Comscore Introduces Brand Safety Options to Combat Misinformation

RESTON, Va., Aug. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — As the U.S. 2020 election season brings a likely proliferation of misleading and inaccurate information, both brands and political campaigns are seeking new tools to combat the threat posed by news that lacks credibility. To meet this critical need, Comscore (Nasdaq: SCOR), a trusted partner for planning, transacting and evaluating media, has launched powerful new brand safety options that will better enable advertisers of all stripes to avoid appearing…

RESTON, Va., Aug. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — As the U.S. 2020 election season brings a likely proliferation of misleading and inaccurate information, both brands and political campaigns are seeking new tools to combat the threat posed by news that lacks credibility. To meet this critical need, Comscore (Nasdaq: SCOR), a trusted partner for planning, transacting and evaluating media, has launched powerful new brand safety options that will better enable advertisers of all stripes to avoid appearing alongside misinformation, while allowing advertisers to confidently place ads on high quality, leading news sites at a time when these sites are seeing traffic at an all time high.

Comscore’s new brand protections from misinformation are available in most demand-side platforms through Comscore’s Contextual Targeting suite for digital or connected TV content. This advanced detection technology uses Comscore’s leading contextual crawler in combination with dynamic machine learning-based content recognition techniques, resulting in more accurate and more reliable content assessments. This allows for the identification of continuously-evolving misinformation techniques as they surface.

«The problem of misinformation is more like fighting crime than it is fixing a plumbing problem. It requires constant attention and you will never solve it. But to do it well will require better techniques and better technology than we have now,» said Tom Rosenstiel, Executive Director of the American Press Institute.

«Everyone in the advertising ecosystem has a role to play in reducing the impact of misinformation,» said Rachel Gantz, General Manager, Activation Services, Comscore. «For 20 years, Comscore has been the trusted currency for digital advertising rankings, and we are excited to apply our expertise to make these protections readily available across the spectrum of demand-side providers.»

The new capabilities are just the latest in a flurry of enhancements to Comscore’s Activation suite, which helps advertisers reach specific demographics, and behavioral, TV and OTT audiences in brand-safe, relevant contexts across desktop, mobile, and Connected TV.

About Comscore

Comscore (NASDAQ: SCOR) is a trusted partner for planning, transacting and evaluating media across platforms. With a data footprint that combines digital, linear TV, over-the-top and theatrical viewership intelligence with advanced audience insights, Comscore allows media buyers and sellers to quantify their multiscreen behavior and make business decisions with confidence. A proven leader in measuring digital and TV audiences and advertising at scale, Comscore is the industry’s emerging, third-party source for reliable and comprehensive cross-platform measurement. For more information, visit comscore.com.

New comScore logo (PRNewsFoto/comScore, Inc.)

 

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SOURCE Comscore

The Contact Tracing App for Higher Education: READY Education Launches Campus Re-Opening Solution

BOSTON and MONTREAL, Aug. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — With higher ed institutions preparing to re-open in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, many are seeking technology to protect their students, faculty and staff. READY Education, a technology company focused on building community and driving retention in higher education, has launched READY Contact Trace – a contact tracing app that can be rapidly rolled out to limit and manage COVID-19 outbreaks on…

BOSTON and MONTREAL, Aug. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — With higher ed institutions preparing to re-open in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, many are seeking technology to protect their students, faculty and staff. READY Education, a technology company focused on building community and driving retention in higher education, has launched READY Contact Trace – a contact tracing app that can be rapidly rolled out to limit and manage COVID-19 outbreaks on campus.

«Our campus community app has been providing millions of students the digital connections that are foundational to the complete educational experience our partners are dedicated to providing,» said READY Education CEO, Gary Fortier. «I am thrilled by the dedication and speed our team has demonstrated in realizing this contact tracing solution to protect students as they return to school.»

Leveraging proven technology that increases student retention by as much as 4% at leading community colleges and universities, READY Contact Trace gives administrators a privacy-first solution for automating contact tracing. Daily pre-screening provides individual health passes to clear students, staff and faculty heading to campus and the Personal Symptom Tracker supports individual health accountability for potentially infected students. After suspected exposure events, targeted, rapid-response notifications can be sent to prevent the potential spread of COVID-19. Also, designated support staff can access detailed case tracking tools and easily identify campus ‘hot spots’ for potential transmission in the Health and Safety Dashboard.

Fortier commented that, «from extensive experience working with our partners to provide apps that students love, we knew that READY Contact Trace needed to combine end-to-end anonymity for users with the ability for staff to automate the contact tracing process.»

READY Contact Trace is already set to support the health and safety efforts at many re-opening campuses this coming semester. Support staff looking to add contact tracing to their campus safety toolkit are encouraged to get in touch for a demo.

About READY Education

Trusted by over 2 million students and more than 350 institutions, READY Education offers the leading campus community and communications solution for higher education. We are devoted to crafting digital experiences that increase student engagement and, with over 90% student adoption, our campus community app is an essential addition to any complete student experience. Combined with actionable insights on retention risks and a dedicated READY Student Success team, our partners see their student retention improve by as much as 4%. As the highest student-rated app, the READY platform is the right choice for colleges and universities looking to transform their on-campus experience into a digital community.

 

SOURCE Ready Education

International Schooling Corporation’s accreditation creates a new opportunity for all schools and institutions globally

SINGAPORE, Aug. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — International Schooling Corporation (ISC) is now officially accredited by Cognia, the largest and most prestigious school accreditation organization, which also serves as the common consortium of 40,000 plus accredited schools globally, in the accreditation spheres of 3 US Regional Accreditors, NCA CASI, SACS CASI & NWAC. In a major development on June 18, International Schooling Corporation received its status of…

SINGAPORE, Aug. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — International Schooling Corporation (ISC) is now officially accredited by Cognia, the largest and most prestigious school accreditation organization, which also serves as the common consortium of 40,000 plus accredited schools globally, in the accreditation spheres of 3 US Regional Accreditors, NCA CASI, SACS CASI & NWAC. In a major development on June 18, International Schooling Corporation received its status of ‘Accredited’ from Cognia. ISC provides online schooling options for Grades Pre-K-12 and also offers a number of diploma and certificate courses at post-secondary level, through its online school. ISC is now ready to offer these benefits of online school through institutions and partners around the world.

«It is a great achievement for us. Now we will be able to create an even more profound positive impact in the lives of learners around the world, since we would be able to connect schools and institutions in our network. With that said, it is an even bigger responsibility for us, because in an online school corporation, there are no physical boundaries and what that means is that we have to be prepared to offer the same level of academic quality and excellence to a larger and more diverse set of learners in many more countries. But we are very well prepared to do that. Even during the current pandemic situation, learners from all grades and especially those who are keen to complete their High School Diploma online are approaching us in huge numbers.» said Dr. Rob Leveillee, Chief Visionary-International Schooling Corporation (ISC).

With International Schooling Corporation (ISC) now being officially accredited as an online school corporation, there is a new opportunity for all schools and institutions around the world. Irrespective of which country they are located in, they can immediately go ahead and explore the opportunity of joining the network of ISC and beginning their own online school.

«Over the last 5 days, we have already received over 150 inquiries from schools in 37 different countries. We are overwhelmed by the amazing response and are getting back to each of these schools to let them know the way forward. While we have a simple process of granting authorization, we will not be able to authorize each one of them. Moreover, we welcome more schools, colleges, institutions and even organizations to get in touch with us so that we can help them serve learners in their respective countries. The major advantage for schools here is that, once they are granted authorization as a network school of ISC, they don’t have to go through the long and demanding process of securing accreditation on their own; they kind of become accredited from the day we authorize them. So I want to tell all the school leaders that this is your chance to start your own online school by becoming a network school of ISC» Dr. Anne Marie-Woolsey, Director of Global Innovation, ISC, says when asked about how ISC’s accreditation opens doors for institutions around the world.

ISC has been serving the interest of learners and parents around the world for a long time now and is widely regarded as one of the most learner-friendly online schooling options. 5 key differentiators of ISC for the learners include:

  • Live Doubt-clearing sessions at no extra fee for all learners in all grade levels
  • One free Personal Counseling session for all learners
  • One free Career Counseling session for all learners
  • 24/7/365 support for learners in all time zones globally
  • Periodic parent-teacher meetings (PTMs) to keep parents informed

It seems ISC is all prepared to handle the new challenges in education and come out victorious. «Our aim is to become the best online high school for learners in less than 3 years from now.» Dr. Anne-Marie says.

 

SOURCE International Schooling

Lindsay McCormick of Bite Toothpaste Bits Named in Fast Company’s Annual List of the Most Creative People in Business

MARINA DEL REY, Calif., Aug. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Fast Company announced its 11th annual list of the Most Creative People in Business, honoring Bite Toothpaste Bits CEO and Founder, Lindsay McCormick among an influential and diverse group of leaders from a vast range of global industries.

The Most Creative People in Business list recognizes individuals who used their innovative thinking to make an impact on the world beyond financial success. These…

MARINA DEL REY, Calif., Aug. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Fast Company announced its 11th annual list of the Most Creative People in Business, honoring Bite Toothpaste Bits CEO and Founder, Lindsay McCormick among an influential and diverse group of leaders from a vast range of global industries.

The Most Creative People in Business list recognizes individuals who used their innovative thinking to make an impact on the world beyond financial success. These engineers, executives, choreographers, activists, designers, journalists, and founders have created something new this year within their field that’s never been done before in their industries. Many achieved these societal problem-solving accomplishments in one of the most contentious and erratic times in history.

«I’m honored to be included in such an inspiring group of people, all working to create meaningful and impactful change in our world,» said McCormick. «There has never been a more important time for us to come together to find new and innovative solutions to our environmental problems. I never set out to create a business, but the success of what we’ve grown at Bite has give me the power to share my story and the urgency to save our planet. We’ve only just begun…» said McCormick.

As Bite’s CEO and Founder, Lindsay McCormick started Bite in her living room after learning about the one billion plastic toothpaste tubes that end up in our landfills and oceans every year. Once a social media video went viral, sales skyrocketed overnight and McCormick quit her full-time job to launch Bite into a multimillion company. McCormick’s love of the planet, urgency to make a difference, and personal mission to create sustainable solutions to products we use every day has now become Bite’s mission.

Since Bite’s inception in 2018, the company has become a trailblazer in the sustainability and personal care space with its innovative and plastic-free products made with the planet in mind. From creating the first-ever toothpaste tablet with nano-hydroxyapatite (nHAP) to Bite’s recent launch of 100% compostable and plant-based dental floss, McCormick’s team is working to make conscious consumerism an unconscious decision.

Fast Company editors and writers spent a year researching candidates for the list, scouting every business sector: social good, medical, technology, engineering, marketing, entertainment, startups, and more. The people selected have all accomplished something truly innovative within the past 12 months or so that is having a measurable effect within their industries and beyond. They’re also discoveries—none has ever been profiled in Fast Company in print before. Together, they represent the future of business.

«Each year, we recognize artists and conventionally creative people making their mark on business and corporate executives deploying creativity and innovation to address some of the biggest challenges facing businesses and society,» says Stephanie Mehta, editor-in-chief of Fast Company. «Individually and collectively, the Most Creative People are an inspiration.»

To see the complete list, go to: https://www.fastcompany.com/most-creative-people/2020
Introduced in 2009, the Most Creative People list was quickly established as one of Fast Company’s most esteemed franchises. Each year, the magazine’s editors present an all-new list of people chosen according to a proprietary methodology.

Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business issue (September 2020) is available online now at https://www.fastcompany.com/most-creative-people/2020 and on newsstands beginning August 11, 2020. Join the Most Creative People conversation using #FCMostCreative.

 

SOURCE Bite Toothpaste Bits

Virtual Platform and App Revolutionizes Healthcare, Education and Careers

MILWAUKEE, Aug. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — CV Academics Foundation, a new non-profit organization, announces the launch of its academic and career development platform app to address the current shortages in the patient care workforce and forge accessible pathways to healthcare careers. The Foundation’s flagship program,

MILWAUKEE, Aug. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — CV Academics Foundation, a new non-profit organization, announces the launch of its academic and career development platform app to address the current shortages in the patient care workforce and forge accessible pathways to healthcare careers. The Foundation’s flagship program, American Medical Pathway Honors Program (AMP HP), has been in beta testing for the past twelve months for student learners in Wisconsin. Testing has included rural, urban, and global settings as well both public and private schools. AMP HP has received accolades from its beta learners for introducing engaging learning opportunities, creating a resource for career exploration in healthcare, and providing real world experiences and best practices from healthcare leaders through community networks.

«Students who join the platform become part of a community, gain first-hand insights into many healthcare professional pathways, and build their network of connections and experiences,» said Dr. Andy Klein, AMP HP Co-founder. «We are addressing challenges in academic access and workforce development that have been made worse by the Covid-19 pandemic, and we are seeing positive results.»

According to the Wisconsin Council on Medical Education & Workforce (WCMEDW) 2018 report, the growing demand for primary care providers is driven by an expanding and aging population which will outpace supply. Existing approaches to education and training are largely uncoordinated and do not provide a comprehensive solution to the impending workforce shortages. WCMEDW also notes that many communities have limited access to advanced coursework, medical care, food, and employment opportunities, which continue to daunt students.

The mission of CV Academics Foundation is to provide students of all backgrounds, living in rural and urban areas, access to academic and career development opportunities to aid in achieving their professional goals. The Foundation works with professional organizations and educational institutions, forming crucial partnerships to maintain the platform’s exclusive content in a variety of healthcare careers.

This new academic and career development platform connects students with mentors, evidence and science-based resources, peer-to-peer group discussions, and tailored curriculum. Students anywhere can access the resource by using a sophisticated first-of-its-kind approach and technology. AMP HP enhances the traditional education model by digitally connecting students and professionals across the globe to build a competitive resume, right from home.

CV Academics Foundation works with sponsors and learning partners to develop specialized curriculum and diverse learning experiences to help students build a foundation of professional development. Key features of the platform include: «Career Highlights,» «Volunteer & Shadowing,» «What’s on Tap,» and «Life of a Professional.» Super Mentors, comprised of dedicated undergraduate and graduate students, and young professionals, offer peer-to-peer advice and guidance for education and career pathways.

«AMP is amazing,» said Dharsha, a beta site freshman student! «I joined because I wanted to know more about the journey to med school, and the necessary steps I would have to take to get into a college that is right for me. I would highly recommend AMP to any student looking to gain more knowledge about the healthcare world and the different opportunities within the field. This platform has great mentors willing to answer any questions you have…it provides students with a great supportive community to discover your passions within healthcare. I look forward to seeing you on the site!»

CV Academics Foundation is working with high schools, undergraduate institutions, and non-traditional students to help integrate the platform into their existing educational offerings. Students, however, do not need to attend a member school in order to engage with the platform. With the assistance of sponsor support, scholarships and financial aid are offered to individual students and schools looking to enroll. As the Foundation continues to grow and expand their healthcare offerings, they are planning an emergence of new professional pathways like legal, business, and engineering on the platform.

For more information about AMP HP academic and career development platform and CV Academics Foundation, visit http://www.CVAcademics.org or call (414) 852-9887.

About CV Academics Foundation

Based in Wisconsin, CV Academics Foundation is a recognized nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization co-founded by Dr. Andy Klein, MD and Dr. John Ulmer, MD, academic physicians at Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin. The Foundation is dedicated to strengthening communities by providing students of all backgrounds with comprehensive academic networks, engaging career resources, and real-world learning opportunities that foster personal and professional development.

 

SOURCE CV Academics Foundation

Advancements TV Series to Explore How Polarity Thinking™ Could be the Missing Logic in Healthcare and an Essential Competency for Healthcare Leaders

JUPITER, Fla., Aug. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Scheduled to broadcast 4Q/2020, Advancements with Ted Danson will focus on improvements in healthcare leadership practices. Check local listings for more info.

In the COVID era, healthcare clinicians have expressed unprecedented rates of burnout and leaders have voiced that they are struggling to keep staff and patients safe and informed, which has led to the need for a new way of thinking about managing the…

JUPITER, Fla., Aug. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Scheduled to broadcast 4Q/2020, Advancements with Ted Danson will focus on improvements in healthcare leadership practices. Check local listings for more info.

In the COVID era, healthcare clinicians have expressed unprecedented rates of burnout and leaders have voiced that they are struggling to keep staff and patients safe and informed, which has led to the need for a new way of thinking about managing the ongoing and increasing complexities as a result of the billions of dollars that hospitals are losing each month; calling for hospitals and healthcare systems to emerge out of the post COVID ashes as Healthy Healing Organizations (H2O).

In this segment, audiences will learn how MissingLogic leverages its H20 Framework℠ to help healthcare leaders navigate the complexity and uncertainties in healthcare today. Currently, one of the most paramount challenges is the uncertainty of how to maintain the health of the public in the face of a rapidly changing economy.

The show will educate viewers about how MissingLogic is revolutionizing the healthcare industry by helping executives in healthcare systems see their most significant challenges through a polarity lens, which enables executives to break through complexity and the never-ending cycle of re-occurring issues, while navigating their organizations through COVID-19 and beyond.

Michelle Troseth and Tracy Christopherson, Co-Founders of MissingLogic, commented, «we are excited to introduce our innovative framework to the healthcare industry, especially now because it’s rooted in a foundation of Polarity Thinking which is our secret sauce and helps cultivate the best places to both give and receive care. Polarity Thinking is a game changer, especially when applied in a way that provides real-time diagnostic metrics and visibility of the organizational culture.»

Spectators will see how MissingLogic helps healthcare leaders monitor outcomes and strategic actions over time. They will also learn how when leaders are vigilant in monitoring metrics, it can enable organizations to course correct more quickly, maximize the use of resources, decrease the occurrence of unintended outcomes, and achieve sustainable positive outcomes.

«MissingLogic helps healthcare leaders trade burnout for balance and resilience,» said Richard Simon, producer for the Advancements series. «We look forward to exploring how applying Polarity Thinking is transforming healthcare leaders and organizations for the better.»

About MissingLogic:
MissingLogic is an executive coaching and consulting company dedicated to transforming healthcare organizations into healthy healing organizations (H2O) and their leaders into Resilient and Balanced Healthcare Leaders. MissingLogic leverages its extensive experience in framework-driven healthcare transformation grounded in Polarity Thinking™ and is committed to ensuring Polarity Thinking becomes a core competency for every healthcare leader. For more information, visit: https://www.missinglogic.com

About Advancements and DMG Productions:
The Advancements series is an information-based educational show targeting recent advances across a number of industries and economies. Featuring state-of-the-art solutions and important issues facing today’s consumers and business professionals, Advancements focuses on cutting-edge developments, and brings this information to the public with the vision to enlighten about how technology and innovation continue to transform our world.

Backed by experts in various fields, DMG Productions is dedicated to education and advancement, and to consistently producing commercial-free, educational programming on which both viewers and networks depend.

For more information, please visit http://www.AdvancementsTV.com or call Richard Simon at 866-496-4065.

 

SOURCE Advancements with Ted Danson

Securitas North America Recognizes Heroism and Performance with 2019 Security Officer of the Year Awards

PARSIPPANY, N.J., Aug. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Securitas North America annually recognizes two security officers—one for heroism and one for outstanding performance. The recipients are chosen from among nominations received from their colleagues and managers. Honorees are featured in Excellence in Service, a magazine published for Securitas security officers, and receive monetary consideration as well as other recognition for being selected as Officers of the Year. 

PARSIPPANY, N.J., Aug. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Securitas North America annually recognizes two security officers—one for heroism and one for outstanding performance. The recipients are chosen from among nominations received from their colleagues and managers. Honorees are featured in Excellence in Service, a magazine published for Securitas security officers, and receive monetary consideration as well as other recognition for being selected as Officers of the Year. 

Security Officer of the Year for Heroism recognition is conferred on an officer who performs a heroic act while helping to protect people or property. Sinteria House was honored in this category for her heroic actions in de-escalating a situation involving a disoriented, upset individual at her client site. After Officer House contacted management and the police, the intruder revealed a weapon. Officer House never lost her focus, maintaining a calm demeanor and talking to the individual until the police arrived and transitioned control of the situation.

In addition to recognizing a remarkable act of heroism, Securitas also acknowledges an individual who distinguishes themselves in performance of their daily duties, going above and beyond what is asked or expected. Ron Rolston was named Security Officer of the Year for Performance for delivering consistently excellent client service and outstanding performance. During his 30-year career, Rolston has demonstrated excellence, first as a security officer and during his most recent tenure as a Fire Protection Inspector, all with the same client. He is known for his commitment to training and willingness to mentor others. One recent initiative involved using his knowledge and experience to develop policies and procedures that promote a safer work environment. The resulting training package included many elements that could be readily implemented at other client sites.

Through their actions, officers House and Rolston demonstrated a high degree of professionalism and their commitment to Securitas’ core values of Integrity, Vigilance and Helpfulness.

«Officers House and Rolston are great examples of employees focused on providing extraordinary service while delivering on our Purpose of making our clients, our communities, our world a safer place,» stated Securitas North America Guarding CEO and President Greg Anderson. «We are grateful for their outstanding contributions, their professionalism and their dedication to our clients. I couldn’t be more pleased to recognize these exceptional officers who represent some of the best of our 100,000 Securitas officers in North America

Read more about these officers and their outstanding performance at
www.securitasinc.com/join-us/security-in-action/.  

About Securitas: As The Leader in Protective Services, Securitas and its 370,000 employees worldwide help organizations of all sizes and markets achieve superior security programs and results. Our security solutions include the Six Pillars of Protective Services, specifically: On-Site, Mobile and Remote Guarding; Electronic Security; Fire & Safety; and Corporate Risk Management. Securitas empowers people, technology and knowledge to advance the profession in general and its clients in particular. For more information, visit www.securitasinc.com.

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SOURCE Securitas Security Services USA, Inc.

Skill Me UP Academy: Kick-start a tech career in less than 6 months!

HIGHLAND VILLAGE, Texas, Aug. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Skill Me UP, LLC is proud to announce Skill Me UP Academy, a new way for non-technical individuals to develop the skills needed to launch an IT career! The collection of interactive online courses is designed to prepare students for a high paying career using…

HIGHLAND VILLAGE, Texas, Aug. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Skill Me UP, LLC is proud to announce Skill Me UP Academy, a new way for non-technical individuals to develop the skills needed to launch an IT career! The collection of interactive online courses is designed to prepare students for a high paying career using industry leading technologies. Throughout the 6-month program, students will build a public portfolio to showcase their skill set and connect to a network of potential employers upon graduation.

As the economic landscape continues to shift, digital skills will be more important than ever. The number of computer and information technology positions far surpass the number of qualified applicants and is projected to grow 12% through 2028, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This digital skills gap presents an excellent opportunity for those interested in pursuing a new career in technology.

Skill Me UP Academy empowers non-technical individuals to build a better life, by imbuing them with the skillset needed to pursue a successful cloud career. Within 6 months, Skill Me UP Academy can prepare anyone for the following roles:

Application Developer – Average Salary:  $70,163

Automation Engineer– Average Salary:  $76,996

Infrastructure Engineer– Average Salary:  $80,555

IT Administrator– Average Salary: $59,396

IT Helpdesk – Average Salary:  $47,851

(Average annual salary according to Glassdoor and Indeed.)

Skill Me UP Academy’s versatile curriculum combines virtual classrooms, group projects and hands-on practice to deliver an interactive learning experience. Each course is led by a Subject Matter Expert, to ensure students build a solid understanding of cloud computing concepts. Throughout the program, students will develop the technical skills needed to solve complex business problems using Microsoft cloud technologies. In addition to technical training, students will prepare for the modern workforce through courses dedicated to professional development.

Graduates will develop the skills, experience and network to land a dream job in less than 6 months! This includes a public portfolio, Acclaim badges to add to their LinkedIn profile and connections to our extensive network of prospective employers.

Skill Me UP Academy is a product of Skill Me UP, LLC. Skill Me UP’s goal is to help enable our customers realize the full potential of the Microsoft Cloud (MSFT) by increasing the value of one of their most critical assets, their people. Skillmeup.com is an on-demand learning platform with a huge selection of proprietary courseware for hands-on training. What sets Skill Me UP apart is their custom curriculum and network of cloud experts that can enable your company for the cloud wherever your company is based.

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SOURCE Skill Me UP, LLC

Ardagh Group partners with Plata Wine Partners to supply locally made wine bottles

INDIANAPOLIS, Aug. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Ardagh Group, Glass – North America, a business unit of

INDIANAPOLIS, Aug. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Ardagh Group, Glass – North America, a business unit of Ardagh Group and the largest domestic manufacturer of glass bottles for the U.S. wine market, announced a supply agreement with Plata Wine Partners to manufacture all of their wine bottles.

The agreement pairs the largest independent coastal grape grower in California with the largest domestic manufacturer of glass bottles for the U.S. wine market.

The 750ml wine bottles for Plata Wine Partners leverage the brand’s existing bottle design assets with a modern, premium look and feel.

«Our focus over the last few years has been to reduce our carbon footprint and increase overall sustainability,» said Scott Smith, President and CEO at Plata. «When we took a hard look at our processes, the largest area for improvement was through packaging. Partnering with Ardagh Group gave us the opportunity to utilize premier and sustainable glass bottles for our wines while also supporting local, domestic operations.»

Glass bottles are 100 percent and endlessly recyclable, and they can go from the recycling bin to the store shelf in as little as 30 days. Glass wine bottles preserve the true taste of the product and deliver great shelf appeal and brand differentiation in a premium, sustainable package.

«Ardagh is proud to partner with Plata Wine Partners to provide consumers with high-quality, American made glass wine bottles while helping the winery meet their sustainability goals, which in turn helps reduce their carbon footprint to align with their vineyard operations,» said John T Shaddox, Chief Commercial Officer for Ardagh’s North American Glass division.

For more than 125 years, Ardagh has been producing glass bottles in the U.S. and offers a wide selection of premium wine bottles in a variety of colors, sizes, styles and finishes.

Ardagh is dedicated to the wine market with capabilities and resources to grow with wineries every step of the way. For wine bottles in less than truckload (LTL) or truckload quantities, customers can contact Ardagh directly at 707-200-9350 (West) or 317-558-1585 (Central/East) or marketing.glass.na@ardaghgroup.com.

To view Ardagh’s extensive wine bottle stock portfolio, along with the new bottles being used by Plata Wine Partners, which are all made in the U.S.A., visit ardaghgroup.com/wine2020.

Further information

Gina Behrman, Vice President, Marketing, Communications & NPD at
Ardagh Group, Glass – North America, gina.l.behrman@ardaghgroup.com, 317.558.5717

Paula Polei, Manager, Marketing & Communications at
Ardagh Group, Glass – North America, paula.polei@ardaghgroup.com, 317.558.5732

Scott Smith, President and CEO at Plata Wine Partners,
Scott@platawinepartners.com, 707.227.9758

Aaron Fein, VP Sales & Marketing at Plata Wine Partners,
Aaron@platawinepartners.com, 707.478.8390

Download image here.

Notes to the editor

Ardagh Group is a global supplier of infinitely recyclable metal and glass packaging for the world’s leading brands. Ardagh operates 56 metal and glass production facilities in 12 countries, employing more than 16,000 people with sales of approximately $7bn.

Plata Wine Partners has been producing fine wines since 2005. Our focus is creating and executing exclusive brands for major national and regional accounts. We develop programs for off-premise & on-premise accounts as well as airlines, cruise lines, and wholesalers. The primary point of difference we offer is our 18,000+ acres of company owned and managed vineyards. We are the largest independent California coastal grape grower. Owning the vineyards provide consistent supply and quality with the ability to scale programs quickly. Our team is small and deeply experienced with the ability to quickly turn around premium programs that will exceed your expectations.

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SOURCE Ardagh Group

Silicon Review Chooses PlateSmart as One of 50 Best Companies to Watch

OLDSMAR, Fla., Aug. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Every year, premier business and technology magazine Silicon Review compiles a list of the 50 Best Companies to Watch. It’s a who’s who of companies offering unique, innovative, and high-value technology solutions in their respective markets. This year, PlateSmart Technologies was honored with inclusion on the list, published in the magazine’s July 2020 issue.

OLDSMAR, Fla., Aug. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Every year, premier business and technology magazine Silicon Review compiles a list of the 50 Best Companies to Watch. It’s a who’s who of companies offering unique, innovative, and high-value technology solutions in their respective markets. This year, PlateSmart Technologies was honored with inclusion on the list, published in the magazine’s July 2020 issue.

«PlateSmart has always been an innovation leader,» said CEO John Chigos. «We were the first to offer a software-only, camera-agnostic ALPR solution powered by early AI for object recognition back in the early 2000s. In 2016, we introduced a true ALPR/vehicle recognition solution. Today, we are the premier provider of AI-based ALPR/vehicle recognition solutions for law enforcement agencies, smart cities, airports – essentially all security applications as well as retail and commercial applications. We’re honored to have been recognized by the Silicon Review for being on the cutting edge of ALPR and vehicle recognition.»

In a lengthy article accompanying PlateSmart’s inclusion in the listing, Chigos discussed how PlateSmart technology can help prevent crime and terrorism.

«While many in our industry promote their solutions as investigative tools, ours is really designed to prevent crime and terrorism in the first place,» he said. «When used in conjunction with other intelligence, PlateSmart technology can help law enforcement identify aberrant vehicle behavior, like someone casing a target. It can notify authorities in advance, so they can take action before a bad actor has a chance to take lives.»

Chigos cited a recent instance of PlateSmart solutions helping stop a domestic terrorist in Western Pennsylvania with 30 bombs and assorted weapons in his vehicle.

«Because authorities can connect our technology to NCIC as well as state and local law enforcement data bases – and because we can return results in real time – PlateSmart gives police an edge over criminals and terrorists,» he said. «And because we’re software-only, our solutions are within reach of law enforcement agencies large and small.»

Chigos was interviewed by One America News Network (OANN) about the Pennsylvania incident and how ALPR/vehicle recognition can prevent crime and terrorism.

The 50 Best Companies to Watch recognition is but the latest in a string of recognitions PlateSmart has earned for excellence.

For more information, visit www.platesmart.com or email sales@platesmart.com.

Media Contacts

Kathleen Chigos | kchigos@platesmart.com | 813-749-0892

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SOURCE PlateSmart Technologies