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Expanding its leadership in high security backup and recovery for HPC and demanding IT environments, Bacula Systems today named Aristide Caraccio, its Senior VP of Sales and Marketing, as President & CEO of Bacula Systems Corp.

“Aristide is a dynamic, values-driven business leader who has a diverse background of experiences and an excellent track record of delivery in the IT industry. He has led Bacula’s sales and marketing activities worldwide for some years now and helped build the industry leading reputation we have for customer satisfaction in some of the world’s most security conscious and demanding organizations worldwide. The Board looks to Aristide to further develop the organization to realize the full potential of Bacula Systems Corp, delivering growth and value for its customers, employees and shareholders,” said Frank Barker, Chairman of Bacula Systems SA.

Caraccio joined Bacula in 2011, and has been instrumental in developing Bacula’s customer base in the United States and globally, including large organizations such as NASA, Warner Bros. Discovery and Navisite.

“I am excited by Bacula’s unique ability to protect large, complex and high performance IT environments, and its disruptive positioning in helping users to avoid vendor lock-in. The opportunity for Bacula has never been bigger than it is today and I am honored to lead Bacula Systems Corp as it helps organizations to modernize their backup strategy, lower costs, and achieve much better protection against ransomware and other attacks,” said Caraccio.

“I am delighted to have Aristide leading Bacula Systems Corp. His vision and drive will help us to bring a more secure, flexible, scalable, powerful and cost-effective backup and security solution to more customers so they can replace outdated and overpriced legacy backup systems. Aristide has the right industry and commercial knowledge to leverage our unique software and lead Bacula Systems Corp as it further develops market share in North America, Canada and Latin America,” said Gopal RajGuru, CEO of Bacula Systems SA.

About Bacula Systems

Bacula Enterprise is a highly scalable backup and recovery software for large organizations, data centers and MSPs. www.baculasystems.com

Media Contact

Rob Morrison

+41 21 641 60 80

rob.morrison@baculasystems.com

Green Lantern Solar, an innovative and trusted renewable energy developer, today announced the promotion of Alan Pratt to the position of Vice President of Operations.

With a proven track record as Green Lantern Solar’s Director of Operations for 10 years and deep experience in EPC roles before then, Alan brings exceptional leadership qualities and a steadfast commitment to the company’s mission.

In his new capacity, Alan will take charge of Green Lantern Solar’s Engineering Team and other critical areas such as the Operations and Maintenance (O&M) division. 

“Alan’s exemplary leadership and deep-rooted dedication to Green Lantern Solar have consistently propelled our organization forward,” said Scott Buckley, President of Green Lantern Solar. “We are confident that under his guidance, our Engineering and O&M departments will continue to excel and contribute significantly to our strategic objectives.”

Alan’s promotion coincides with the retirement of Peter Edlund, who has been an integral part of Green Lantern Solar’s success for nearly a decade. Peter’s contributions have been instrumental in building a strong company and shaping the company’s growth.

“Peter’s retirement marks a significant milestone for Green Lantern Solar,” Buckley continued. “His expertise, dedication and leadership have made a lasting impact on our company and its trajectory. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to Peter for his years of dedicated service.”

During his tenure, Peter led Green Lantern Solar’s Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) division and the O&M division. He oversaw the successful completion of more than 125 community-scale solar projects and earned industry recognition, including the 2023 Solar Builder Community Solar Project of the Year.

“We express our deepest gratitude to Peter for his invaluable contributions,” Buckley added. “We wish him every success and fulfillment in his well-deserved retirement — or, as he likes to call it, ‘graduation.’ His hard work and good humor will be missed.”

About Green Lantern Solar

Green Lantern Solar is a vertically integrated regional renewable energy development company emphasizing the development of community solar projects and commercial solar solutions for municipal, education, healthcare and government entities. Green Lantern works with landowners to revitalize and re-develop low-value sites such as brownfields, landfills, quarries/pits/extraction sites and other challenging real estate. The company currently provides a full suite of services: development, financing, construction and operations, maintenance and asset management. For more information, visit www.greenlanternsolar.com on LinkedIn and @GrnLntrnSolar on X (Twitter).

Media Contact

Leah Wilkinson

+1 703-907-0010

leah@wilkinson.associates 

Information overload from ad campaigns, email marketing, and a company’s website means that buyers are equipped with more than a basic understanding of a product or service well before a sales meeting. This means sellers need deeper product knowledge and easy access to proprietary company information to win new customers. However, the current sales tech stack does not support this foundational shift in the role of sales and presales teams.

AI platform for sales SiftHub has today raised $5.5 million in seed funding to help sales and presales teams discover knowledge and generate responses to customer needs immediately. The funding round was led by Matrix Partners India and Blume Ventures with participation from Neon Fund and executive operators and founders from Superhuman, Cloudflare, DevRev, RazorPay, and SuperOps.

SiftHub’s AI platform is changing how sales and presales teams discover up-to-date information and generate accurate responses grounded in company knowledge. No more “I’ll get back to you”s that could lead to a lost opportunity. One-click integrations with workplace apps such as CRM, content repository, knowledgebase, and more allow SiftHub to bring all enterprise knowledge into a single, accessible hub. Its unified semantic search capabilities make it easy to find the right information at the right time without toggling between screens.

“After speaking to 200+ leaders, it dawned on me that it’s completely unreasonable to expect sales and presales professionals to memorize all the ins and outs of the product in order to be able to respond to clients with complex technical details. Trying to find up-to-date accurate information when it is scattered across Slack, Gmail, Drive, HubSpot, Confluence, and more is incredibly difficult. The fact that sales spends only 30% of their time selling cries for a change - and that’s where our platform comes in,” said Manisha Raisinghani, founder of SiftHub.

SiftHub is uniquely positioned to deliver secure, private, access-controlled answers that trace back to the source. Using RAG technology and fine-tuned LLMs with industry-specific knowledge training, SiftHub allows companies to generate personalized responses with zero hallucinations. This guarantees increased transparency and reduced risk and inspires absolute trust to use AI for all their needs.

Now, sales teams can finally focus on what they do best - selling! SiftHub simplifies the usually time-consuming back-and-forth between sales and various other teams as a deal progresses. With its easy-to-use project management and seamless workflow automation capabilities, the platform helps streamline collaboration between teams as they complete infosec questionnaires, vendor assessment forms, RFPs, and RFIs.

SiftHub was founded in July 2023 by Manisha Rasinghani, a second-time founder. Before SiftHub, she co-founded LogiNext as CTO and raised over $50M from Tiger Global and others.

“GenAI is not just a technology, it’s a revolution in productivity. It unlocks the ability to solve a legacy problem in a modern way improving efficiency by 80%,” added Manisha Raisinghani, “By integrating GenAI with advanced workflow automation and collaborative capabilities, we’re providing an end-to-end solution for our users. From the moment the first information request is received to the closure of each sale with satisfactory responses, SiftHub will remain a trusted partner for sales organizations.”

Pranay Desai, Managing Director at Matrix Partners India, commented: "Buyers have become smarter and engage sales later in the buying journey, with more advanced questions. As a result, the expectation from sales teams has changed - they need to know advanced product, technical, and legal information to get the win. Sales and presales teams lack the necessary tooling to handle this new selling environment. We are excited by SiftHub's vision to use AI to manage product knowledge so that sales can focus on relationships."

Sanjay Nath, Partner at Blume Ventures, said: “SiftHub is Manisha’s second venture in the SaaS space. Armed with over a decade of entrepreneurial experience and an impressive track record, Manisha and her team are building a game-changing AI platform to transform the entire sales and presales process. We are excited to back the SiftHub team and be a part of their ambitious journey.”

About SiftHub

Founded by Manisha Raisinghani, SiftHub is an AI platform that acts as a central hub to collate and sift through all your content scattered across multiple repositories and tools. Through accelerated knowledge discovery and automated response creation, SiftHub empowers your sales and pre-sales teams to improve win rates and close deals faster. Headquartered in the United States, SiftHub also has an R&D office in Mumbai, India.

About Matrix Partners India

Founded in 2006, Matrix Partners India invests in companies targeting the consumer and enterprise market at the seed, early and early growth stages. The firm has invested in several enterprise technology companies such as MoEngage (Customer engagement platform), Toddle (Teaching & learning platform), SuperOps.ai (AI-powered PSA-RMM platform), Rocketlane (Customer onboarding platform), Murf AI (Synthetic speech technology), 100ms (Live video infrastructure) and Atomicwork (Employee success solution) amongst others. Other marquee investments include Dailyhunt (Local language platform), Five Star Business Finance (SME lending), OfBusiness (B2B commerce, fintech), Ola (Mobility), Ola Electric (Electric vehicles), OneCard (Mobile-first credit card), Oxyzo (Tech-enabled smart financing), Razorpay (Payments), Country Delight (D2C dairy & fresh foods brand), GoKwik (E-commerce enablement platform), Jupiter (Neobank), and Mosaic Wellness (Health & wellness), among others. Matrix Partners India has advisory offices in Bangalore, Delhi and Mumbai. Further information is available at www.matrixpartners.in. To know more about our investment philosophy & ideologies, check out the #MatrixMoments podcast series.

About Blume Ventures

Blume Ventures is an early-stage India-focused venture fund that backs startups with both funding as well as active mentoring. Blume typically invests in Seed and pre-Series A rounds in tech-led startups led by founders obsessed with solving hard problems for the Indian market and from India for the world. Blume presently invests out of Fund IV, a $300M vehicle supported by leading institutional LPs and family offices. With the close of Fund IV, Blume now has an AUM (Assets Under Management) of over $600m, managed by an investment team based across Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi, and San Francisco. Some of the leading startups we have backed included Purplle, Unacademy, Spinny, slice, Carbon Clean, and GreyOrange.

Media Contact

Bilal Mahmood

+44 7714 007257

b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com

Reflection Analytics, a technology company delivering ESG investment evaluation, reporting and advisory services, announced today that its Reflect software platform has been named to the prestigious WealthTech100 list of the world’s most innovative technology providers that are transforming the operations of investment firms, private banks and financial advisors.

Reflect is the first and only platform for investor-focused ESG analysis, serving asset managers, financial advisors and investors/institutions across six key areas: advisory, due diligence, compliance, portfolio management, auditing and reporting. Reflect’s inclusion on the WealthTech 100 comes within Reflect’s first year as a compliance tool.

“This recognition by the WealthTech100 is validation for Reflect,” said Jason Britton, founder and chief executive officer of Reflection Analytics. “The Names Rule requires funds generally aligned with ESG terms to have a minimum of 80 percent of its holding invested in what the average investor would consider the plain English meaning of those terms. Reflect is basically a lie detector that investors and fund managers can use to determine whether funds comply with that common-sense, truth-in-advertising standard.”

Launched today by FinTech Global, a specialist research firm, The WealthTech100 shines a spotlight on the WealthTech companies that every stakeholder in the wealth management industry should know about. The finalists were picked by a panel of analysts and industry experts, and judges were tasked with reviewing a list of more than 1,300 companies, with FinTech Global providing detailed information on each company to aid the decision process.

To make the list, the panel looked for companies that are helping address some of the biggest challenges and opportunities within wealth management. The list highlights the leading companies in areas such as client acquisition, financial planning, portfolio management and digital brokerage.

"As the great wealth transfer takes place, wealth management firms are seeking ways to update their operations to meet the demands of future customers,” said FinTech Global director Richard Sachar. “While older generations preferred a human-touch, younger generations place quick, simple and digital processes at the top of their requirements. The WealthTech100 list provides senior decision-makers with a guide on the best vendors in the market and practical examples of how the latest AI advancements are transforming the investment industry.”

Launched just two months after the SEC expanded Rule 35d-1, the “Names Rule,” to include ESG terms, Reflect is the market’s only “Names Rule"-compliant software, providing an investor-focused rating that scores companies across 250 data points in 18 ESG sub-themes while also offering asset managers a portfolio management tool to ensure continuous compliance.

Under the SEC’s expanded rule, asset managers have 24 months from September 2023 to begin reporting on their alignment, demonstrating that 80% of their investments are in securities that reflect the terms in their name, or risk regulatory fines and fees. Unlike other ESG rating companies, which focus on only financial materiality and from the corporation’s management perspective, Reflect assesses companies from the perspective of an investor’s understanding and reasonable expectations.

Beyond its use as a compliance tool, Reflect is designed to support values-based investing. The Reflect platform allows advisors, investors and institutions to review portfolios based on ESG components that are most important to them while also identifying types of companies to avoid, such as those associated with weapons or alcohol.

After analyzing an investment portfolio, Reflect provides a real-time, percentage-match score, rating investments across 18 sub-themes ranging from “not aligned” to “strongly aligned.” Reflect can also weigh an existing portfolio against a curated list of investments, allowing individuals and institutions to compare assets via a side-by-side analysis.

A full list of the WealthTech100 and detailed information about each company is available to download for free at www.WealthTech100.com.

About Reflection Analytics

Reflection Analytics’ patent-pending software—Reflect—is the only ESG ratings tool designed to serve asset managers, financial advisors and investors/institutions across six key areas: advisory, due diligence, compliance, portfolio management, auditing and reporting. Unlike other ESG software, which are reliant on rating methodologies rooted in the corporate perspective, Reflect analyzes 250 data points from an investor-focused viewpoint. As the industry’s only “Names Rule-compliant tool,” Reflect helps portfolio managers meet new compliance standards, with the SEC’s expansion of the “Names Rule” to include ESG funds taking effect in less than two years. Reflect maintains comprehensive self-reported and third-party data on 6,500 companies, or 98% of the global market cap. For more information, visit: www.reflectvalues.com.

Media Contact

Peter Page

ppage@vocatusllc.com

Boundless is excited to announce a significant milestone in its mission to provide lightning-fast, reliable, fiber-optic broadband at affordable pricing to the residents and businesses of Cape Cod, with a major boost from the Town of Falmouth.

On Monday, March 25, the Municipal Light Plant (MLP) recommended Boundless as the preferred provider to bring broadband competition to the Town of Falmouth. The Board of Selectman directed the MLP to continue its discussions with Boundless to help facilitate its entry into the Falmouth broadband market and determine what community benefits the town could also expect from Boundless.

The MLP’s recommendation of Boundless follows a comprehensive multi-year evaluation of its broadband landscape. Beginning with a thorough market feasibility study, Falmouth issued a Request for Information (RFI) that attracted responses from seven broadband applicants. After completing its evaluation process, Boundless emerged as the frontrunner for introducing fiber broadband competition in Falmouth.

"We are excited to partner with Boundless to enhance broadband competition and accessibility in Falmouth," stated Ed Swartz, Acting Chair of Falmouth Municipal Light Plant. "Our residents and businesses demand affordable, high-speed, fiber-based broadband, and we are eager to take this significant step toward meeting those needs."

Jeff Seidenfaden, CEO of Boundless, expressed enthusiasm about the town’s actions, stating, "Boundless is gratified by the MLP’s recommendation and is looking forward to bringing fiber competition to the second largest and one of the most influential communities on Cape Cod. We understand that other Cape Cod communities are looking to Falmouth as a model, and we are committed to expedited deployment and delivering super-fast “Boundless” broadband access."

Boundless’ partnership with Falmouth underscores its dedication to bridging the digital divide and empowering communities with cutting-edge broadband solutions.

About Boundless

Boundless is a fiber internet connectivity provider serving the Northeast. Our team has over 100 years of experience working in the internet industry. Imagine a world where every community is seamlessly connected to boundless opportunities in the digital realm. That's the vision that drives us at Boundless. We are your neighborly internet partner offering a 100% fiber network that is future-proof technology, with honest pricing, never promotional, and no hidden fees. For more information about Boundless, please visit https://goboundless.com/falmouth/.

About the Municipal Light Plan

The Municipal Light Plant, established by the Town Meeting, is dedicated to exploring all options to bring reliable and affordable broadband services to the residents and businesses of Falmouth. The establishment of the Falmouth Broadband Municipal Light Plant in 2023, modeled after successful implementations of municipal utility services across Massachusetts, signified a proactive step towards enhancing Falmouth's broadband capacity. For more information about the MLP and the fiber-to-the-home project, please visit https://www.falmouthma.gov/1447/Falmouth-Broadband-MLP

Media Contact

Julie Seff

media@goboundless.com

Callan Family Office, a registered investment advisor serving ultra-high-net-worth families, family offices, foundations and endowments across the United States, announced it has been selected as a finalist in three different categories for the Eleventh Annual Family Wealth Report Awards 2024.

Callan Family Office is a finalist in Multi-Family Office (New Entrant), Women in Wealth Family Office (Individual) for Partner and Head of Legacy Planning Amy Jucoski, and Outstanding CEO (Chief Executive Officer) for Jack Ginter.

“Being selected as finalists in these categories by the judges of the Family Wealth Report Awards is an honor, and a credit to the hard work of our entire team,” said Jack Ginter, chief executive officer of Callan Family Office. “We started this firm with the unique needs of family offices in mind, so this recognition is a validation of our place in the industry as an entrepreneurial and independent firm.”

The annual Family Wealth Report Awards program recognizes the most innovative and exceptional firms, teams and individuals serving the family office, family wealth and trusted advisor communities in North America.

“Every winning entrant has been subjected to a rigorous and independent judging process and should be rightly proud of the success they have achieved this year,” said . Stephen Harris, ClearView Financial Media’s CEO, and publisher of Family Wealth Report. “This year we have seen a marked increase in entrants and interest in all our global awards programs and the Family Wealth Report Awards are no exception. These awards give organizations and individuals the opportunity to clarify their strategic thinking, have it independently validated, be recognized internally and externally and to celebrate in style with their peers.”

Winners will be announced on May 2, 2024, at the Gala Ceremony at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in New York.

About Callan Family Office

Independently owned and operated, Callan Family Office was founded by experienced wealth professionals to provide investment management, thoughtful personalized advice, and holistic financial planning to ultra-high-net-worth families, foundations, and endowments. The firm's principals have spent their careers serving ultra-high-net-worth clients and institutions.

Callan Family Office has agreements with Callan LLC to use the Callan ® tradename in providing investment advisory services to the ultra-high-net-worth market segment and to access Callan's institutional quality research, education, and investment guidance experience. Callan Family Office and Callan LLC are independent, unaffiliated investment advisory firms separately registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.

About ClearView Financial Media Ltd (“ClearView”)

ClearView Financial Media was founded by Chief Executive Stephen Harris in 2004 to provide high- quality, ‘need to know’ information for the discerning private client community. London-based, but with a truly global focus, ClearView publishes the WealthBriefing group of newswires, along with research reports and newsletters, while also running a pan-global thought-leadership events and awards program.

Media Contact

Callan Family Office

info@callanfo.com

In an era where the pace of innovation accelerates daily, NAFA Fleet Management Association (NAFA) is excited to spotlight a cornerstone event at the Institute & Expo (I&E) 2024: the OEM Panel Discussion.

Esteemed leaders from Toyota, Stellantis, GM Envolve and Ford Pro will gather on Tuesday, April 23, to highlight the future of the automotive industry, and its next phase of evolution that will impact every driver, in every fleet, and on every road.

“Bringing together the brightest minds from leading OEMs, the OEM Panel Discussion at I&E stands as a testament to our commitment to providing fleet professionals with forward-looking insights and strategies,” said Bill Schankel, CAE, CEO of NAFA. “This year, we’re diving into the transformative trends that are not just reshaping our industry but also the way we think about mobility, sustainability and technological integration in fleet management.”

The esteemed panelists include:

• Tom DeLuise, Senior Manager Commercial and Government Fleet Sales, Toyota
• Eric Swanson, Vice President, Commercial Sales, East Region, Stellantis
• Robert Wheeler, GM Envolve Area Sales Manager, GM Envolve
• Greg Wood, Commercial & Government Sales General Manager, Ford Pro
  
  

This panel promises to deliver invaluable insights into the future of fleet management, making it a must-attend session for those looking to stay ahead in an ever-evolving industry landscape. I&E attendees can also look forward to an array of education sessions spanning emerging technologies, operations management, strategy and sustainability, among other topics. From EV integration to regulatory compliance and beyond, the I&E education tracks are meticulously designed to address both the diverse needs of fleet professionals and the pressing challenges shaping the industry today.

Tuesday’s General Session will also feature an exclusive keynote address by Ted Cannis, CEO of Ford Pro, titled “Ford Pro – Our Learnings: Grow Productivity, Reduce Risk.”

Prospective exhibitors are encouraged to secure their space early to ensure prime placement in the I&E Expo Hall. For more information about reserving an exhibit booth, please visit NAFA’s website. Sponsorship opportunities can be secured here. This year’s current sponsors include Bestpass Inc., FASTER Asset Solutions, Geotab, Holman, Legend Fleet Solutions, Merchants Fleet, Motive, Samsara, Shell Fleet Solutions, Stellantis, U.S. Bank Voyager, WEX and Wheels, Inc.

About NAFA Fleet Management Association

NAFA Fleet Management Association is the membership organization for professionals who manage the mobility requirements of vehicle fleets that include commercial, public safety, trucks, and buses of all types and sizes, and a wide range of military and off-road equipment for corporations, governments, universities, utility fleets, and law enforcement in North America and across the globe. NAFA’s members are responsible for the specification, acquisition, maintenance, repair, fueling, risk management, and remarketing of more than 4.8 million vehicles that drive an estimated 84 billion miles each year. NAFA’s members control assets and services well above $122 billion each year.

For more information, please visit www.nafa.org, and communicate with NAFA on LinkedIn, Facebook, and X.

Media Contact

Keaveny Hewitt

khewitt@onwrdupwrd.com

919-622-5276

PS International designs, engineers, and delivers peak-performance oil-water separators with supporting lift stations and specialty tanks for industrial and commercial wastewater treatment. The company serves a diversified customer base that includes contractors and resellers in the industrial and commercial markets in the U.S. and abroad.

PS International also offers a complete line of electrical accessories to control high oil level alarms, leak detection systems, automatic oil and water pump-out systems, automatic inlet shut-off valves, and freeze protection.

"The last week was a grind! The experience was a rollercoaster ending with quite a flurry of activity. Thank you for helping to make this a great experience!" —Scott L. Miller, PS International, Inc.

Rockford Separators has supplied quality separation systems for over 55 years. Architects, engineers, building officials, health agencies, plumbing contractors, and others have come to rely on Rockford for the utmost quality, precision engineering, and quick turnaround time.

"Kevin and the Benchmark International team were incredibly helpful in facilitating our transaction with PS International. They found ways to keep the momentum up and helped us close a mutually beneficial transaction." —Andrew Hranka, Rockford Separators

"We are grateful to have been a part of this transaction between two exceptional companies. PS International has proven to be a leader in the OWS space, and Rockford Separators has been delivering superior products and services for over 55 years. This was a great fit for both companies, and we expect that it will catapult their business to new levels." —Kevin Barrett, Transaction 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

Atomik Research, the in-house market research agency within 4media group, is thrilled to announce the appointment of Anna Ginovker as its new Senior Vice President (SVP) of Research. Bringing with her an impressive portfolio of experience, Anna is set to spearhead the company's primary research services, both qualitative and quantitative, focusing specifically on B2B and healthcare/pharmaceutical communications research.

Anna joins Atomik Research after a distinguished tenure at The Harris Poll (formerly part of Harris Interactive Inc. and Nielsen), where she most recently held the position of Vice President of Research. Her career is marked by more than two decades of dedication to the research industry, during which she has honed her skills in designing, implementing and analyzing extensive research programs both domestically and globally.

"Anna's appointment marks a significant milestone for Atomik Research," said Alex Hinojosa, Executive Director of Atomik Research U.S. "Her vast experience and proven track record in leading research initiatives make her an invaluable asset to our team. We are confident that under her leadership, our capabilities will reach new heights, further enhancing the strategic insights we provide to our clients."

Anna's expertise encompasses a wide array of quantitative and qualitative research methodologies, serving a diverse clientele that includes corporations, non-profits and academic institutions. She has made significant contributions to thought leadership, health outcomes, and health policy and communications research programs, having designed and led groundbreaking studies across more than 30 countries. Additionally, she has co-authored a number of academic journal publications and presented at domestic and international conferences.

"Anna's depth of experience and passion for data-driven insights are a perfect match for our ambitious goals at Atomik Research U.S.," said Ed Cyster, Global CEO of 4media group. "Her leadership will not only enrich our offerings but also strengthen our position as leaders in the field of PR research."

Anna is a graduate of the Leonard N. Stern School of Business at New York University, where she earned a B.S. in Marketing and Management. Her career journey has included her co-founding InQuiro International, Inc., an international research consultancy, and holding research positions at Research International and BAI Global (currently part of Ipsos).

As the new SVP of Research at Atomik Research, Anna intends to leverage her extensive knowledge and experience to drive innovation and growth within Atomik Research, ensuring the continued delivery of unparalleled insights and value to its clients. Following the launch of 4media4health in January, Anna’s arrival at Atomik Research also heralds an opportunity for healthcare communications professionals to lead with novel, mediagenic data in their media outreach.

About Atomik Research

Atomik Research, a division of 4media group, is a full-service creative market research company that focuses on powering intelligent communications through delivering insightful qualitative and quantitative research results that get people talking. With a focus on B2B and healthcare/pharmaceutical sectors, Atomik Research empowers businesses with actionable insights, facilitating informed decision-making and strategic planning. Visit us online at atomikresearch.com.

About 4media group

As an integrated communications agency, 4media group has been storytelling on behalf of the world’s most notable brands and organizations since 2008. Using insights to inform our approach, we create the best achievable outcomes for our clients through marketing strategies, social media, influencer programs, broadcast media tours, video production, news distribution, public service announcements and public relations. We’re a global company with headquarters in London, UK and Bentonville, Arkansas, with satellite offices spanning from Los Angeles to New York City. We work as one company, one culture for our clients every day. Visit us online at 4media-group.com.

Media Contact

Jaimee Davis

jaimee.davis@4media-group.com

BridgeFT, a cloud-native, API-first wealth infrastructure software company that enables financial institutions, fintech innovators and registered investment advisors (RIAs) to deliver better, data-driven outcomes for their clients, announced today that it has successfully completed its SOC (System and Organization Control) 2 Type II audit.

Developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), a SOC 2 information security standard is a report that validates controls relevant to security, availability, integrity, confidentiality, and privacy. The SOC 2 Type II certification ensures service providers meet a standard degree of security control in areas including organization and management, communications, risk management and monitoring of controls.

The audit was completed with the help of Johanson Group LLP, a premier certification body helping organizations to obtain and maintain global compliance standards. Johanson Group attested to BridgeFT’s information security controls meeting the leading industry standards for financial services. Throughout the process, Johanson Group measured the availability, security, and integrity of BridgeFT’s WealthTech API and its data processing systems to ultimately determine whether effective safeguards and controls are in place. SOC 2 has a rigorous requirement on how companies handle customer data and information, and it is considered one of the highest standards for security accreditation.

With this achievement, BridgeFT maintains its adherence to one of the most stringent, industry-accepted compliance frameworks for service organizations and provides additional assurance to its clients, through an independent auditor, that its business process, information technology and risk management controls are properly designed and operating as intended.

“Achieving SOC 2 compliance is a major milestone for our company and an important indicator of how seriously we take data security,” said BridgeFT CEO Joe Stensland. “We’re committed to delivering the highest level of data security and privacy, and SOC 2 is a key part of that commitment. We’ll continue to invest in our modern, API-first platform infrastructure to ensure that our clients can trust us with their most sensitive data.”

BridgeFT’s WealthTech API is the industry’s first WealthTech-as-a-Service platform, offering a robust and open API to AI and trade-ready, multi-custodial data, advanced analytics and application services. BridgeFT’s WealthTech API empowers clients to reimagine the potential of their financial data and technology stack by eliminating the need for individual data feeds from a range of custodians and back-office providers, allowing wealth management firms and fintech companies to create differentiated, next-generation applications.

About BridgeFT

BridgeFT is a cloud-native, API-first WealthTech infrastructure platform that enables registered investment advisors (RIAs), financial institutions, and FinTech innovators to deliver better, data-driven outcomes for their clients. More than 300 leading firms trust BridgeFT to automate critical back-office operations and power their digital wealth management ecosystems—seamlessly aligning essential wealth data, proactive client insights and reporting, and portfolio management automation to deliver a truly personalized client experience. From an integrated advisor platform to flexible, open APIs, BridgeFT delivers the infrastructure needed for success. Reimagine your approach to wealth infrastructure at bridgeft.com.

Media Contact

media@bridgeft.com

A Maker's Post, a company that offers an enchanting world of handmade crafts and locally sourced goods, announced today that it will be hosting an art show for Nathan McClements on Thursday, April 11 from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. The event will feature drinks, tacos, and art at 2019 B. Middle Street, Sullivan's Island, SC 29482.

This event is significant for A Maker's Post as it showcases the talent of local artist Nathan McClements and provides an opportunity for the community to come together and appreciate art in a unique setting surrounded in plants. It also highlights A Maker's Post's commitment to supporting local artisans and offering a platform for them to showcase their work.

A Maker's Post is known for being a unique haven of artisanal treasures on Sullivan's Island. Their carefully curated products offer a delightful blend of artistry and island charm, creating a one-of-a-kind shopping experience for visitors.

Looking ahead, A Maker's Post plans to continue hosting events that highlight local artisans and provide a space for the community to appreciate and purchase their work.

About A Maker's Post

A Maker’s Post, a gathering place and hub for creators, artists, and art enthusiasts, offers a diverse range of services and amenities, including The Green Room, a space showcasing a curated selection of artwork and plants, as well as a marketplace featuring handmade goods and artisanal products, and regular workshops and events aimed at inspiring and educating individuals of all backgrounds. Based in the heart of Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina, its welcoming atmosphere and innovative approach have made Maker’s Post not just a shop, but a dynamic community where creativity thrives and connections are made.

A Maker’s Post is committed to supporting local makers and artisans while promoting sustainability and cultural diversity. For more information, please visit: https://makers-post.com.

Media Contact

Vaughn Connolly

vaughn@makers-post.com

The Kava Coalition, a leading advocate for the responsible use and understanding of Kava, strongly supports and encourages the use of recent updates to the Kava entry in the American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. As a comprehensive resource for manufacturers, practitioners, and consumers, the Handbook plays a vital role in promoting safety and informed decision-making within the herbal products industry.

The updated entry on Kava reflects the latest advancements in research and understanding of this revered botanical, including adding more than 45 new literature references. Through meticulous analysis of clinical trials, studies, and historical texts, the Handbook update provides invaluable insights into the safety profile of Kava, including pharmacological interactions with metabolism of drugs and supplements, other pharmacological studies of bioavailability and enzyme inhibition and analysis of adverse events and case reports.  

In addition, a new Food Use section is established in the entry, noting Kava’s history of traditional use as a beverage. The Editors’ Notes section is expanded to provide context for the distinct phytochemical profiles between traditional (water-extracted) and contemporary extraction processes using organic solvents. The Standard Dose section is also updated to recognize these different forms of Kava.

"We commend the American Herbal Products Association for their dedication to providing accurate and comprehensive safety information," said Matthew Lowe, Executive Director of the Kava Coalition. "The updated entry on Kava reaffirms its long-standing history as a safe and beneficial botanical when used responsibly. This important update will serve consumers as well as industry professionals and advocates who champion the responsible use of Kava."

Kava, derived from the root of the Piper methysticum plant, has been traditionally consumed in Pacific Island cultures for centuries. Known for its calming and relaxation properties, Kava has gained popularity worldwide for its potential to support mental well-being.

The Kava Coalition encourages its members and other stakeholders across the herbal products industry to utilize the updated information in the Handbook to promote safety and transparency in the formulation, recommendation, and use of Kava-containing products. 

For more information about the Kava Coalition and its advocacy efforts, please visit https://www.kavacoalition.org/.

 About the Kava Coalition

The Kava Coalition is dedicated to promoting the responsible use and understanding of Kava. Comprising industry professionals, researchers, and advocates, the Coalition strives to uphold the cultural significance and therapeutic potential of Kava while advocating for safety and transparency within the herbal products industry.

Media Contact

Matthew Lowe

+1 916-202-1982

mlowe@kavacoalition.org

ATFX recently announced that Graham Morris has been appointed as Head of Compliance for ATFX’s operations in Australia. Graham is set to bring a vast reservoir of compliance expertise and industry knowledge to the firm, which will be instrumental in enhancing ATFX’s regulatory frameworks and overseeing compliance matters within the Australian financial market.

Graham comes to ATFX with an impressive professional background, having previously served in key compliance roles for notable financial companies. His tenure includes significant achievements such as successfully launching corporate entities in the British Virgin Islands and delivering exceptional services to clients within emerging markets. Throughout his career, Graham has demonstrated an exceptional ability to navigate complex regulatory landscapes and build strong professional relationships with both regulatory authorities and clients alike.

In his new role at ATFX, Graham is tasked with spearheading the development of comprehensive compliance plans that are congruent with local office regulations, ensuring adherence to the stringent regulatory requirements in Australia. He will also oversee control of business segment compliance and internal processes while crafting strategic orientations aimed at new client acquisitions.

Expressing enthusiasm about joining ATFX’s Australian team at a period marked by remarkable growth for the company, Graham remarked: “ATFX’s esteemed reputation precedes it within the industry, and it is a privilege to join this vibrant team. My vision for our Australian operations includes leveraging my extensive experience to elevate service experiences across the company.”

Warmly welcoming Graham Morris’s appointment is ATFX itself, which regards his depth of knowledge in financial market trading and global capital market regulations as invaluable contributions that will fortify the brand’s development trajectory in Australia. Adding Graham to Simon Naish’s leadership—the group head in Australia—signifies yet another strategic move by ATFX to ensure its team is composed of top-tier professionals capable of delivering unparalleled services locally.

Graham’s appointment demonstrates ATFX’s continuous commitment to recruiting elite talent and expanding its global presence. It accompanies other recent high-profile appointments such as FX Pioneer Drew Niv as Chief Strategic Officer for ATFX Global, Linton White as Regional Head for ATFX Africa, Hormoz Faryar as Managing Director of Institutional Sales, and Aditya Singh as Business Development Director International at ATFX MENA.

ATFX is resolute in actively recruiting high-end talent and investing capital into technology enhancements, refined marketing systems, and robust infrastructural developments. These strategic initiatives are geared toward strengthening market competitiveness and reinforcing its mission to provide world-class trading experiences emblematic of a worldwide leader in online financial trading services.

About ATFX

ATFX is a global leading fintech broker with a local presence in 22 locations, and licenses from regulatory authorities including the UK’s FCA, Cypriot CySEC, UAE’s SCA, Australian ASIC, and South African FSCA. With a strong commitment to customer satisfaction, innovative technology, and strict regulatory compliance, ATFX provides exceptional trading experiences to clients worldwide.

For further information on ATFX, please visit ATFX website at https://www.atfx.com.

Media Contact

ATFX

sales.uk@atfx.com

BattleFin awarded Nowcast as the winner of the highly competitive Alternative Data Challenge: Asia 2024, held during the BattleFin Discovery Day at the Marina Bay Sands, Singapore. This recognition marks a significant milestone for Nowcast, a company providing actionable insights through alternative data to enhance decision-making and drive innovation.

The challenge, aimed at identifying and evaluating the best alternative data providers in Asia, attracted submissions from a wide range of companies. Through a rigorous 10-factor scoring process followed by a qualitative round, the top finalists pitched live to a global audience and an esteemed panel of judges comprised of industry veterans, including Tony Berkman, Managing Director at Two Sigma; Stewart Stimson, Head of Data Strategy at Jump Trading; Jay Shen, Data Sourcing & Strategy APAC at Balyasny; Mark Fleming-Williams, Head of Data Sourcing at CFM (Capital Fund Management); and Dirk Renick, Quantitative Research & Development Lead at Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA). Their expertise was instrumental in evaluating the innovative solutions presented by the contestants.

"Nowcast stood out for its exceptional use of alternative data to provide actionable insights, thereby helping businesses make quality decisions and face new challenges," said Tim Harrington, CEO and co-founder BattleFin.

The Alternative Data Challenge: Asia 2024 underscores BattleFin's commitment to fostering innovation and discovering the best alternative data providers in the region. By providing a platform for data providers to showcase their capabilities, BattleFin aims to enhance the capabilities of large language models that financial services firms use to generate alpha, ensuring well-curated, labeled, and relevant data.

Next up, BattleFin has announced the Alternative Data Challenge: USA 2024 hosted during BattleFin's New York Discovery Day. For more information on the programming, visit the event page. To apply, please visit Alternative Data Challenge: USA.

About BattleFin

BattleFin is a global leader in data analytics and event organization, specializing in bringing together the world's top data providers and users. Focused on alternative data, BattleFin facilitates discovery, access, and evaluation of data to improve investment and business decisions through its unique global events and Ensemble AI platform. For more information, visit: www.battlefin.com.

Media Contact

Emily Burnett

emily@battlefin.com

Keystone announced today the appointment of Devesh Mishra as President and Chief Product and Technology Officer of CoreAI, marking a significant step toward the company's objective to lead in innovation in artificial intelligence. Mr. Mishra, whose illustrious career spans over two decades in the tech industry, brings a wealth of experience and leadership from his previous roles at Amazon and Deliveroo.

Prior to joining Keystone, Mishra spent 16 years at Amazon, where he held several senior positions, most notably as Vice President, Global Supply Chain. In this role, he led a vast team across engineering, data science, and product management, managing a supply chain that spanned 185 markets. His tenure at Amazon was characterized by significant contributions to building and operating one of the world's most technologically advanced supply chains, leveraging data analytics, predictive technology, and machine learning. Most recently, Mishra served as the Chief Product and Technology Officer at Deliveroo, where he was responsible for overseeing the company's tech organization, including engineering, data science, design, and product development functions.

About CoreAI and Keystone's Vision

Leading enterprises realize AI must be a core enterprise function, on par with sales, marketing, manufacturing, supply chain, and logistics. However, many lack the resources and experience to develop and implement AI capabilities. Keystone offers CoreAI as a service to enterprises who want to build both the technology and the new organizational capabilities required to leapfrog their industry peers. Mishra’s appointment represents the latest in Keystone’s ongoing efforts to expand its capabilities and impact across various sectors.

"We are at a pivotal moment in the evolution of AI and its application within the enterprise sector. Devesh's exceptional talent and his extensive background in leveraging innovative technology to scale businesses globally make him an invaluable addition to Keystone," stated Marco Iansiti, Chairman of the Board at Keystone and author of the best-selling book, Competing in the Age of AI. "With Devesh at the helm of CoreAI product and technology, I am excited about the possibilities that lie ahead. His innovative approach and leadership will undoubtedly propel us towards achieving our vision of redefining the future of AI for enterprises, driving unparalleled advancements and unlocking new frontiers."

In collaboration with Patrick Bajari (Keystone's Chief Economist and Managing Director for CoreAI, and former Chief Economist at Amazon), who has been instrumental in shaping the strategic direction of Keystone's programs, Mishra is set to spearhead the design and implementation of groundbreaking AI technologies. Together, their combined expertise will ensure Keystone remains at the forefront of AI innovation, transforming industries and enhancing human capabilities through intelligent technology.

A New Chapter

Mr. Mishra’s move is a testament to his unparalleled expertise in tech leadership and his forward-thinking approach to innovation. "Joining Keystone represents an exciting new chapter in my career," said Mishra. "I'm looking forward to working with the team to push the boundaries of AI and create technologies that make a meaningful difference for the largest companies in the world."

Greg Richards, Keystone's CEO, emphasized the Mishra and Bajari’s ability to steer Keystone's CoreAI offerings together, ensuring that Keystone's clients lead in leveraging AI for competitive advantage. "The collaboration between Devesh and Pat is a game-changer for our clients, setting a new benchmark for AI-driven business success," said Richards.

About Keystone

Keystone Strategy, LLC (“Keystone”) is a leading innovative strategy, economic, and technology consulting firm dedicated to delivering transformative ideas and cutting-edge solutions to Fortune Global 500 companies, top law firms, and government agencies. Keystone combines experience in digital transformation, data platform design, analytics, AI and information risk to deliver bold strategies with far-reaching implications for business, consumers, and public policy. It also possesses unique expertise in competition, IP, litigation, and tax and transfer pricing matters. Keystone was founded by Mr. Greg Richards and Professor Marco Iansiti, Keystone’s Chairman of the Board and the David Sarnoff Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School. Keystone now boasts a roster of hundreds of top academic experts in the digital economy and innovation sectors, supported by more than 150 professionals. The firm has offices in New York, San Francisco, Boston, Seattle, and London. Learn more about Keystone at www.keystone.ai.

Media Contact

Rob Chedid

Head of Marketing and Communications

rchedid@keystone.ai

Vinat, an Austin-based sister-founded wine company, headed to New York City on March 6, 2024 for the launch of Maison Tai at Wolf & Badger. Maison Tai is a South Asian fashion house founded by designer Sandeep Tupili. Vinat was the official wine of the event. Attendees included Jessel Taank, star of “Real Housewives of New York,” Paul Austin, the founder of LilaNur Parfums, and Aditi Shah, Peloton instructor.

About Vinat

Vinat works with vineyards to sell high-quality European wines directly to customers. This allows the company to cut out middlemen and offer great wines (with super cheeky labels) at fair prices. Vinat’s website also suggests easy pairings, such as popcorn with its Valevino Skinny Dip Prosecco, and unconventional wine pairings, including books, binge-able TV shows, and Spotify playlists customized to each wine. The wines are available on www.drinkvinat.com and are produced in Italy and Slovenia (priced between $20 and $24 per bottle).

Media Contact

Sarah Mack

hello@drinkvinat.com

Benchmark International is pleased to announce the successful sale of A&B Concrete Coring Company (“A&B”) to A-Core Concrete Specialists (“A-Core”).

A&B, founded in 1969, is a family-owned business specializing in concrete work. A&B provides several types of high-quality concrete demolition and cutting services to industrial and commercial clients in the south-central United States. The company offers core drilling, flat sawing, wall sawing, wire sawing, and hand sawing services.

A-Core Concrete Specialists, founded in 1974 in Utah, also is a family-owned business with a very similar culture, but provides an expanded commercial and residential service mix, including concrete cutting and drilling, pouring, demolition, GPR scanning, grinding and grooving, joint sawing and sealing, and slab panel replacement. A-Core is a truly complete solution company for any concrete cutting service.

Benchmark International proved value in finding a buyer with experience in the industry through its proprietary multi-medium marketing strategies. The market uncovered several interested buyers, but the ultimate buyer provided the right cultural fit for the sellers.

Benchmark International’s Transaction Associate Haden Buckman commented, “It is always great when a client finds their perfect buyer. We thoroughly enjoyed working with both parties throughout the process and wish them the best in the future.”

Americas: Sam Smoot at +1 (855) 739-8036 / 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

BrXnd, a leading organization at the intersection of marketing and AI, is pleased to announce the initial lineup of speakers and sponsors for the highly anticipated 2024 BrXnd Marketing X AI Conference, set to take place on May 8 in New York City. Founded in 2022, BrXnd is dedicated to bridging the gap between marketing and artificial intelligence, helping marketers navigate this rapidly evolving landscape. Now in its second year, the BrXnd Marketing X AI Conference aims to shift the conversation around AI in marketing from speculation to action, arming attendees with the knowledge, confidence, and ideas they need to leverage AI in their marketing strategies effectively.

Airtable CEO Howie Liu will deliver a keynote address discussing the company's groundbreaking approach to rethinking interfaces for the age of AI. Airtable, the innovative app platform used by teams at over 500,000 forward-thinking organizations and the event's title sponsor, is dedicated to revolutionizing how businesses power their most critical workflows and data.

Joining Liu on the speaker roster are Mark Levine, Manhattan Borough President, who will share his insights on the impact of AI on local businesses and communities, and Lauren Boyman, CMO of KPMG, who will discuss how the professional services giant is integrating AI into its marketing efforts.

"The BrXnd Marketing X AI Conference isn't just another event; it's a gathering of doers and experimenters who are ready to roll up their sleeves and start really building with AI," said Noah Brier, Founder of BrXnd. "There are a lot of people talking about AI in marketing, but not enough people are actually practicing what they preach. That's why we're bringing together industry leaders, innovators, and practitioners to create a space for meaningful conversations, hands-on learning, and collaboration. Our goal is to empower attendees with the tools, insights, and confidence they need to bring AI into their organizations. It's through experimentation and tinkering that we start to understand the non-deterministic nature of these systems and how they can be applied to real-world marketing challenges. The vision for BrXnd is to bridge the gap between marketing and AI, and the goal for the day is to push the industry beyond speculation and into action."

The full list of speakers is available on the BrXnd.ai website and includes presentations from Colgate-Palmolive, The Brandtech Group, Langchain, and other leaders at this intersection. There will also be a slew of demos and other opportunities to get a firsthand look at AI's impact on marketing.

BrXnd's programming tenets will guide the conference sessions, which include prioritizing doers over speculators, curiosity over overconfidence, conversations over panels, showing over telling, and process over perfection. These principles reflect BrXnd's commitment to fostering meaningful discussions and showcasing the latest innovations in the rapidly evolving field of AI and marketing.

“As the pioneering no-code workflows platform, Airtable has enabled marketing organizations across the Fortune 500 to streamline and standardize their operations from end-to-end,” explained Howie Liu, Co-Founder and CEO of Airtable. “We’re now excited to launch next-generation, AI-powered, marketing workflows that automate campaign planning and content creation, provide intelligent asset reuse suggestions, and power natural language analytics. We’ve learned with our early adopting customers how disjointed marketing operations can be transformed into a unified, AI-enhanced system of record, and we look forward to sharing our best practices with this audience.”

Looking ahead, BrXnd plans to continue leading the conversation around AI in marketing by hosting more events, launching new products and experiments, and forging strategic partnerships with key industry players. The organization remains dedicated to helping marketers navigate the challenges and opportunities presented by AI while embracing the humility and curiosity required in the face of such transformative technology.

For more information on the 2024 BrXnd Marketing X AI Conference and to stay updated on future developments, please visit BrXnd at https://brxnd.ai.

About BrXnd

BrXnd is at the forefront of exploring the intersection of brands and AI. Founded by industry-veteran Noah Brier, BrXnd produces conferences, content, code, and consulting that helps brands and marketers build intuition and find real-world applications for AI. BrXnd's conferences bring together marketers, technologists, and creatives to discuss the challenges and opportunities presented by AI in an intimate, inspiring atmosphere focused on real-world applications over speculation. Learn more and subscribe to the BrXnd Dispatch at https://brxnd.ai.

Media Contact

Noah Brier

+1 203-450-6603

press@brxnd.ai

Vinat, a sister-founded startup making wine approachable for women, hosted a launch party at 2324 Studios, an artist collective and gallery in East Austin, on February 24, 2024. Attendees included ATX Brunch Girls and Vino Vinyasa members, Austin-based influencers, artists, entrepreneurs, and local tastemakers. 

"My sister Emily [Mack] used to be a bartender and created a Valevino Skinny Dip Prosecco Margarita recipe for the party, which turned out to be a huge hit! It was the perfect blend of Italy and Austin in a drink," said Vinat co-founder and CEO Sarah Mack. Guests at the party were able to try all of the Vinat wines in addition to the signature cocktail. 

About Vinat

Vinat works with vineyards to sell high-quality European wines directly to customers. This allows the company to cut out middlemen and offer great wines (with super cheeky labels) at fair prices. Vinat’s website also suggests easy pairings, such as popcorn with its Valevino Skinny Dip Prosecco, and unconventional wine pairings, including books, binge-able TV shows, and Spotify playlists customized to each wine. The wines are available on www.drinkvinat.com and are produced in Italy and Slovenia (priced between $20 and $24 per bottle).

Media Contact

Sarah Mack

hello@drinkvinat.com

300 former patients of Endeavor Health (formerly NorthShore University Health System and Swedish Covenant Hospital and its related entities) have retained the Chicago Law Firm of Stinar Gould Grieco & Hensley, PLLC, to represent them related to allegations that the NorthShore University Health System and Swedish Covenant Hospital medical facilities negligently hired, supervised, and retained a known sexual predator, subjecting hundreds of female patients to sexual abuse under the guise of medical treatment. Former OB/GYN Fabio Ortega was employed by NorthShore and Swedish between 1990 and 2018. He plead guilty to sexually abusing patients in October of 2021. 

The 300 victims are among others who allege NorthShore and Swedish knew of Ortega’s sexually abusive conduct, beginning in the late 90’s, and failed to investigate patient complaints, supervise Ortega, report him to authorities, and terminate his employment. Instead, it is alleged that NorthShore and Swedish chose profits over patient safety, knowingly providing a platform for Ortega to subject hundreds of vulnerable female patients such as young Hispanic women to unnecessary and/or extended vaginal and breast examinations, among other forms of sexual abuse. 

The victims’ attorney, Parker Stinar, Managing Partner of Stinar Gould Grieco & Hensley, PLLC, released the following statement:

"NorthShore and Swedish ignored decades of patients’ complaints and continued to employ a sexual predator, placing profits over people, and subjecting hundreds of patients to sexual abuse. We have heard this story before where large, billion-dollar healthcare systems ignore complaints of sexual abuse and instead continue to employ a sexual predator, granting them unfettered access to patients. Across the country, sadly, we have seen institutions refuse to change their practices until they are held accountable for their inaction. That inadequate response of institutionally turning a blind eye to patient harm is the sad standard that has been set. Ortega is not the first doctor to exploit his position of power over patients, and NorthShore is not the first institution to enable a doctor to do so. In 2021, USC paid $852 million to 710 women who were sexually abused by OBGYN Dr. George Tyndall. In 2022, Columbia University paid $165 million to 147 women who were sexually abused by OBGYN Dr. Robert Hadden. Our clients demand their day in court to hold NorthShore, Swedish, and Endeavor civilly and morally accountable. 

Institutions like these healthcare providers are responsible for providing a safe and supportive environment for patients. There is no place for the vile and disturbing ignored complaints that have taken place within the Endeavor Health network. We applaud the courage of these women who were brave enough to speak out about their experiences in the hope of ending sexual abuse under the guise of medical care at Endeavor and elsewhere. We are thoroughly investigating these claims to bring light to what occurred here and, hopefully, bring some form of justice to the victims. We encourage anyone who may have information related to this matter to contact our law firm."

The attorneys will discuss survivor experiences and harms, legal theories, and a demand for justice during a press conference on Tuesday, March 26 at 9:30 a.m. CT, at the law office of Stinar Gould Grieco & Hensley, PLLC (101 N. Wacker Dr., Chicago, IL 60601). Media are asked to arrive early to set up.

Press Conference Details:

Date: Tuesday, March 26, 2024

Time: 9:30 a.m. CT

Location: Stinar Gould Grieco & Hensley, PLLC, 101 N. Wacker Dr., Chicago, IL 60601

Parker Stinar, Managing Partner of Stinar Gould Grieco & Hensley, PLLC, has represented hundreds of survivors who have been abused under the guise of medical care, and has participated in and led similar cases against Michigan State’s Dr. Larry Nassar and University of Michigan’s Dr. Robert Anderson. Currently, Mr. Stinar is representing dozens of survivors of abuse against Northwestern University for allegations of sexualized hazing. 

Mr. Stinar has participated in nearly a billion dollars in global settlements on behalf of survivors of sexual abuse under the guise of medical treatment. He and his partner Symone Shinton, also a survivor of sexual abuse, will discuss the negligence and civil liability the defendants face. 

If you are a former patient of Dr. Fabio Ortega who experienced sexual or physical abuse at Swedish Covenant Hospital, NorthShore University Health System, or Endeavor Health, or have any information, please contact Stinar Gould Grieco & Hensley, PLLC (justice@SGGHLaw.com ; www.sgghlaw.com ) to discuss your legal rights. Media inquiries, please contact lynn@lynnsmithtv.com. 

About Stinar Gould Grieco & Hensley, PLLC

Stinar Gould Grieco & Hensley is a prestigious, boutique national personal injury firm dedicated to advocating for victims of abuse and catastrophic injuries in high-stakes litigation. We pride ourselves on being Innovators of Law and Providers of Justice. Our attorneys have litigated and won cases nationwide, representing thousands of individuals. Recent successes include participating in global settlements valued at nearly $3 billion. For more information, visit https://www.sgghlaw.com.

Media Contact

Lynn Smith

+1 646-717-0354

lynn@lynnsmithtv.com