consortium of experts to expand our understanding of the role the APOE gene may have in Alzheimer’s disease.

“For 19 years, our Founders and Board of Directors have been steadfast in their commitment to our mission to end the terrible burden of Alzheimer’s. The field’s top scientists contribute their expertise and guidance to CureAlz, meaning science and data are always our lodestars to a cure,” said Meg Smith, CEO of Cure Alzheimer’s Fund. “Our leadership’s vision, drive and generosity are matched by that of our dedicated donor and researcher communities. We celebrate this milestone as the shared achievement it is, and at the same time rededicate ourselves to accelerating an end to Alzheimer’s.”

About Cure Alzheimer’s Fund

Cure Alzheimer’s Fund is a non-profit dedicated to funding the most promising research to prevent, slow, or reverse Alzheimer’s disease. Since its founding in 2004, Cure Alzheimer’s Fund has provided more than 840 grants to more than 300 of the world’s leading researchers and contributed more than $200 million to research. Its funded initiatives have been responsible for many key breakthroughs in understanding the causes and pathology of Alzheimer’s disease. Cure Alzheimer’s Fund has received a 4-star rating for more than 12 consecutive years from Charity Navigator. Our Board of Directors, Trustees, and a core group of other donors direct their donations to our overhead expenses so that 100% of general donations go to our research program. For more information, visit CureAlz.org. To learn about the impact of Alzheimer’s on women and women working towards a cure, WomenandAlzheimers.org.

Media Contact

Barbara Chambers

+1 978-417-9890

BChambers@CureAlz.org

Media Contact

Barbara Chambers
bchambers@curealz.org

Media Contact

Mike Fahey
mike@faheycomm.com

Media Contact

Rob Chedid
rchedid@keystone.ai

Media Contact

Kathryn Robinson
kathryn@thenovaelement.com

Deluxe Plumbing and Heating has served the Bethlehem and Allentown area of PA since 1984. Since its inception, the Deluxe team’s core mission has been providing “worry-free” plumbing, electrical, and HVAC services to the family of customers, day or night.

This commitment to service, shared by HomeX Services Group, reassures our customers that excellent service will continue to be a priority. Growing from a team of three to forty-five team members is a sense of pride for the organization and displays their deep commitment to the community. Their passion for teamwork, family, and culture has been integral to the success and growth of the organization.

"This is an exciting time for the Deluxe family. We have always prided ourselves on our technical expertise and the quality of service our customers have come to love and expect. Partnering with the folks at Haller and HomeX Services Group allows us to expand that level of service and create more opportunities for our team members. I know Kenny and the Haller team well and am proud to partner with a best-in-class organization like Haller. I am looking forward to seeing our growth in PA accelerate in 2024 and beyond." —Larry Shoemaker, owner of Deluxe Plumbing & Heating

Founded in 2017, HomeX Services Group operates regionally throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, providing various home services, including HVAC, plumbing, and electrical services. Focusing on people, technology, and operations has helped HomeX be recognized as one of the fastest-growing HVAC, Plumbing, and Electrical Services providers in residential and commercial segments.

"This is a great addition to the HomeX Services Group family. Eastern Pennsylvania remains a significant market for our business and growth in the Northeast. Our partnership with Deluxe brings two great brands together, Deluxe and Haller, in a key market that we expect to continue proliferating. We are thrilled to have Larry joining the team while continuing to lead our operations in the Bethlehem and Allentown markets. Partnering with an organization like Deluxe Plumbing and Heating continues our mission to be the most highly recommended HVAC, Plumbing, and Electrical Services company in the Northeast and beyond!" —Brian Alexson, President of HomeX Services Group

"The combining of two great organizations is always exciting to see. Both businesses provide exceptional services in the respective geographic locations and can now build upon their already stellar reputations." —Matthew Kekelis, Senior Director, Benchmark International

Americas: Sam Smoot at +1 (813) 898 2350 / Smoot@BenchmarkIntl.com

Europe: Michael Lawrie at +44 (0) 161 359 4400 / Lawrie@BenchmarkIntl.com

Africa: Anthony McCardle at +27 21 300 2055 / McCardle@BenchmarkIntl.com

About Benchmark International

Benchmark International is a global M&A firm that provides business owners with creative, value-maximizing solutions for growing and exiting their businesses. Benchmark International has handled over $11 billion in transaction value across various industries from offices across the world. With decades of M&A experience, Benchmark International’s transaction teams have assisted business owners with achieving their objectives and ensuring the continued growth of their businesses. The firm has also been named the Investment Banking Firm of the Year by The M&A Advisor and the Global M&A Network as well as the #1 Sell-side Exclusive Privately-held M&A Advisor in the World by Pitchbook and Refinitiv's Global League Tables.

Media Contact

Brittney Zoeller

+1 813-898-2350

zoeller@benchmarkintl.com

Media Contact

Brittney Zoeller
zoeller@benchmarkintl.com

Kapiʻolani Community College and the Culinary Institute of the Pacific today announced a collaboration with The Culinary Institute of America (CIA), the world’s premier culinary college, on a new workforce and professional development program. The program, designed for both professional chefs and people aspiring to join the foodservice and hospitality workforce, will offer in-depth, weeklong courses highlighting the cuisines of the Pacific Rim, Asia, Latin America, along with other global, plant-forward cuisines, contemporary garde manger, and more. Phase one of this program will launch early fall, with eight to 12 one-week-long programs taking place over the next year. The program kicks off September 16–20.

"The collaboration between the Culinary Institute of the Pacific and the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) marks a pivotal moment aimed at truly creating a world-class culinary institute. By enlisting the support of CIA to introduce specialized classes for industry professionals and work force development, we're not just expanding our educational repertoire; but more importantly, highlighting the value of culinary education to the greater visitor industry and local community. This initiative will uplift the Culinary Institute of the Pacific, signifying a commitment to excellence and a dedication in fostering a community of highly trained, skilled, and innovative culinary professionals. It's a bold step towards realizing our goal of becoming globally competitive in culinary education and enriching the culinary landscape in Hawaiʻi for generations to come." —Chef Roy Yamaguchi, Director of the Culinary Institute of the Pacific.

Yamaguchi, who was recently named Culinary Institute of the Pacific’s program coordinator will collaborate closely with the CIA’s chef instructors to develop a long-term and mutually beneficial relationship between the two organizations.

“We are excited to collaborate with CIP to provide this workforce development program,” said Chef David Kamen, director of client experience at CIA Consulting. “These hands-on programs—set against the beautiful backdrop of Diamond Head—provides a dynamic learning environment and will help ensure the talent pipeline in the islands remains robust for years to come.”

For more information or to register, visit https://culinaryinstitute.hawaii.edu/.

About The Culinary Institute of America

Founded in 1946, The Culinary Institute of America is the world’s premier culinary college. Dedicated to developing leaders in foodservice and hospitality, the independent, not-for-profit CIA offers associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees with majors in culinary arts, baking & pastry arts, food business management, hospitality management, culinary science, and applied food studies. The college also offers executive education, certificate programs, and courses for professionals and enthusiasts. Its conferences, leadership initiatives, and consulting services have made the CIA the think tank of the food industry and its worldwide network of more than 50,000 alumni includes innovators in every area of the food world. The CIA has locations in New York, California, Texas, and Singapore. For more information, visit www.ciachef.edu.

About Culinary Institute of Pacific

The programs at The Culinary Institute of the Pacific (CIP) at Kapiʻolani Community College planted its roots in 1946, then known as the “Hotel and Restaurant” program, under the Territorial Department of Public Instruction located at the Palama Settlement facilities. Since then, the program has moved from the Ala Wai Clubhouse to the Pensacola Campus to where it currently stands along the slopes of Lē‘ahi. The program has recently expanded its footprint to include the Culinary Institute of the Pacific at Diamond Head where two state-of-the-art culinary laboratories have been built and will soon be home to three prized facility additions: a Tasting Studio, the Food Creativity Center, and the highly anticipated CIP restaurant. The CIP program prides itself as a conduit for supporting the State of Hawai‘i’s culinary industry through a multitude of educational avenues, both short and long term, including bachelor’s degree transfer pathways, associate degrees, certificates, workforce development, and non-credit programming. The Culinary Institute of the Pacific programs extend across the University of Hawaiʻi Community Colleges System including programs at Leeward Community College, Kauaʻi Community College, Maui College, and Hawaiʻi Community College.

Media Contact

Amanda Secor

+1 845-451-1457

amanda.secor@culinary.edu

Lisa Yamamoto

+1 808-734-9136

lisany@hawaii.edu

Media Contact

Amanda Secor
amanda.secor@culinary.edu

TruChoice Financial Group, LLC (TruChoice), one of the largest distributors of insurance products in the financial services industry, has become Great Place To Work-Certified™ for the second year in a row.

“We are absolutely thrilled to once again become Great Place To Work-Certified™. At TruChoice, employees are the heart and soul of our organization, and their experience is our top priority,” said Scott Wheeler, Chief Marketing Officer of TruChoice. “This recognition is a testament to the incredible dedication and hard work of our team, and it reaffirms that efforts to prioritize employees' well-being and satisfaction have been successful.”

Great Place to Work®, a global authority on workplace culture, brings more than 30 years of groundbreaking research and data to help companies evaluate the experience of every employee, with exemplary workplaces becoming Great Place To Work-Certified™ or receiving recognition on a coveted Best Workplaces™ List.

Wheeler added, “We are committed to providing a workplace that not only offers competitive compensation and benefits packages, but also fosters a sense of belonging and engagement. Our TruEngagement Committee has done an exceptional job of keeping our largely remote workforce connected through companywide virtual events and regional gatherings. This certification affirms that our dedication to creating a positive and inclusive work environment is making a real difference in the lives of our employees.”

About TruChoice

TruChoice is a dynamic wholesaling organization that is one of the largest distributors of insurance products in the financial services industry. We provide access to 50-plus top-rated carriers and limited distribution products, feature a full-service marketing and advertising agency, and host industry-leading practice management events. Offering fixed annuities, life insurance, and long-term care products, our size and scale allow us to meet a variety of needs for a variety of business models. Whether we are helping you find your TruPath, providing a wealth of TruSolutions, or offering our unwavering TruSupport, OUR Tru is YOU. TruChoice Financial can be followed on LinkedIn, X, and Facebook.

This information is intended for insurance-licensed financial professionals.

Media Contact

Chris Cowan

+1 678-718-1951

mediarelations@truchoicefinancial.com

Media Contact

Chris Cowan
mediarelations@truchoicefinancial.com

Clarified Precision Medicine, the only company that provides oncologists with prioritized therapy options via a combination of algorithmic testing and physician oversight, announced that it closed on its seed round of $1.2 million led by Avestria Ventures, with participation from Joyance Partners, both early-stage funds focused on improving health. The company also named Rajni Natesan, MD, MBA as its Chief Executive Officer.

Dr. Natesan is an experienced executive and medical doctor with an extensive background scaling startups at the intersection of healthcare and technology, with a focus on artificial intelligence and machine learning.

“Clarified Precision Medicine is offering the right technology at the right time,” Dr. Natesan said. “I’m excited to guide Clarified through this period of commercialization and growth as we follow through on our mission to provide any patient, anywhere, with cutting-edge, guidelines-based access to precision medicine.”

Founded in 2021 by Dr. Lincoln Nadauld, MD, PhD, Lisa Alderson, MBA, Howard McLeod, PharmD, and Jody Simon, PharmD, Clarified Precision Medicine uses an algorithm to analyze NGS lab results and then works with oncologists to interpret genomic test results to recommend the best targeted treatment. In the United States, there are 18 million patients with a history of cancer and 1.9 million new cancer diagnoses each year. Patients who receive precision therapies have survival rates that are three times greater than those who do not.

However, 75% of doctors say they need help interpreting genomic tests—which leads to more effective utilization of these powerful 21-century tools. Clarified’s combination of advanced technology and physician oversight provides oncologists at community cancer centers with the precision treatment knowledge and expertise usually reserved for leading research institutions.

“Dr. Natesan is the perfect leader to help us scale Clarified Precision Medicine to ensure that oncology practices across the country have access to expert guidance to deliver improved outcomes,” said Clarified Precision Medicine Co-founder Lisa Alderson. “She has the right combination of business acumen and clinical expertise to drive adoption and engage with key stakeholders to make world-class precision medicine expertise accessible to every cancer patient and every oncology practice. We’re excited to support Dr. Natesan as she leads us into the next chapter of growth.”

With deep C-suite expertise in finance, strategy, operations and clinical functions across medical devices and health tech, Dr. Natesan has led companies across all phases of their product and organizational life cycles, from conceptual design to FDA trials, commercialization, IP and M&A preparation. Dr. Natesan began her career as one of the first physicians on Wall Street, leading health care mergers, acquisitions and financing deals for pharma, biotech and med device clients as an investment banker in Lehman Brothers’ health care group and as a health care strategy consultant in a boutique practice. Most recently, Dr. Natesan served as Chief Strategy and Medical Officer at Braid Health, a venture-backed, disruptive digital health infrastructure company.

Clarified Precision Medicine is already supporting numerous U.S. oncology practices and testing labs and offers flexible payment options, including direct insurance billing in some cases. More information on Clarified Precision Medicine solutions is available from the Clarified Precision Medicine Business Development team.

About Clarified Precision Medicine

Clarified Precision Medicine is the first scalable molecular tumor board with a combination of ML-based platform plus medical group, offering expert clinical somatic and pharmacogenomics consultations through its ClarifiedSelect™ and OncoGuardian™ solutions. Clarified accelerates the delivery of guidelines-based genomic insights to patients and providers by bringing together nationally recognized experts in medical oncology, oncology pharmacy, data integration, and molecular pathology who have over 100 years of collective experience in the application of precision oncology. For more information, visit: https://clarifiedprecisionmedicine.com

Media Contact

info@clarifiedmedicine.com

Media Contact

Media Inquiries
info@clarifiedmedicine.com

PathAI, a global leader in AI-powered pathology, today announced a strategic partnership with Google Cloud at Bio-IT World Conference & Expo to help biopharma companies and anatomic pathology (AP) labs accelerate the adoption of AI and digital pathology.

PathAI’s AISight (1) Intelligent Image Management System (IMS) is an AI-native IMS that seamlessly blends PathAI and third-party algorithms into a single laboratory workflow and image analysis platform, providing researchers and pathologists direct access to powerful biomarker quantification tools that have the potential to increase lab operational efficiency and aid in disease staging and scoring. PathAI will leverage Google Cloud’s infrastructure to bring AISight to more biopharma companies and AP labs worldwide, enabling faster deployments of novel AI models for a variety of clinical and research needs.

"Bio-IT World is where pioneers convene to address the industry's most significant challenges, including how to leverage massive scale data from biological and clinical studies to accelerate the discovery and development of transformative new therapies for patients. PathAI partners across the drug development paradigm, firstly with biopharma by enabling the development of new insights and diagnostics and supporting global clinical trials through PathAI’s AISight Clinical Trials platform, trial-ready algorithms, and Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) and Good Clinical Practice (GCP) compliant laboratory; and also with AP labs ensuring scaled access to algorithms through AISight," said Dr. Andy Beck, CEO and co-founder of PathAI. "Our partnership with Google Cloud helps us transform our capabilities to accelerate adoption of these powerful tools and ultimately reshape how disease is understood and treated.”

The partnership will involve the integration of PathAI’s AISight solution with Google Cloud's infrastructure and AI capabilities, providing:

Accelerated adoption of precision medicine solutions: Google Cloud's infrastructure enables rapid scaling of AISight's digital pathology IMS and algorithmic capabilities globally, aiding digital pathology laboratory operations and researchers in processing petabytes worth of data for large-scale biomarker discovery and clinical studies, ultimately bringing advancements to patients more quickly.

Customized solutions and tailored AI models: The latest Google Cloud AI tools within the AISight platform provide the ability to quickly develop customized solutions and deploy novel AI models tailored to specific research needs.

"We understand the urgent need within the biopharmaceutical industry for secure, scalable solutions in AI-driven drug discovery, laboratory operations, and biomarker quantification,” said Ryan Terry, managing director, Healthcare and Life Sciences, Google Cloud. "We're incredibly excited to partner with PathAI to create a new wave of solutions that leverage precision medicine to help solve the industry’s most significant challenges."

(1) AISight is For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

About PathAI

PathAI is dedicated to improving patient outcomes through its groundbreaking AI-powered pathology platform. Our solutions provide invaluable insights for biopharmaceutical companies, researchers, and laboratories, ultimately enabling precision pathology and the vision of more effective treatments. Learn more at www.pathai.com.

Media Contact

Maggie Naples

+1 401-490-9700

pathai@svmpr.com

Media Contact

Maggie Naples
pathai@svmpr.com

Kevel has become certified as a Most Loved Workplace® backed by the research and analysis of Best Practice Institute (BPI). Most Loved Workplace (MLW) validation provides the most comprehensive look at workplace sentiment for organizations today.

“Kevel’s driving philosophy regarding the management of our people is that, ‘we are all adults’. We lead with respect, positive intent and transparency, and we actively live our values as the backbone of our regular decision making at all levels of the company. We have continuous growth conversations with our employees and provide company financials openly in regular all-hands meetings to make sure we bring every single person along this journey with us. We collect employee feedback in engagement surveys and openly share the results. We get The regular feedback we get from our employees demonstrates how these practices foster an environment of mental stability, wellbeing and safety that allows us to thrive and grow, driving us towards success as a team.” —James Avery, Kevel CEO and Founder

Kevel has been certified as a Most Loved Workplace® because of its dedication to being a true people-first organization where vulnerability, authenticity and transparency are encouraged and valued. The Kevel team aims to build an environment where every employee feels respected, welcomed and heard. As a remote first organization, Kevel is focused on providing a highly communicative and collaborative environment that enables flexibility and autonomy for its employees. Kevel strives to promote from within and ensure that every employee has the opportunity to reach their full potential.

The Most Loved Workplace accreditation certifies companies where employees are the happiest and most satisfied at work. Kevel became certified as a Most Loved Workplace based on its scores on the Love of Workplace Index™, which surveyed employees on various elements around employee satisfaction and sentiment including the level of respect, collaboration, support, and sense of belonging they feel inside the company.

"I started Most Loved Workplaces out of inspiration from my community of people who consciously place love for their employees at the center of their business model," said Louis Carter, the founder, and CEO of BPI and a social/organizational psychologist, thought leader, entrepreneur, and author. Carter's book, "In Great Company: How to Spark Peak Performance by Creating an Emotionally Connected Workplace," identifies the specific areas needed to become a highly respected, reputable organization where people love to work with each other—a Most Loved Workplace.

Backed by BPI, in its original research that created MLW criteria, Most Loved Workplaces surveyed more than 175 companies and more than 3,000 executives across the United States, the Middle East/Northern Africa, and Southeast Asia. They found that productivity rises as employee sentiment increases, with 94 percent of responders saying they did three to four times more work for a company they loved and 95 percent saying they stayed at companies they loved three to four times longer. The Most Loved Workplace certification is the most valid method to determine employee experience and recognize a great workplace.

To view Kevel’s company certification, visit the certification page. To learn more about the Most Loved Workplace certification, visit ​​https://mostlovedworkplace.com/ and the Best Practice Institute, visit bestpracticeinstitute.org.

About Kevel

Kevel powers world-class retail media networks with the Retail Media Cloud™. With the combination of the Kevel Ad Server and Kevel Audience, multi-brand retailers, marketplaces, and ecommerce companies can launch limitless ad formats and unique targeting segments online and in-store, all with closed-loop attribution. Kevel believes that every digital retailer should have the capability to scale their own distinct ad platform, just like big tech players like Amazon. Customers like Edmunds, Klarna, Delivery Hero, Leroy Merlin, Slickdeals, and other leading retailers and marketplaces all launched their own retail media network with Kevel. The company has garnered numerous accolades, most recently earning recognition as one of the leading 100 innovative tech start-ups driving the future of brand-to-consumer in 2023 and awarded the MarTech Breakthrough Award for best overall ad tech company in 2022. Learn more at www.kevel.com.

Media Contact

Jennifer Choo

+1 973-343-8819

jchoo@kevel.com

Media Contact

Jennifer Choo
jchoo@kevel.com

Media Contact

Soozie Eastman
media@unbridledeve.com

Bluepeak is accelerating its more than $100 million investment to expand its fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network to over ten new markets in Oklahoma and Texas starting this year.

“We’re thrilled to continue building out our fiber-to-the-home network, expanding into new communities and bringing cutting-edge technology and an incredible value proposition to more customers in Oklahoma, Texas and elsewhere,” said Bluepeak CEO Rich Fish.

The expansion means Bluepeak’s fiber network will soon be available to more than 100,000 new homes and businesses in new markets across Oklahoma and Texas. Denison, Texas, was the company’s most recent fiber expansion market announced in late 2023, and the new investment by Bluepeak will result in more than ten additional communities in the region benefiting from greater choice among their internet options starting in 2024 and 2025.

Since 2021, Bluepeak has been dramatically improving broadband options by bringing fast, reliable, affordable fiber internet to residents of Oklahoma, Wyoming, South Dakota, North Dakota and Texas. The latest network expansion investment is part of Bluepeak’s larger plans to invest more than $200 million to continue building out its network in its currently served markets, reaching more than 200,000 new locations with its fiber network in 2024 and 2025.

With Bluepeak service, customers get fiber-fast speeds, equal upload and download speeds and whole-home WiFi. Bluepeak service features all-in pricing, where the price on the website is the price on the bill, with a minimum service tier of 1 gigabit-per-second (Gbps). Homes can get up to 5 Gbps and businesses 10 Gbps and beyond. Each fiber internet speed package includes Wi-Fi powered by eero, along with the added value of eero Secure, which protects devices from online threats, ads and allows for customized content filtering. Bluepeak's fiber network provides reliable connectivity and the bandwidth to connect more devices for internet, streaming, gaming and more.

Ultimately, Bluepeak service increases broadband competition for internet consumers by providing a fast, reliable, affordable choice for internet in communities where options have traditionally been very limited.

• According to the Federal Trade Commission, competition “benefits consumers by keeping prices low and the quality and choice of goods and services high.”
• In addition, a 2020 report by Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond on “Bringing Broadband to Rural America” determined that broadband access and adoption is linked to increased job and population growth, higher rates of new business formation, higher home values, and lower unemployment rates.

Those interested in more information on Bluepeak service availability and details on the construction process can sign up for updates by entering their service address at mybluepeak.com.

About Bluepeak

Bluepeak is a new kind of internet provider bringing fast, reliable, affordable internet to places that have needed better options for too long. The company has roots serving Great Plains and Midwest communities going back more than 30 years. As the need for internet in the region has evolved so has Bluepeak, upgrading and expanding service to several markets in South Dakota, southwest Minnesota, Oklahoma, Wyoming and North Dakota with the newest cutting-edge technology. These expansion efforts include multi-million-dollar infrastructure projects, community involvement and growth through local hires. Bluepeak is earning the trust of customers and businesses through simple, affordable offerings, responsive, reliable customer service and transparent pricing. The company’s unique approach to delivering internet service has earned Bluepeak accolades for customer satisfaction, network performance, workplace culture and meaningful community partnerships. Visit www.mybluepeak.com to learn more.

Media Contact

Jesse Granger

+1 720-703-4315

mediaqueries@mybluepeak.com

Media Contact

Jesse Granger
mediaqueries@mybluepeak.com

Media Contact

Maria Castellano
maria@bondstreetadvisors.com

CoverSelf, a unified platform for healthcare claims and payment integrity, is today announcing the appointment of Ashish Singh, Advisory Partner at Bain & Company, as Board Director. This development comes on the heels of the company’s recent close of a $8.2 million seed round.

Ashish is a well-known and deeply respected Bain & Company leader. He led Bain’s global Healthcare and Life Sciences (HLS) practice from 2012 to 2018 and served two terms on Bain’s global Board of Directors in the same time period. Ashish also founded Bain & Company’s India office and was at its helm as Managing Director (2005-2011) and Chairman (2011-2014). Over the years, he also co-founded Bain’s Enterprise Software, Media & Entertainment, Pharmaceutical and Payer practices.

Ashish Singh, Advisory Partner at Bain & Company, joins CoverSelf as a Board Director

Ashish’s expertise lies in corporate and BU strategies, market entry strategies, operational improvement, organisational effectiveness, M&A, healthcare IT, and large-scale corporate transformation programs.

“We are thrilled to welcome Ashish onboard as our Board Director. He is a veteran in this space and brings invaluable experience in formulating overall strategy and US GTM strategy, as well as in-depth knowledge of the US healthcare system and health plans. Not to mention, his broad network of relationships across the industry will benefit us in the long term,” said Rajasekhar Maddireddy, Co-founder of CoverSelf.

“We’ve been busy since our funding announcement. We are already live as the secondary editor in three health plans, with an expansion to another four over the next six months in the works. We are in full-scale implementation with a top 10 health plan, and executing a PoC with a Top 5 health plan. These are showing remarkable results, wherein the platform is processing 25 times more claims in the same time window than was done earlier. We will soon start initial moves into markets adjacent to the payment integrity (PI) space via collaboration with a focused set of partners to bring broader integrated solutions to our clients.”

CoverSelf was founded in 2021 by US healthcare domain experts Rajasekhar Maddireddy and Raghavendra Pawar to tackle the ever-increasing claims inaccuracies and waste. The company aims to democratize the healthcare claims and payment integrity industry by creating a first-of-its-kind, fully open and transparent solution that empowers payment integrity teams in health insurance companies (payers) to transparently resolve health claims with hospitals and medical practices (providers).

CoverSelf’s purpose-built platform utilizes multiple approaches, including the smart use of GenAI, to reduce waste while identifying new savings opportunities. The platform empowers payers to adapt to claims and payment inaccuracies by enabling them to configure their policies and logic in simple English-like language or use simple policy-specific templates, overcoming the fear of losing IP and fostering innovation and new concept releases without technical dependencies.

“According to recent reports, the $9 billion PI industry has grown at around 7% CAGR in recent years. This just shows the inherent complexity of the billing processes. The truth is, over the years, there has been a perceptible negative impact on providers' experience with payments, and trust in payers has taken a significant hit. This has resulted in ballooning waste and improper payments. Given this scenario, I’m glad to lend a helping hand to CoverSelf’s mission,” said Ashish Singh, Board Director of CoverSelf.

“I will work closely with the co-founders and top management to increase Coverself's visibility amongst healthcare payers and technology partners and also bring my expertise to assist them in corporate and market strategy. What we are doing in CoverSelf is not just building a product that is looking to solve a few pain points; we are on a once-in-a-lifetime mission to truly democratize healthcare claims and payment integrity and restore faith in the US’s healthcare ecosystem!”

About CoverSelf

CoverSelf is a generational leap forward in healthcare claims and Payment Integrity architecture, built from the ground up for healthcare-specific use by passionate domain experts and strong technology professionals with decades of experience in addressing the pain points faced by Providers and Payers when dealing with the latest technological advancements.

Founded in 2021, CoverSelf’s Payment Integrity Platform engages modern technologies to address payment leakage & claims inaccuracies while remaining transparent & accessible to Payers. The platform empowers payers to prevent and adapt to the ever-evolving claims & payment inaccuracies. We also help you reduce complexity and administrative costs with our unified healthcare dedicated platform.

Bilal Mahmood

+44 7714 007257

b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com

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Bilal Mahmood
b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com

BIMQuote announced the appointment of Ken Trent as President where he’ll be providing cutting-edge technology solutions that help homebuilders save on material costs for new construction builds.

Ken has a background in construction administration with a proven track record of success in cost savings and process improvements. He combines that with over 10 years of experience in eCommerce and digital technology solutions for products and services.

Formerly the Chief of Growth at Builders Capital, the #1 Private Construction Lender Nationwide, Ken implemented strategic initiatives that enhanced the borrower experience by developing online portals where customers could have 24/7 access to their draws and loan details.

"Ken is results-driven with a strong focus on the customer experience," said Travis Dodge, BIMQuote Founder. "His vision and initiative will help private homebuilders gain greater awareness of this revolutionary software and drive home the value that BIMQuote delivers access to the same national buying power that production builders are accustomed to."

Ken commented on the transition, stating, "My background in construction has equipped me with a strong foundation in project management and a keen eye for detail. These skills, combined with my experience in digital technology solutions provide a unique perspective that I believe will be invaluable in the adoption of BIMQuote to homebuilders nationwide. I am thrilled to be part of this innovative team and look forward to contributing to the company's continued success."

BIMQuote is currently being offered to Builders Capital borrowers, who can utilize the software to order localized building materials at discounted prices. The cost savings are based on their national relationships with hundreds of material providers from wood framing to windows, to roofing and appliances and everything in between. The materials are organized by cost code provided in detailed quantity takeoffs based on the homebuilders' submitted plans.

To learn more about BIMQuote and its technology solutions visit BIMQuote.com

About BIMQuote and Customhome.ai

BIMQuote and customhome.ai offer innovative products available to homebuilders, enabling them to operate more competitively, efficiently, and profitably in their business. BIMQuote offers a full project management and procurement suite, with integrated accounting and automated contracting tools such as lien waivers. Customhome.ai allows for the customization of a 3D digital model of a home and immediately generates a material takeoff as well as site-specific residential designs. Learn more at: BIMquote.com and customhome.ai

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Trisha Hudson

trisha.hudson@builderscapital.com

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Trisha Hudson
trisha.hudson@builderscapital.com

• More Patients are Facing Kidney Failure: Around 360 people start dialysis every 24 hours in the United States. Over 130,000 people reach kidney failure each year in the US alone, with the vast majority transitioning from hospitals to one of 7,638 dialysis centers across the country.
• Patient Fears of Self-Cannulation: Many patients express apprehension about self-cannulation, an essential step in home hemodialysis (HHD). A study of people on dialysis found that 47% said needle phobia kept them from doing self-care treatments.
• Low Uptake of Home Hemodialysis: Despite its benefits, less than 2% of patients are on home hemodialysis (HHD) today due to barriers including cannulation fears and lack of adequate training.
• Dialysis staffing challenges: Patient Care Technicians (PCTs) are a critical part of the dialysis care team and patient safety. Staffing challenges continue to put pressure on recruitment, training and retention of PCTs in the dialysis workforce. In a recent survey, only half of PCTs reported that they plan to be working as a dialysis PCT in 3 years. 
• Training Gaps in Home Modalities: A limited number of training sessions available for home dialysis modalities contributes to patient uncertainty and low retention. Home HD training represents a substantial investment in time for patients and providers. It takes around 30 hours of in-person training to train one home patient, which is constrained by staffing, scheduling, transportation and logistical needs.
• Patient Transition and Retention Challenges: Data indicate notable failure rates for patients transitioning to home hemodialysis, with a significant percentage discontinuing treatment within the first year. The percentage of patients on home HD at one year was substantially lower among patients who attended 10 or fewer sessions (31-35%) compared to those with 11 or more. The percentage on PD at one year was lowest for those who attended 1-3 sessions (48%).

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Chronic Kidney Disease in the United States, 2023.
2. U.S. Renal Data System, USRDS 2023 Annual Data Report
3. Plantinga LC, Bender AA, Urbanski M, et al. Patient Care Technician Staffing and Outcomes Among US Patients Receiving In-Center Hemodialysis. JAMA Netw Open. 2024;7(3):e241722. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.1722
4. Plantinga LC, Rickenbach F, et al. Professional Fulfillment, Burnout, and Turnover Intention Among US Dialysis Patient Care Technicians: A National Survey. AJKD Vol 82, Issue 1, 22 - 32.e1. 2023
5. Fitzpatrick T, Butt Q, Maddox T. Enhancing Home Dialysis Training and Retention through Interactive Virtual Reality. Nephrol Nurs J. 2023
6. Fresenius Medical Care North America, IKONA Health Receive Major Grant to Expand Virtual Reality Healthcare Education, Improve Access in Rural Mississippi (PR Newswire - January, 2023)

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IKONA Press
hello@ikona.health