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Groundfloor, the wealthtech platform that allows everyone to build wealth through real estate, is announcing the launch of a new Spanish-language program specifically for Spanish-speaking real estate entrepreneurs who are looking for financing on residential fix and flip or new construction projects. Through this program, Groundfloor has launched a dedicated experience for Spanish-speaking entrepreneurs that provides information on our lending products in their native language and connects interested borrowers to a dedicated Business Development Manager who is fluent in Spanish. Further plans for the program include a Spanish-language application portal and the translation of all relevant loan documents and informational materials into Spanish.

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"Diversity is one of our core values at Groundfloor, and we've always attracted real estate investors from a wide range of backgrounds and ethnicities," said Jeff Seal, Director of Originations for Groundfloor. "Recently we've seen increasing interest from Spanish-speaking real estate entrepreneurs, a group that has been typically underserved by traditional financial organizations. We know that the loan application process can be intimidating, especially when going through it in a non-native language. True to our mission, we want Groundfloor to be the place that makes it easy for everyone to build wealth through real estate."

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Since its launch in 2013, Groundfloor has loaned more than $710 million in capital to independent real estate entrepreneurs, who are working to improve their communities while building their own wealth. Some of the other advantages to lending from Groundfloor include:

• Loan sizes from $75k to $1.5m
• Special pricing and leverage options for general contractors and builders
• True deferred payments – no payments until loan repays
• Ability to maximize cash flow by rolling all points and fees into closing
• Up to 100% Loan-to-Cost
• Up to 75% Loan-to-After repair value
• No liquidity requirements or interest reserves

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Spanish-speaking real estate entrepreneurs who would like more information or are interested in submitting an application can visit https://borrowers.groundfloor.us/espanol to start the process.

The intricate world of smart homes is now more accessible than ever with the launch of InterOperate Smart Home, a home automation company located in Charlotte, N.C.

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InterOperate Smart Home is a division of the workflow automation and system integration company, InterOperate, which has been an industry leader in making complex technological solutions work together to allow teams and businesses to thrive. Now, they are taking their expertise to the next level.

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"We believe smart home capabilities should be affordable and available to all," said Michael Blakely, InterOperate CEO. "The newest technology should not have to be limited to those with extensive experience in home automation. That's what we're here for."

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InterOperate Smart Home prides itself on taking the guesswork out of home automation by providing the consulting, installation and maintenance that comes with creating a seamless smart home ecosystem.

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Blakely said selecting the right connected devices is just as important as making them work well together, that is why InterOperate Smart Home is brand agnostic. It works with all systems and devices to create a customized design that works best for its clients.

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"We pride ourselves on being a full-service offering that includes everything in your home, like door locks, window shades, thermostats, garage doors and even coffee machines that automatically brew a fresh cup when you wake up in the morning," said Blakely. "We also expand beyond these common items and build automations that are personalized to our clients' needs."

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InterOperate Smart Home automation uses software to combine technologies with everyday behaviors to simplify daily tasks. Blakely says one of the best examples of how this technology can be utilized is when leaving for a vacation.

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"When you are running out the door on the way to the airport, you can close the wind shades, lock the doors, turn off the lights and completely prepare your home for your departure with the click of a button," says Blakely. "Then, while you're away, you can still have full access to the interworkings of your home by automatically watering your plants or receiving an alert if your smoke detectors or security systems go off to give you peace of mind that your home is in your control from anywhere in the world."

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InterOperate Smart Home currently offers its services in the Charlotte N.C. metro area, which serves as both the InterOperate Headquarters and Blakely's hometown.

BNY Mellon Wealth Management expands its Dallas office with three new additions including Chris Gold as Dallas market president, Megan Steinbach as senior private banker and Dan Patterson as senior wealth manager. They are all based in Dallas and report to Todd Carlton, regional president, Central Region.

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"The Dallas office is thriving and attracting new clients and we are well placed to add new talent to further support our Active Wealth framework," said Carlton.

• Chris will lead the Dallas area and focus on client relationships, COI interactions, product, service and sales delivery.
• Megan will work with new and existing high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients to develop and implement a strategic plan for managing credit and treasury solutions.
• Dan will provide comprehensive wealth management advice, including managing portfolios and providing strategic planning and advice for ultra-high-net-worth clients.

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Chris brings more than two decades of wealth management experience and joins BNY Mellon Wealth Management from Northern Trust, where he served as a senior managing director. Prior to that, he held a variety of senior roles at Lazard Asset Management, Bank of America and EY. Chris earned a Bachelor of Arts from DePaul University.

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Megan joins BNY Mellon Wealth Management from Northern Trust, where she most recently served as senior private banker. She also held a variety of roles at Frost Bank. Megan earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Southern Methodist University.

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Dan has 35 years of financial services experience and joins BNY Mellon Wealth Management from Northern Trust, where he was a senior investment portfolio manager. Before that, he served as an institutional fixed income portfolio manager at Provident Investment Counsel. Dan earned a Bachelor of Science from Marshall University, a Master of Business Administration from Northern Arizona University and a Juris Doctorate from Whittier College School of Law.

Stellus Capital Management, LLC (“Stellus”), a leader in middle market direct lending, today announced the hiring of Bill Haverland as Principal and Casey Carroll as Vice President, Investor Relations.

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“With their many years of credit, private equity and investment banking experience, we are very pleased to have Bill and Casey join the Firm,” said Robert T. Ladd, Managing Partner at Stellus. “Bill and Casey will provide our private equity clients and investors the high caliber support that is the hallmark of Stellus Capital.”

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Mr. Haverland, who will be focused on building private equity relationships in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, brings more than 10 years of credit and investment banking experience to Stellus. Most recently, he served as an Executive Director in Fifth Third Bank’s Technology, Media, and Telecom Group, where he focused on private equity coverage from 2017 to 2022 and was a member of the Investment Banking team responsible for originating and executing M&A transactions. Mr. Haverland received a B.S. in Commerce from The University of Virginia with concentrations in Finance and Management.

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Mr. Carroll joins Stellus with more than 10 years of investor relations and fundraising experience. Most recently, Mr. Carroll was the Vice President of Investor Relations at Comvest Partners, where he was involved in all aspects of IR with a focus on institutional fundraising for the firm’s Private Credit and Private Equity strategies. Prior to that, he was a Senior Vice President of Production and Development at Straight Up Films in Los Angeles, involved in fundraising, financial structuring, and production for the firm’s slate of films. Mr. Carroll holds a B.A. from The University of Vermont.

hihotels by Hospitality International, a leader in economy lodging across the United States, is pleased to announce the launch of its new and improved INNcentive Instant Rewards program. INNcentive members will enjoy greater value when staying at a hihotels brand and now have access to thousands of discounts and special offers from nationally recognized companies.

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Featuring five distinct brands – Scottish Inns, Red Carpet Inn, Master Hosts Inns, Downtowner Inns and Passport Inn – hihotels has a unique loyalty program that offers immediate benefits and discounts rather than requiring members to accumulate enough points for a reward.

The perks and deals include:

• 15% room discount during each stay*
• Early check-in**
• Late checkout**
• Access to thousands of discounts and special offers for dining, shopping, entertainment and travel
• Weekly emails with special offers for traveling and everyday activities

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*based on availability
**up to 2 hours and based on each hotel's policy and availability

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"Our frequent guest program has been popular with our customers because it is not based on points. I think everyone can relate to the frustration of joining a loyalty club and not getting anything out of it because it's too complicated, they don't travel often enough to take advantage of it or an unreasonable amount of points are needed for a reward. Our guests enjoy benefits as soon as they sign up, and now membership is even more valuable thanks to the thousands of additional discounts now available," said hihotels President & CEO Chris Guimbellot.

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Guests can sign up for the INNcentive Instant Rewards program for free by visiting stayhihotels.com/inncentive-rewards or stopping by the front desk of any hihotels brand location.

Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP (BAL) is pleased to announced that three of its attorneys have been elected to leadership positions at the American Immigration Lawyers Association. AILA is the primary industry group that supports U.S. immigration attorneys and law firms of all sizes.

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BAL Partner Jeff Joseph will serve as Second Vice President for the 2022-23 term and BAL Partner Maggie Murphy has been re-elected to AILA's Board of Governors for a three-year term. Additionally, BAL Senior Associate Tiffany Martinez, of the firm's San Francisco office, has been elected Chair of AILA's Northern California chapter and as such will also serve on the Board of Governors for one year.

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Jeff leads the firm's Denver office and has over two decades of experience in immigration law, including an impressive litigation record. With deep roots in the Denver area, Jeff is well-known for his leadership in the immigration legal community, serving as a past Chair of the Colorado Chapter, as a past elected director on the AILA National Board of Governors, and on numerous national committees, most recently serving as AILA's Treasurer last term.

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"I'm thrilled to serve as Second Vice President and I'm ready to go to work for all our members by ensuring that we better utilize technology and reinvent how we prepare for changes so we can continue fighting for immigrants as we face new challenges in this complex environment," Jeff said.

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Maggie leads BAL's Austin office and has been a member of AILA for over 18 years serving on various membership and conference planning committees, as former Chair of the Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma Chapter, and as the Board liaison to the Department of Labor and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services field office operations committees this past year. She will serve her second term as an elected director of AILA's Board of Governors.

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"I'm honored to serve this organization and to continue helping AILA members get access to resources that empower them to serve their clients, foster their own well-being, and grow their practices," said Maggie.

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"These attorneys are elite practitioners who will lend their considerable talents to AILA," said BAL Managing Partner Jeremy Fudge. "Just as it is our mission as a firm to make a positive difference in people's lives, Jeff, Maggie and Tiffany will make a positive difference for AILA members, their professional lives and the businesses and people they serve."

JELD-WEN (NYSE: JELD), a leading global manufacturer of high-performance interior and exterior building products, announced today its first shipments of AuralinTrue Composite windows and patio doors, an innovative new product line that blends the beauty of wood with strength and durability that surpasses vinyl. Auraline products are GREENGUARD Gold certified and feature fresh, contemporary designs delivering crisp, clean lines that homeowners desire and builders want to use.

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"Auraline True Composite by JELD-WEN combines the best features of wood and vinyl windows to deliver a truly superior product designed to fill a critical gap in the product spectrum for dealers and homebuilders," said John Krause, SVP & GM, North America at JELD-WEN. "The Auraline product line fulfills our ongoing commitment to innovation and sustainability, and we're excited to make these next-generation windows the composite standard in our industry."

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A new alternative to vinyl and wood, the products blend wood fiber with synthetic polymers and a co-extruded color to create a highly durable material that has the beauty and luxury of wood and requires no painting and limited maintenance. Auraline True Composite is twice as rigid as vinyl for improved strength and cleaner installation. Auraline products also come in PG35 standard, category-best PG50 and LC-rated options.  

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"Auraline delivers homeowners a luxury look for less, offering the beauty and efficiency of wood combined with the durability and ease of maintenance that is far superior to vinyl," said Caleb Standafer, Director of Strategy & General Manager for Auraline True Composite Windows and Patio Doors. "These windows and patio doors answer the call from homeowners who are demanding premium aesthetics at a more affordable price."

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Slimmer sight lines are a signature of Auraline True Composite Windows and Patio Doors, with up to 28% more visible glass, providing homeowners with more natural light, which can reduce energy consumption from artificial interior lighting needs. The standard premium glass package also delivers nearly 40% more energy efficiency than industry basic glass packages, and with at least 30% of composite material coming from reclaimed sources, Auraline represents the next generation in composite windows and patio doors.  

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Builders and homeowners can choose a white or black finish, with a chestnut bronze finish slated to launch later this year. Coordinating hardware finishes are available in white, black and satin nickel; bronze hardware will launch alongside the chestnut bronze finish later this year. From modern to traditional looks, Auraline windows and patio doors are versatile to suit a variety of styles and operating type needs. Now available are:

• Single-Hung Windows with a removable side-load bottom sash that lifts open vertically;
• 2 & 3 Panel Sliding Windows with sash that slide open horizontally; and
• 2 Panel Sliding Patio Doors available in multiple configurations to match the windows.

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Coming in phases throughout the remainder of the year are:

• Casement Windows, which are hinged at the side and open the full frame area;
• Awning Windows, which are hinged at the top to open out from the bottom;
• Direct Set, Geometric and Radius Windows, which enable wide-open views with minimal disruption;
• Mulled Windows with continuous head and sill construction that improves performance in the field; and
• 3 & 4 Panel Sliding Patio Doors available in multiple configurations to match the windows.

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Auraline True Composite products are available nationwide at select dealers. For more information, visit jeld-wen.com/auraline.

ActivePure, the global leader in sustainable 24/7 indoor surface and air purification technology, announced today the promising results of the technology's installation throughout Paramount Group, Inc.'s (NYSE: PGRE) extensive portfolio. A leading owner, operator and manager of Class A sustainable office space, Paramount began installing and testing the patented decontamination technology in 2021 throughout its real estate portfolio.

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Paramount conducted a series of independent indoor air quality (IAQ) tests in their New York buildings before and after the installation of ActivePure. The testing compared total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) from both indoor and outdoor air samples. Following the installation of ActivePure technology, Paramount's properties experienced 80%+ declines in TVOCs from baseline levels, progress which has been sustained even as traffic and pollution have steadily increased from cities and offices re-opening.

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Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted as gases from a variety of sources that impact air quality both indoors and outdoors. Improving indoor air quality by reducing VOCs and airborne pathogens through ActivePure's units is yielding significant benefits for all building occupants throughout Paramount's portfolio.

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The post-pandemic expectations for commercial real estate to provide a higher indoor air quality standard without increasing the portfolio's carbon footprint form an environmental paradox for many. However, because ActivePure does not require airflow changes, increased ventilation or additional HVAC fan power, it creates a sustainable solution for air and surface disinfection and decontamination.

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Both ActivePure and Paramount continuously demonstrate their commitment to sustainability leadership and social responsibility. Paramount is an industry leader in Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) initiatives demonstrated by achieving LEED Platinum or Gold certifications and 2021 ENERGY STAR labels across 100% of their REIT portfolio. Paramount was among the first property management firms to install ActivePure, a decision driven by the enhanced sustainability features of this technology.

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"Paramount's assets are home to thousands of tenants, visitors, and employees, and we recognize our role in maintaining healthy and safe environments for all building occupants," said Joseph Szabo, senior vice president, property management at Paramount. "The value of ActivePure is we can achieve both wellness and sustainability goals simultaneously, so the decision to implement the technology across our portfolio was aligned with our commitment to responsible operations."

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ActivePure Technology recreates the air-cleaning process that naturally occurs outdoors. Referred to as Advanced Photocatalysis, the patented technology utilizes UVC light and a catalyst to work with the humidity in ambient air to create the same oxidizing molecules found outdoors and bring them indoors. Testing results have proven that ActivePure reduces over 99.9% of indoor airborne SARS-CoV-2 virus, which is the virus that causes COVID-19, as well as mold, bacteria, fungi and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), without chemicals, ozone or the need to trap or filter contaminants. ActivePure's line of products features portable, stand-alone devices to induct solutions installed into existing HVAC systems, designed to fit the needs of each space.

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"The entire world is contemplating their real estate footprint in the new normal," said Amy Carenza, chief commercial officer at ActivePure. "When tenants decide to lease a space in a sustainable property, they are opting in on a commitment to a better environment. ActivePure allows commercial buildings to pursue the virtuous cycle of ESG more easily through achieving the highest indoor air quality standards without increasing their carbon footprint. As the pandemic becomes endemic, companies should not have to choose between protecting their workers or protecting the environment."

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ActivePure and Paramount provide sustainable and environmentally conscious solutions to tenants across the nation. For more information about Paramount, visit PGRE.com or call 212-237-3100. To learn more about ActivePure, and its solutions for air and surface purification, visit ActivePure.com or call 888-217-4316.

The U.S. VasQ™ External Support Comparative Study results were presented this month for the first time globally at the VASA 2022. The study was a propensity-score matched comparison of the VasQ U.S. Pivotal Study single-arm prospective data with untreated contemporary Medicare patients who underwent arterio-venous fistula creation for hemodialysis by the same study surgeons. The study results demonstrated a significant improvement in primary patency and fistula usability with less re-intervention burden within the first 6 months post-creation.

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Dr. C. Keith Ozaki, vascular surgeon and Executive Vice Chair of the Department of Surgery at Brigham and Women's Hospital of Boston, MA, and the local principal investigator for the phase 3 Pivotal study, stated, "The results of this carefully performed analysis clearly link higher patency, lower reintervention rates, and increased hemodialysis access usability with the VasQ device. This data supports similar results from multiple European studies on VasQ's ability to reduce intervention burden on hemodialysis patients."

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The data release at VASA builds on previous VasQ U.S. Pivotal Study data releases, first by Dr. Ellen Dillavou, Chief of Surgery at WakeMed, NC, who reported at VEITH 2021 that VasQ met the primary effectiveness performance goal, and second, by Dr. John Lucas III, Vascular Surgeon at Greenwood Leflore Hospital, MS, who reported at Charing CX 2022, London UK, high secondary patency rates at 2-years as compared to published contemporary U.S. meta-analyses.

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Dr. Dillavou added, "The mounting volume of evidence for VasQ continues to support the adoption of this technology as standard practice for access creation in order to give our patients the best chance for successful dialysis with a fistula and expediting removal of central venous catheters."

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VasQ is currently under review by the FDA for market clearance and is not available for sale in the U.S. at the time of this publication.

Cirba Solutions is now the combined entity representing Heritage Battery Recycling, Retriev Technologies, and Battery Solutions, creating the most experienced and comprehensive battery management and materials platform enabling a circular battery supply chain for the industry. The company’s focus on lithium-ion batteries, required for the rapidly growing electric vehicle industry, is supported by its robust end-to-end solution for all types of battery recycling and processing. Its expansive footprint includes six processing locations in North America, including two lithium-ion operations, and will be rapidly expanding with additional materials processing sites being selected this year.

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“Our society is experiencing a rapid electrification transformation. Cirba Solutions, which signifies where circularity and batteries come together, is the most experienced and trusted company to handle the entire battery management process for our customers and we have the expertise to grow our services to meet the scope and scale of the upcoming future,” said David Klanecky, CEO, Cirba Solutions. “A key to our success will be to address the complexity of the circular supply chain for customers to meet the industry’s need for lithium-ion batteries.”

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The company has fundamentally expanded its operational capabilities and industry expertise in the last eight months:

• In October 2021, Retriev Technologies combined with Heritage Battery Recycling to create the largest lithium-ion battery recycler in North America.
• In March 2022, the company appointed battery-industry veterans David Klanecky as CEO and Luke Kissam as Chairman of the Board to join the leadership team.
• In that same month, the company acquired Battery Solutions, the North American leader in sustainable, end-to-end management solutions for end-of-life batteries.

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Cirba Solutions has a well-established heritage through its predecessor companies. Retriev Technologies was the largest and most experienced cross-chemistry battery recycler in North America and has recycled more than 50 million pounds of lithium-ion batteries. For more than 30 years, it has seen battery technology change and has adapted to meet market needs through innovation, customer collaboration, and laser-focused execution.

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Battery Solutions built the largest North American post-consumer battery sorting services with a transportation, logistics, and collection infrastructure that can collect any volume of batteries of any type throughout the continent and leads the industry in compliance and safety. Processing tens of millions of pounds of end-of-life batteries annually with more than 7,000 customers, covering collection, services, and battery-centric logistics, this supports the battery management efforts for the circular supply chain.

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“Cirba Solutions is the only player in the market today that has an operational, differentiated business with a full suite of capabilities to address lithium-ion and cross-chemistry battery demand,” said Klanecky. “Plus our differentiated technology roadmap provides a technical foundation for significant gains in upgrading materials while servicing the industry needs for today.”

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The industry is preparing for the growing demand of electric vehicles in North America, which is estimated to grow from two million cars on the road today to 118 million by 2040. Auto manufacturers have committed to invest more than $500 billion in electrifying their fleet. Demand for new metals is anticipated to grow three-fold over the next eight years, enabling battery recycling as a viable and more sustainable resource for the overall EV supply chain.

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“We are servicing the needs of today and supporting our future generations with sustainable solutions for the planet,” said Klanecky.

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More information is available at www.cirbasolutions.com.

"This investment will allow InductiveHealth to pursue significant product development initiatives," said InductiveHealth CEO and Co-Founder Matthew Dollacker. "The COVID-19 pandemic exposed many opportunities for improvement in public health. We plan to leverage this investment to bring forward exciting new technology capabilities to improve public health outcomes, while continuing to grow our industry-leading team of epidemiologists, engineers, and public health specialists to serve our growing client needs."

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"Having the ability to push our innovation practices even further with Diversis, and to grow our world-class team, will mean that we can provide essential public health surveillance and response solutions to even more areas around the country, and eventually the world. Our goal is to help ensure that every public health crisis is met with accurate, timely data that can track and monitor the situation and enable the best public health outcomes."

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Partnering with Diversis

InductiveHealth's new partner is the Los Angeles-based investment firm Diversis, dedicated to fostering growth acceleration and providing development opportunities to software and technology organizations. Their goal is a collaborative partnership that ensures the organizations they work with are always heard and supported.

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"Diversis is excited to partner with another amazing and future-looking company," said Diversis Co-Founder and Managing Partner Kevin Ma, "The work that InductiveHealth is doing is vital to improving public health capabilities, and we believe that our growth investment in them will prove to be something that will genuinely help change the public health landscape for years to come."

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Growth and innovation

InductiveHealth has had a long-standing commitment to fully remote work, which in turn attracted a wide number of expert technologists in public health that would otherwise not be able to relocate to the company's headquarters in Atlanta.

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Today, the company has a staff of approximately 85 in the United States. It will use investment to continue a trend of more than 50 percent year-over-year growth, while also accelerating product development and client delivery at scale. InductiveHealth will primarily invest in engineering and product staff, developing services in ways that will improve the quantity, quality, and use of data for public health surveillance and response.

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The proof is in the numbers

Currently InductiveHealth supports public health reporting and analytics for more than 70 percent of hospital and urgent care visits in the United States. In addition, more than 6 million healthcare transactions per day are facilitated through its services.

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As the COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated, public health crises can occur at any time. InductiveHealth provides products and services that can help ensure that public health leaders have the tools that they need to effectively respond. With the growth investment from Diversis, InductiveHealth will be able to continue to innovate in this field, preventing avoidable illness and injury and saving lives.

smartwater is taking hydration to new heights this summer and today announces its newest global brand ambassador, Zendaya. A champion of artistry and originality, acclaimed actor and performer Zendaya is pioneering new ways to live a more purposeful life. As smartwater’s global ambassador, Zendaya will appear in a series of new creative from the brand that celebrates those who are defining ‘smart’ on their own terms and will support community water programs that will directly impact thousands of women.

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“We could not be more thrilled to have Zendaya join smartwater as the newest face of our brand,” said Matrona Filippou, Global Category President, Hydration, Sports, Tea & Coffee, The Coca-Cola Company. “A global icon and cultural force, Zendaya isn’t afraid to be true to herself, and that’s what makes her the perfect addition to the smartwater family.”

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Created in partnership with VMLY&R and WPP/OpenX, the campaign creative will begin rolling out in the U.S. from June 21 across television, audio, social and streaming channels, with global markets to follow. The campaign celebrates those who keep it smart, whatever the choice, and aren’t afraid to free themselves from the restraints of convention.

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“I’m very excited to begin this new relationship with smartwater,” said Zendaya, smartwater Global Brand Ambassador. “We all know how important it is to stay hydrated and smartwater is my go-to source no matter what I am doing throughout the day.”

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As the face of the brand’s newest campaign, Zendaya will work with smartwater to support community water quality and access improvements in various cities around the world, starting with Zendaya’s hometown of Oakland, California, by partnering with the Global Water Challenge (GWC) – a coalition of leading organizations collaborating to achieve universal access to clean drinking water. In the U.S. alone, 2.2 million people have no water at home and 44 million Americans are served by water systems that don't function optimally.

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Together, smartwater, GWC and Zendaya are launching the smart solutions: global water challenge, which will invite local organizations to apply for grant funding to GWC’s women for water action platform that uplifts women and their communities through the power of clean water access. These efforts build on more than a decade of investments in clean water access around the world from The Coca-Cola Company which have reached more than 18.5 million people since 2010. GWC’s work has proven that with access to clean water, people, especially women and girls, are healthier, safer, educated and employed.

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“Our organization doesn’t operate without the support of our purpose-driven partners, and we are grateful to have smartwater and Zendaya on board to help ensure communities in need have more access to clean water,” says Monica Ellis, CEO of Global Water Challenge. “With the smart solutions: global water challenge, we’ll specifically work to address community water access, improving and protecting water quality, and economic empowerment opportunities through water.”

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For more information about smartwater, visit smartwater.com. For more information about the Global Water Challenge and the smart solutions: global water challenge, visit www.globalwaterchallenge.org.

BlazeSports America, a nonprofit organization founded after the 1996 Atlanta Paralympic Games and a leader in the field of adaptive sports and recreation, is hosting their second annual Peachtree Paragames event on June 25 and 26. The Paragames is a multi-sport event that provides the continuation of competition for the developmental to elite Paralympic athlete. The competition will include archery, track and field and swimming events and take place in the heart of Atlanta.

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“After an extremely successful first event, we are thrilled to host a second BlazeSports America Peachtree Paragames,” states Dawn Churi, Executive Director of BlazeSports. “The Paragames’ goal is to provide a competitive outlet for our athletes, while also providing an opportunity for potential new athletes to see first-hand the impact of adaptive sports. We are excited to continue this event in its second year and look forward to expanding Blaze’s impact in the community.”

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This multisport event was created as a tribute to the first Paralympic Games held in Atlanta, Georgia during the 1996 Olympics. Its purpose is to not only showcase and celebrate Paralympians but also to educate and encourage both youth and veteran athletes of all skill levels to join the BlazeSports America family.

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The Peachtree Paragames will kick off with archery and track on Saturday, June 25 and will continue with field events and the Toddler Games that afternoon. On Sunday, June 26, the swimming competitions will be held. Both days will include free clinics that focus on a variety of adaptive sports such as rowing, sitting volleyball, wheelchair tennis, and pickleball for all participants and those new to the world of adaptive sports. There will also be the BlazeTots Play Day held on Saturday, June 25, for children ages two through five.

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For more information or to register for the Peachtree Paragames please visit https://blazesports.org/paragames/.

Integrity Marketing Group, LLC ("Integrity"), a leading distributor of life and health insurance, and provider of wealth management and retirement planning solutions, today announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire Annuity Agents Alliance, an insurance marketing organization based in Denver, Colorado. As part of the acquisition, Anthony Owen, President of Annuity Agents Alliance, will become a Managing Partner in Integrity. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed and is subject to carrier consent.

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Since 2006, Annuity Agents Alliance has supported a growing network of agents offering annuities and life insurance. The firm specializes in marketing, sales process and case design to help agents build thriving, sustainable businesses that serve the increasingly complex financial needs of American families. Today, Annuity Agents Alliance is comprised of more than 250 agents and advisors who produce more than $550 million in annual paid premium.

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"With their strong growth trajectory and impressive track record, there is no question that Anthony and his team at Annuity Agents Alliance understand how to best provide annuities and life insurance products to the Americans who need them," said Bryan W. Adams, Co-Founder and CEO of Integrity. "Integrity offers companies like Annuity Agents Alliance an ideal solution for the next phase of growth. Anthony can focus on what he does best while feeling secure in the roadmap for the future of the firm and its employees. Additionally, his agent partners gain access to technology and resources that will improve their business and ultimately help them serve more consumers. By working together, both Integrity and Annuity Agents Alliance will achieve greater success. We couldn't be more excited to bring Anthony's experience and passion for service into the Integrity family."

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"As our company grows, I want to keep my focus on the core competencies that differentiate us," said Anthony Owen, President of Annuity Agents Alliance. "Integrity provides the systems that allow us to offload administrative tasks and spend more of our time on the areas where we can best support our agent partners. The industry continues to become more complex — providing our agent partners with Integrity's beneficial technology, product development and customer support will help them grow faster and stronger. We're also excited to integrate the additional financial services and insurance products Integrity offers to help our agents build a comprehensive business. An Integrity partnership is an amazing opportunity for Annuity Agents Alliance to scale and serve our customers in new ways, and we look forward to an incredibly bright future."

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Annuity Agents Alliance can diversify its product offerings and capitalize on new opportunities by incorporating Integrity's platform of proprietary technology and resources into its already successful processes. The Integrity platform stimulates growth by providing agents with real-time quoting and enrollment systems, and innovative product development fueled by insightful data and analytics. In addition, Annuity Agents Alliance can concentrate valuable time on core competencies by accessing Integrity's expanded suite of shared business services. It includes areas such as Technology & Innovation, People & Culture, finance, legal and compliance, as well as marketing guidance from a national advertising and marketing agency.

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Anthony Owen will help Integrity fulfill its mission to transform the insurance and financial service industries by adding his deep life insurance and annuities expertise to Integrity's rapidly growing partner network. A forward-thinking collective of industry icons and legends, Integrity's partner companies collaborate to innovate and optimize insurance and financial processes. By strategizing on best practices and solutions, this elite group of peers helps millions of Americans plan for the good days ahead.

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The benefits of Integrity partnership are further bolstered by the Integrity Employee Ownership Plan, which offers Annuity Agents Alliance employees meaningful company ownership.

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For more information about Annuity Agents Alliance's decision to partner with Integrity, view a video at www.integritymarketing.com/AnnuityAgentsAlliance.

TOTUS, a leading company to issue and fully manage multi-channel gift card programs for brands in a range of industries, has launched with significant seed financing to address a major unmet need in the multibillion-dollar gift card market.

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Led by industry veterans with a combined 100 years of experience pioneering and managing gift card programs, TOTUS offers a scalable, adaptable program that manages issuance, distribution, marketing and all complex legal, compliance and regulatory work that gift card programs require.

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"Global gift card sales could exceed $1 trillion within the next five years," TOTUS co-founder and CEO Dave Jones says. "But creating and managing these programs is not a core competency for any business. That's why we founded TOTUS. Brands need a partner that has expertise in everything from compliance to card production to processing to fraud prevention to distribution and marketing. Our team has that expertise, enabling us to offer our brand partners an end-to-end solution that's scalable and easily adapted across industries."

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Jones co-founded TOTUS after 20 years of entrepreneurial and leadership experience in the e-commerce and payments industries, having served as a Head of the Digital and Incentives divisions at Blackhawk Network, a global gift card company acquired by Silverlake Private Equity in 2018. Jones' previous founder successes include exits with CardLab, PAYjr, RewardLayer and Billserv. He has also held senior roles with BillMatrix, Fiserv and JP Morgan Chase. The senior leadership team at TOTUS is comprised of veterans from gift card provider SVM, CardLab, Blackhawk Network and other leading payments, gift card and e-commerce companies.

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"Launching a gift card program was a critical part of our strategy to grow our business," says Ben Soppitt, CEO of Unifimoney, a customer of TOTUS. "When we started the process, we were surprised to learn how complex it is to navigate the legal, regulatory, compliance and tactical operations of gift cards. TOTUS was the only partner we could find to take this off our plate and bring the necessary experience to ensure it's done correctly. Within days of our initial conversations with the team, we had a structure and agreement that met our needs and will allow us to achieve the sales and distribution we're looking for."

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Jones is scheduled to share his vision for TOTUS and insights on the fast-growing gift card industry at the Lead Innovation Summit in Brooklyn, New York on July 12-13, an event where more than 1,700 leaders in retail, fashion and consumer innovation connect with the world's top brands. Jones will be speaking on July 12 at 1:30pm ET alongside other industry leaders, including Brandon Gell, Founder and CEO of Clyde, Benjamin Davis, Founder and CEO of TryNow and Adam Rivietz, Co-Founder and CSO of #paid.

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TOTUS is in the process of launching with a dozen leading brands, to be announced, from a variety of industries and verticals. TOTUS raised significant capital from angel investors, prompting the company's inception in February 2022. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Truist Financial Corporation (NYSE: TFC) today announced the grand opening of its Innovation and Technology Center, a space designed to reimagine the client experience for the more than 6 million interactions that take place daily at Truist. The 100,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility will be located at Truist Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, and feature client journey rooms, a research lab and collaboration hubs where agile teams of innovators, product managers, engineers and designers will work with clients to build a better banking experience.

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"The new Truist Innovation and Technology Center is ultimately all about our clients—a unique space that brings together direct client input with some of the best and brightest talent in the industry to build an innovative ecosystem that will propel Truist into the future," said Chief Information Officer Scott Case. "As our cross-functional teams come together with clients, fintechs and large tech companies to reimagine banking experiences through listening and empathy, we're fulfilling our purpose to inspire and build better lives and communities."

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Highlights of the ITC will include:

• Client Journey Rooms – Each Client Journey Room is dedicated to gaining greater insight into ever-evolving client needs—from everyday personal banking to the more intricate requirements of Wealth clients and businesses of all types and sizes—to create better banking experiences.
• Makers Space – Truist teammates build prototypes in these spaces to test and refine new products and services.
• Reality Lab – Inside the lab, the focus is on using virtual and augmented reality technology to create the future of banking.
• Contact Center – Inside this 18-person call center engineers, designers and product owners connect with call center agents to get instant feedback directly from clients on their experiences.
• Tree Houses – These innovative spaces showcase prototypes that allow guests to explore new possibilities that emerging technologies can create.
• The Park – A space where teammates can meet to discuss a project or find tranquility. It resembles a community park with plenty of greenery, natural light and swings to help spark creativity and drive innovation.

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"We're accelerating innovation through co-creation combined with cutting-edge technology to design experiences that wow our clients," said Ken Meyer, divisional CIO and experience officer. "By leveraging the most modern capabilities and solutions, we will advance innovative and groundbreaking projects that attract top talent and external partners."

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The ITC will also be the home base for the Innovators in Residence program, a partnership that brings in visionaries from tech giants and startups to collaborate on and explore new and emerging technologies to help address longstanding financial and community challenges. Amazon Web Services (AWS), Verizon and Unqork are founding partners of the program.

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"Innovators in Residence will tap the capabilities of some of the most innovative companies in the world to help clients and the broader financial services industry explore new opportunities for the future," said Michael Pinto, vice president, AWS America, East General Manager. "We're excited to bring AWS's expertise to help accelerate innovation using new cloud technologies as a founding supporter with Truist in this project."

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"The demand for digital experiences has altered the business landscape," said Sampath Sowmyanarayan, chief revenue officer, Verizon Business. "The ability to innovate to stay ahead of demand is essential for success. Truist is a like-minded partner with a desire to drive change, and the Innovators in Residence program and this partner ecosystem will serve as the proving ground for delivering positive outcomes for businesses, consumers and communities."

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"As businesses face increasing pressure to digitize, the ability to collaborate across an organization is becoming increasingly important," said Gary Hoberman, CEO and founder, Unqork. "Truist understands this, and has created an environment that will foster collaboration and fuel innovation, allowing them to ultimately address the biggest challenges in finance through technology. We're honored to join Truist as a founding partner of this program and look forward to helping them foster collaboration between tech and business users as they chart a path towards a codeless future."

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The Truist Innovation & Technology Center won the CoreNet Global Carolinas Chapter CORE Award for Innovation Project of the Year.

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For more information about the ITC, please visit www.truist.com/innovation-technology-center.

RREAF Holdings LLC, a private real estate investment and development firm based in Dallas, and Innisfree Hotels, a premier coastal hotel operator in the southeast, today announced the acquisition of two boutique hotels in Amelia Island, Fla., on Fernandina Beach. The properties — Ocean Coast Hotel and Amelia Hotel — are situated in one of America's leading drive-to destination markets, which saw over 1.3 million visitors in 2021.

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The portfolio has 225 keys, and the properties sit adjacent to each other. The hotels are ideally located across the street from one of Florida's iconic beaches and a few miles from Fernandina's Historic Downtown. This market is well-positioned to capture pent-up travel demand of millions of Americans who live within a one-day drive of the Atlantic coast. Amelia Hotel is located at 1997 Fletcher Ave., and Ocean Coast Hotel is located at 2707 Sadler Rd.

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"In the past year, we have more than doubled our hotel portfolio in our drive-to leisure division increasing our beachfront hotel properties to nine with more than 1,100 rooms.  We will continue to expand the hospitality side of RREAF through acquisitions and development. Both these properties on Amelia Island fit perfectly within our growing hospitality and resort business model," said Kip Sowden, CEO of RREAF Holdings. "We are opportunistic buyers and believe now is a good time to buy and develop as consumers are eager to get out and travel post-COVID. Our drive-to leisure hospitality assets continue to show very strong results and that trend is expected to continue even with inflationary pressure. We currently have two beachfront resort properties under development that will add an additional 550 rooms to our Beachfront Hospitality and Resort division. Affordable family friendly vacation spots, such as Amelia Island, should continue to outpace other sectors in the hospitality space."

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During the acquisition process, RREAF partnered with Innisfree Hotels, which will manage the properties. Innisfree is a best-in-class operator of beachfront hotels and resorts in the Southeastern United States. The hotels present immediate upside potential through professional management. The sponsors look forward to welcoming guests to a new experience in the near future. RREAF also anticipates driving top-line revenue and occupancy with Innisfree's experienced management and marketing.

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"We're very pleased to add these stunning properties to the Innisfree Hotels portfolio, in partnership with RREAF Holdings," said Innisfree President and CEO Ted Ent. "Amelia Island's Fernandina Beach is a picture-perfect location for a family getaway or conference destination, and we are eager to provide our guests with a world-class experience and genuine Innisfree hospitality."  

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With white-powder sand and stunning ocean views, hotel guests can experience one of Florida's most relaxing vacation spots. Both properties supply first-class amenities at affordable rates, including complimentary breakfast, nature trails, large outdoor pool and hot tub, pet-friendly rooms for cats and dogs, sports courts and equipment, bikes, beach wagons, beach chairs, and more.

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Learn more about RREAF at rreaf.com and Innisfree at innisfreehotels.com.

Charlotte Metro Federal Credit Union (CMCU), a full-service, not-for-profit financial institution headquartered in Charlotte, today announced that it will begin construction on its new primary office building on the corner of Central Avenue and Piedmont Street in Charlotte. The two-story, 48,000 square-foot facility will serve as the credit union's headquarters and home to the growing organization's operations and administration staff which currently deliver financial services for over 92,000 members.

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Designed by Liquid Design & Architecture, CMCU's new headquarters will feature a modern style, with the use of unique materials and a rain-scene façade. The building will have a large terrace on the second floor facing Uptown Charlotte as well as a two-story atrium space that will enhance visual connectivity between levels. It will also include two underground levels of dedicated parking. Its design and height will be contextual to the surrounding structures in the vibrant Elizabeth community and will be directly adjacent to the new CMCU Central Avenue branch facility which broke ground in March 2022 and is expected to be open later this fall.

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"Central Avenue has been the heartbeat of CMCU for over forty years and we are excited to reaffirm our roots in Charlotte's Elizabeth community with a sophisticated and appealing new headquarters building that we believe will be a landmark space for our members," said Eric Gelly, President and CEO, CMCU. "In combination with our new Central Branch facility, the new CMCU Central Headquarters office will give our members and staff the flexible and functional office space needed to further deliver the advanced financial services, online banking technology and comprehensive financial products CMCU is known so well for."

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Construction for the new headquarters will begin in the first quarter of 2023 with an expected completion date in the second quarter of 2024. Upon completion of the new headquarters facility, CMCU plans to sell its existing headquarters building at 718 Central Avenue.

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In addition to the new headquarters office building and 18 branch locations, CMCU will retain operational offices in Matthews, which services the credit union's mortgage operations, and an operational hub in Greensboro, N.C.

A new Parks Associates report, Video Services: State of the Market, reveals that pay-TV subscriptions and revenues are on a continuous decline as consumers embrace OTT services. The research firm forecasts that traditional pay TV will decline to 76.7 million households by 2024, the lowest penetration in a decade and a 27% drop from 2014.

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"There has been substantial innovation over the years, but streaming's debut changed the trajectory of the modern video service industry," said Paul Erickson, Director of Research, Parks Associates. "The evolution of streaming video has given consumers immense choice in how, when, and what they watch. The ease of trialing, subscribing, and cancelling services has created new dynamics and challenges for content companies and service providers."

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Traditional pay-TV companies are making their move to streaming and are rebranding, making big acquisitions, and forming new partnerships. As they enter the streaming market, new OTT services join more than three hundred direct-to-consumer streaming services in the US market alone, which are tracked monthly with Parks Associates' landmark service The OTT Video Market Tracker.

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With so much choice and no long-term contracts for streaming video services, churn across all OTT service providers is increasing, and services are struggling to retain their viewers. Parks Associates data indicates that OTT subscription services average a 48% churn rate in the first quarter of 2022, which is a ten percent increase in just two years.

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Parks Associates is hosting Future of Video: OTT, Pay TV, and Digital Media in 2022 to examine these trends and explore new strategies with industry leaders and visionary speakers. Future of Video features an in-person conference in December 12-14, 2022, at the Marina del Rey Marriott, sponsored by Adeia, FPT Software, Symphony MediaAI, Comcast Technology Solutions, and Metrological.

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For more information on Video Services: State of the Market, contact sales@parksassociates.com. To schedule an interview with an analyst or to request specific data, please contact Rosey Sera at rosey.sera@parksassociates.com or 972-490-1113.

Axxess has elevated its executive leadership team with three people who will help lead efforts to deepen relationships with interoperability partners, its software solutions clients and the patients they serve.

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"Axxess' focus on people, partnerships and solutions is a key reason for our continuing success," said Founder and CEO John Olajide. "Our commitment to our clients and the industry is reflected in the deep bench of exceptional leaders in our organization who add real value because of their longstanding industry experience and knowledge. I am proud of the contributions they are making to advance care in the home."

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Tim Ingram has been promoted to executive vice president of interoperability. He is the senior leader of the company's Interoperability Partnerships team, responsible for building relationships and key product integrations that expand the ability to improve patient care and streamline operations for Axxess clients. Ingram has more than 20 years of healthcare technology experience, including working in software, operations leadership, and mergers and acquisitions environments.

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"I am humbled by the privilege of working with such incredible industry partners," Ingram said. "We are committed to enhancing our technology ecosystem through integrations with organizations who share our passion for patient-centered care."

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Keri Lamont has been named vice president of client experience. Lamont will help lead the company's Account Management team that is directly responsible for building and maintaining enterprise client relationships. She has more than 30 years of experience in healthcare and has worked as a leader in business development and client advocacy for BAYADA Home Health Care and Intrepid USA.

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Added Lamont: "I am so thankful to have found a home at Axxess. We are partnering with enterprise clients every day to deliver a delightful experience so they can deliver the best possible care to patients. Together, we can help them grow their business and retain staff through our easy-to-use solutions."

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Andrew Awoniyi has been promoted to vice president of patient engagement and analytics. He manages the strategic direction for the organization's patient engagement services and industry benchmarking data to better serve Axxess clients. Awoniyi is also closely involved with the content development strategy and delivery of the Axxess Training and Certification Program. He has more than 25 years of experience utilizing technology solutions to enhance care delivery, improve patient outcomes, and support organizations and patients across care settings.

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Added Awoniyi: "I am continually grateful for the opportunity to work with the incredible team at Axxess to elevate the delivery of care everywhere. Every patient and family interaction by our clients offers up continuous insights for making data-driven decisions to improve care quality and staff training to streamline operations and ultimately bend the cost curve."