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Post-COVID Travel Boom Visits Rural America

YourUpdateTV

Visit North Carolina has launched Dream Big in Small Town NC, an initiative to boost economic recovery by attracting travelers and potential workforce to small towns in 16 counties facing population loss. Starting with a sweepstakes promotion and a satellite media tour in Haywood County, the campaign showcases natural beauty and small-town charm in places with special challenges resulting from the pandemic. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/xcNldQZAVdk Created by the General Assembly as the Rural Tourism Recovery Pilot Program, Dream Big capitalizes on travelers’ interest in exploring small towns by drawing attention to the people, places and businesses in three distinct regions designated as the Scenic Mountains, the Northeast Lakes & Rivers, and the Inner Banks. As a unit of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, Visit NC is coordinating the program with the N.C. Department of Commerce and other private and public entities involved in growing the state’s first-in-talent workforce. “Dream Big is a natural extension of Visit NC’s economic development role as the state’s tourism marketing organization,” said Wit Tuttell, Visit NC’s executive director. “Our efforts center on showcasing local landmarks, memorable experiences, distinctive lodging, dining and shopping with the goal of an economic infusion from visitor spending. Dream Big takes the mission further by calling attention to the allure of living and working in charismatic places whose appeal is rooted in character and authenticity.” Funded with $1.5 million from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, the pilot program designates Graham, Haywood, Madison, Mitchell and Yancey counties in the Scenic Mountains; Edgecombe, Halifax, Vance and Warren in the Northeast Lakes & Rivers; and Chowan, Gates, Hertford, Martin, Perquimans, Tyrrell and Washington in the Inner Banks. Dream Big also has a dedicated presence on VisitNC.com, complete with links for job postings, as well as program partner Airbnb’s website. The Scenic Mountains is the first region to take the spotlight. During the satellite tour in Waynesville, representatives from national, regional and in-state media outlets joined the virtual tour and Q&A session. The launch also features a sweepstakes with a prize package that includes: A $1,000 Airbnb stay voucher to experience Small Town NC life. A $500 VISA gift card to help with travel expenses by plane, train or automobile A choice of gift cards for dining, recreation and shopping in the Scenic Mountain destinations. Similar promotions and satellite media tours are planned for the program’s launch in Northeast Lakes & Rivers this summer and in the Inner Banks in the fall. According to a recent report from Destination Analysts, 28.4 percent of people surveyed plan to visit small towns or rural attractions this travel season. Increased demand is reflected in the doubling of short-term rentals available outside of North Carolina’s urban counties since the pandemic began. For 2021, Airbnb reports a 128 percent increase in nights booked in rural areas compared with 2019. For the same period, nights booked for rural stays of more than four weeks grew 160 percent, which supports Dream Big’s promise to engage visitors for more than a getaway. Tuttell also noted findings from a poll by booking.com that 58 percent of travelers said it’s important for their trip be beneficial to the destination's local community. Twenty-nine percent said they would research how their tourism spending would affect or improve local communities. Beyond exposure from the satellite tour, Dream Big will reach the traveling public through a presence on VisitNC.com and posts on @VisitNC’s social media channels. A media influencer campaign will bring selected tastemakers to the destinations to engage their followers in the local culture and lifestyle appeal for people interested in a change of scenery. Airbnb, which will also promote the campaign on its website and social media channels, will use its inventory of short-term rental properties to host the media visits. About Visit North Carolina: Visit North Carolina is part of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina. Established in 2014, the EDPNC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation that oversees the state's efforts in business and job recruitment and retention, international trade, and tourism, film and sports development. The mission of Visit North Carolina is to unify and lead the state in developing North Carolina as a major destination for leisure travel, group tours, meetings and conventions, sports events and film production. For more information on North Carolina’s destinations and travel assets, go to VisitNC.com. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

May 04, 2022 06:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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CSG Systems International Reports First Quarter 2022 Results

CSG

Confirming All 2022 Financial Guidance Targets Delivered 4.5% YoY Revenue Growth and 4.9% YoY Non-GAAP EPS Growth in Q1 Launched 5G-Ready, SaaS-Based CSG Encompass for Global Telecom Customers CSG (NASDAQ: CSGS) today reported results for the quarter ended March 31, 2022. Financial Results: First quarter 2022 financial results: Total revenue was $264.4 million and total non-GAAP adjusted revenue was $246.4 million. GAAP operating income was $16.4 million, or 6.2% of total revenue, and non-GAAP operating income was $40.2 million, or 16.3% of non-GAAP adjusted revenue. GAAP earnings per diluted share (EPS) was $0.19 and non-GAAP EPS was $0.86. Cash flows used in operations were ($5.5) million, with a non-GAAP free cash flow deficit of ( $15.9) million. Shareholder Returns: CSG declared its quarterly cash dividend of $0.265 per share of common stock, or a total of approximately $9 million, to shareholders. During the first quarter of 2022, CSG repurchased under its stock repurchase program, approximately 266,000 shares of its common stock for approximately $16 million. “CSG continued to build off our excellent 2021 momentum by delivering 4.5% year-over-year revenue growth and 4.9% year-over-year non-GAAP EPS growth in Q1, despite the discounts related to our Charter Communications and DISH contract renewals,” said Brian Shepherd, President and Chief Executive Officer of CSG. “These good first quarter results prove that our strategy is paying dividends as we continue to deliver for our customers. As a result, we are pleased to confirm all 2022 financial guidance targets. Looking ahead, we remain well positioned to lengthen and strengthen our relationships with existing customers, organically grow our revenue, close good value-adding strategic acquisitions, and diversify into faster growth industry verticals.” Financial Overview (unaudited) (in thousands, except per share amounts and percentages): For additional information and reconciliations regarding CSG’s use of non-GAAP financial measures, please refer to the attached Exhibit 2 and the Investor Relations section of CSG’s website at csgi.com. Results of Operations GAAP Results: Total revenue for the first quarter of 2022 was $264.4 million, a 4.5% increase when compared to revenue of $253.1 million for the first quarter of 2021. The increase in revenue can be primarily attributed to the continued growth of CSG’s revenue management solutions, as approximately two-thirds of the increase was attributed to organic growth. GAAP operating income for the first quarter of 2022 was $16.4 million, or 6.2% of total revenue, compared to $31.4 million, or 12.4% of total revenue, for the first quarter of 2021. The decrease in operating income is mainly a result of a $12 million increase in restructuring and reorganization charges related primarily to real estate restructurings in the first quarter of 2022 as CSG rationalizes its real estate footprint to reflect a flexible work approach. GAAP EPS for the first quarter of 2022 was $0.19, as compared to $0.61 for the first quarter of 2021. The decrease in GAAP EPS can be mainly attributed to the increase restructuring and reorganization charges, discussed above, and a $7.5 million loss incurred on a derivative liability upon conversion of our 2016 Convertible Notes, discussed below. Non-GAAP Results: Non-GAAP adjusted revenue for the first quarter of 2022 was $246.4 million, a 4.1% increase when compared to non-GAAP adjusted revenue of $236.7 million for the first quarter of 2021. The increase in non-GAAP adjusted revenue between periods is due to the factors discussed above. Non-GAAP operating income for the first quarter of 2022 was $40.2 million, or 16.3% of total non-GAAP adjusted revenue, compared to $40.2 million, or 17.0% of total non-GAAP adjusted revenue for the first quarter of 2021. Non-GAAP EPS for the first quarter of 2022 was $0.86 compared to $0.82 for the first quarter of 2021. Balance Sheet and Cash Flows Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments as of March 31, 2022 were $187.6 million compared to $233.7 million as of December 31, 2021. CSG had net cash flows used in operations for the first quarters ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 of ($5.5) million and ($2.2) million, respectively, and had non-GAAP free cash flow deficits of ($15.9) million and ($10.5) million, respectively. Cash flows for the first quarters of 2022 and 2021 were negatively impacted by the payment of year-end accrued employee incentive compensation. During the first quarter of 2022, CSG borrowed $245 million on its 2021 Revolving Credit Facility to settle the 2016 Convertible Notes for approximately $242 million in cash. As a result of the conversions of the Notes in March 2022, CSG recognized a $7.5 million loss on a derivative liability related to the change in CSG’s stock price over the observation period prior to settlement. Summary of Financial Guidance CSG is reaffirming its financial guidance for the full year 2022, as follows: For additional information and reconciliations regarding CSG’s use of non-GAAP financial measures, please refer to the attached Exhibit 2 and the Investor Relations section of CSG’s website at csgi.com. Conference Call CSG will host a conference call on Wednesday, May 4, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. ET, to discuss CSG’s first quarter results for 2022. The call will be carried live and archived on the Internet. A link to the conference call is available at http://ir.csgi.com. In addition, to reach the conference by phone, call 1-888-412-4131 and use the passcode 2327393. Additional Information For information about CSG, please visit CSG’s web site at csgi.com. Additional information can be found in the Investor Relations section of the website. About CSG CSG is a leader in innovative customer engagement, revenue management and payments solutions that make ordinary customer experiences extraordinary. Our cloud-first architecture and customer-obsessed mindset help companies around the world launch new digital services, expand into new markets, and create dynamic experiences that capture new customers and build brand loyalty. For 40 years, CSG’s technologies and people have helped some of the world’s most recognizable brands solve their toughest business challenges and evolve to meet the demands of today’s digital economy with future-ready solutions that drive exceptional customer experiences. With over 5,000 employees in over 20 countries, CSG is the trusted technology provider for leading global brands in telecommunications, retail, financial services, and healthcare. Our solutions deliver real world outcomes to more than 900 customers in over 120 countries. To learn more, visit us at csgi.com and connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements as defined under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, that are based on assumptions about a number of important factors and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from what appears in this news release. Some of these key factors include, but are not limited to the following items: CSG derives approximately forty percent of its revenue from its two largest customers; Fluctuations in credit market conditions, general global economic and political conditions, and foreign currency exchange rates; CSG’s ability to maintain a reliable, secure computing environment; Continued market acceptance of CSG’s products and services; CSG’s ability to continuously develop and enhance products in a timely, cost-effective, technically advanced and competitive manner; CSG’s ability to deliver its solutions in a timely fashion within budget, particularly large and complex software implementations; CSG’s dependency on the global telecommunications industry, and in particular, the North American telecommunications industry; CSG’s ability to meet its financial expectations; Increasing competition in CSG’s market from companies of greater size and with broader presence; CSG’s ability to successfully integrate and manage acquired businesses or assets to achieve expected strategic, operating and financial goals; CSG’s ability to protect its intellectual property rights; CSG’s ability to conduct business in the international marketplace; CSG’s ability to comply with applicable U.S. and International laws and regulations; and CSG’s business may be disrupted, and its results of operations and cash flows adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This list is not exhaustive, and readers are encouraged to review the additional risks and important factors described in CSG’s reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q and other filings made with the SEC. For more information, contact: John Rea, Investor Relations (210) 687-4409 E-mail: john.rea@csgi.com CSG SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS-UNAUDITED (in thousands) CSG SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME-UNAUDITED (in thousands, except per share amounts) CSG SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS-UNAUDITED (in thousands) (1) Beginning with the second quarter of 2021, CSG reclassified certain cash flows related to settlement and merchant reserve assets and liabilities from cash flows from operating activities to cash flows from financing activities within the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. Prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation. EXHIBIT 1 CSG SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, INC. SUPPLEMENTAL REVENUE ANALYSIS Revenue by Significant Customers: 10% or more of Revenue Revenue by Vertical Revenue by Geography EXHIBIT 2 CSG SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, INC. DISCLOSURES FOR NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Limitations To supplement its condensed consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), CSG uses non-GAAP adjusted revenue, non-GAAP operating income, non-GAAP adjusted operating margin percentage, non-GAAP EPS, non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA, and non-GAAP free cash flow. CSG believes that these non-GAAP financial measures, when reviewed in conjunction with its GAAP financial measures, provide investors with greater transparency to the information used by CSG’s management in its financial and operational decision making. CSG uses these non-GAAP financial measures for the following purposes: Certain internal financial planning, reporting, and analysis; Forecasting and budgeting; Certain management compensation incentives; and Communications with CSG’s Board of Directors, stockholders, financial analysts, and investors. These non-GAAP financial measures are provided with the intent of providing investors with the following information: A more complete understanding of CSG’s underlying operational results, trends, and cash generating capabilities; Consistency and comparability with CSG’s historical financial results; and Comparability to similar companies, many of which present similar non-GAAP financial measures to investors. Non-GAAP financial measures are not measures of performance under GAAP, and therefore should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for GAAP financial information. Limitations with the use of non-GAAP financial measures include the following items: Non-GAAP financial measures are not based on any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles; The way in which CSG calculates non-GAAP financial measures may differ from the way in which other companies calculate similar non-GAAP financial measures; Non-GAAP financial measures do not include all items of income and expense that affect CSG’s operations and that are required by GAAP to be included in financial statements; Certain adjustments to CSG’s non-GAAP financial measures result in the exclusion of items that are recurring and will be reflected in CSG’s financial statements in future periods; and Certain charges excluded from CSG’s non-GAAP financial measures are cash expenses, and therefore do impact CSG’s cash position. CSG compensates for these limitations by relying primarily on its GAAP results and using non-GAAP financial measures as a supplement only. Additionally, CSG provides specific information regarding the treatment of GAAP amounts considered in preparing the non-GAAP financial measures and reconciles each n on-GAAP financial measure to the most directly comparable GAAP measure. Non-GAAP Financial Measures: Basis of Presentation The table below outlines the exclusions from CSG’s non-GAAP financial measures: CSG believes that excluding certain items in calculating its non-GAAP financial measures provides meaningful supplemental information regarding CSG’s performance and these items are excluded for the following reasons: Transaction fees are primarily comprised of interchange and other payment-related fees paid, in conjunction with the delivery of service to customers under CSG’s payment services contracts, to third-party payment processors and financial institutions by CSG. Because CSG controls the integrated service provided under its payment services customer contracts, these transaction fees are presented gross, and not netted against revenue; however, other payments companies who do not provide and/or control an integrated service present their revenue net of transaction fees. The exclusion of these fees in calculating CSG’s non-GAAP adjusted revenue provides management and investors an additional means to use to compare CSG’s current revenue with historical and future periods, as well as with other payments companies. Restructuring and reorganization charges are expenses that result from cost reduction initiatives and/or significant changes to CSG’s business, to include such things as involuntary employee terminations, changes in management structure, divestitures of businesses, facility consolidations and abandonments, and fundamental reorganizations impacting operational focus and direction. These charges are not considered reflective of CSG’s recurring business operating results. The exclusion of these items in calculating CSG’s non-GAAP financial measures allows management and investors an additional means to compare CSG’s current financial results with historical and future periods. Executive transition costs include expenses incurred related to a departure of a CSG executive officer under the terms of the related separation agreement. These types of costs are not considered reflective of CSG’s recurring business operating results. The exclusion of these costs in calculating CSG’s non-GAAP financial measures allows management and investors an additional means to compare CSG’s current financial results with historical and future periods. Acquisition-related expenses include amortization of acquired intangible assets, earn-out compensation, and transaction-related costs. Transaction-related costs, which typically include expenses related to legal, accounting, and other professional services, are direct and incremental expenses related to business acquisitions, and thus, are not considered reflective of CSG’s recurring business operating results. The total amount of acquisition-related expenses can vary significantly between periods based on the number and size of acquisition activities, previously acquired intangible assets becoming fully amortized, and ultimate realization of earn-out compensation. In addition, the timing of these expenses may not directly correlate with underlying performance of the CSG’s operations. Therefore, the exclusion of acquisition-related expenses in calculating CSG’s non-GAAP financial measures allows management and investors an additional means to compare CSG’s current financial results with historical and future periods. Stock-based compensation results from CSG’s issuance of equity awards to its employees under incentive compensation programs. The amount of this incentive compensation in any period is not generally linked to the level of performance by employees or CSG. The exclusion of these expenses in calculating CSG’s non-GAAP financial measures allows management and investors an additional means to evaluate the non-cash expense related to compensation included in CSG’s results of operations, and therefore, the exclusion of this item allows investors to further evaluate the cash generating capabilities of CSG’s business. The convertible notes OID is the result of allocating a portion of the principal balance of the debt at issuance to the equity component of the instrument, as required under current accounting rules. This OID is then amortized to interest expense over the life of the respective convertible debt instrument. The interest expense related to the amortization of the OID is a non-cash expense, and therefore, the exclusion of this item allows investors to further evaluate the cash interest costs of CSG’s convertible notes for cash flow, liquidity, and debt service purposes. Gains and losses related to the extinguishment/conversion of debt can be as a result of the refinancing of CSG’s credit agreement and/or repurchase, conversion, or settlement of CSG’s convertible notes. These activities, to include any derivative activity related to debt conversions, are not considered reflective of CSG’s recurring business operating results. Any resulting gain or loss is generally non-cash income or expense, and therefore, the exclusion of these items allows investors to further evaluate the cash impact of these activities for cash flow and liquidity purposes. In addition, the exclusion of these gains and losses in calculating CSG’s non-GAAP EPS allows management and investors an additional means to compare CSG’s current operating results with historical and future periods. Gains or losses related to the acquisition or disposition of certain of CSG’s business activities are not considered reflective of CSG’s recurring business operating results. Any resulting gain or loss is generally non-cash income or expense, and therefore, the exclusion of these items allows investors to further evaluate the cash impact of these activities for cash flow and liquidity purposes. In addition, the exclusion of these gains and losses in calculating CSG’s non-GAAP EPS allows management and investors an additional means to compare CSG’s current operating results with historical and future periods. Unusual items within CSG’s quarterly and/or annual income tax expense can occur from such things as income tax accounting timing matters, income taxes related to unusual events, or as a result of different treatment of certain items for book accounting and income tax purposes. Consideration of such items in calculating CSG’s non-GAAP financial measures allows management and investors an additional means to compare CSG’s current financial results with historical and future periods. CSG also reports non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA and non-GAAP free cash flow. Management believes non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA is a useful measure to investors in evaluating CSG’s operating performance, debt servicing capabilities, and enterprise valuation. CSG defines non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA as income before interest, income taxes, depreciation, amortization, stock-based compensation, foreign currency transaction adjustments, acquisition-related expenses, and unusual items, such as restructuring and reorganization charges, executive transition costs, gains and losses related to the extinguishment of debt, and gains and losses on acquisitions or dispositions, as discussed above. Additionally, management uses non-GAAP free cash flow, among other measures, to assess its financial performance and cash generating capabilities, and believes that it is useful to investors because it shows CSG’s cash available to service debt, make strategic acquisitions and investments, repurchase its common stock, pay cash dividends, and fund ongoing operations. CSG defines non-GAAP free cash flow as net cash flows from operating activities less the purchases of software, property and equipment. Non-GAAP Financial Measures Non-GAAP Adjusted Revenue: The reconciliations of GAAP revenue to non-GAAP adjusted revenue for the indicated periods are as follows (in thousands): Non-GAAP Operating Income: The reconciliations of GAAP operating income to non-GAAP operating income for the indicated periods are as follows (in thousands, except percentages): (1) Stock-based compensation included in the tables above and following excludes amounts that have been recorded in restructuring and reorganization charges. Non-GAAP EPS: The reconciliations of GAAP EPS to non-GAAP EPS for the indicated periods are as follows (in thousands, except per share amounts): (2) For the quarters ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 the GAAP effective income tax rates were approximately 8% and 26%, respectively, and the non-GAAP effective income tax rates were approximately 27.5% and 27%, respectively. The first quarter of 2022 GAAP effective income tax rate was impacted by the combination of lower net income and a discrete tax benefit related to the vesting of equity-awards during the quarter. (3) The outstanding diluted shares for the quarters ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 were 31.8 million and 32.1 million, respectively. Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA: CSG’s calculation of non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA and the reconciliation of CSG’s non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA measure to GAAP net income is provided below for the indicated periods (in thousands, except percentages): (4) Interest expense includes amortization of deferred financing costs as provided in Note 5 below. (5) Amortization on the statement of cash flows is made up of the following items for the indicated periods (in thousands): Non-GAAP Free Cash Flow: CSG’s calculation of non-GAAP free cash flow and the reconciliation of CSG’s non-GAAP free cash flow measure to cash flows from operating activities are provided below for the indicated periods (in thousands): Non-GAAP Financial Measures – 2022 Financial Guidance Non-GAAP Adjusted Revenue: The reconciliation of GAAP revenue to non-GAAP adjusted revenue, as included in CSG’s 2022 full year preliminary financial outlook, is as follows: Non-GAAP Operating Income: The reconciliation of GAAP operating income to non-GAAP operating income, as included in CSG’s 2022 full year financial guidance, is as follows (in thousands, except percentages): Non-GAAP EPS: The reconciliation of GAAP EPS to non-GAAP EPS as included in CSG’s 2022 full year financial guidance is as follows (in thousands, except per share amounts): (6) For 2022, the estimated effective income tax rate for GAAP and non-GAAP purposes is expected to be approximately 26% and 27%, respectively. (7) The weighted-average diluted shares outstanding are expected to be approximately 32 million. Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA: CSG’s calculation of non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA and the reconciliation of CSG’s non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA measure to GAAP net income is provided below for CSG’s 2022 full year financial guidance (in thousands, except percentages): Non-GAAP Free Cash Flow: CSG’s calculation of non-GAAP free cash flow and the reconciliation of CSG’s non-GAAP free cash flow measure to cash flows from operating activities is provided below for the indicated period (in thousands): Contact Details CSG John Rea +1 210-687-4409 tammy.hovey@csgi.com Company Website https://www.csgi.com

May 04, 2022 02:01 PM Mountain Daylight Time

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Planning a Wedding? Here’s What You Need to Know

YourUpdateTV

This year, nearly 2.5 million couples are expected to tie the knot in the United States – a record number fueled by the pandemic. 2022 is shaping up to be the Year of the Wedding. Recently, Wedding Expert at Shutterfly, Claire Roche, participated in a nationwide media tour to discuss the top trends for Spring and Summer weddings and much more. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/qTNZKfpbmiM This wedding season, whether planning a big or small celebration, couples are getting more creative and placing extra emphasis on customization and making their day unique. Brands like Shutterfly can help couples make those customized details easy to implement on the big day. Everything from save the dates, to invitations, to customized napkins, Shutterfly can help elevate your wedding day without having to break the bank. Couples planning a wedding in 2022 are facing unprecedented challenges, including having to navigate higher prices and limited availabilities. For Claire, the most important thing is for couples to decide what they truly want the focus of their wedding to be and prioritize what is really important to the couple. For more information, visit Shutterfly.com About Claire Roche: As a Southern California wedding planner and owner of Grit and Grace Events, Claire is obsessed with the often forgotten and overlooked details of a wedding. She believes in the unique and customized elements that bring a wedding to life in a beautiful, yet attainable way. Claire has amassed nearly 1.5 million followers on TikTok and was recently named of one of the top people to follow if you’re planning a wedding. She’s an authentic voice in the wedding space and can speak to industry trends, products, and everything in between. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

May 04, 2022 04:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Make Mom Sparkle This Mother’s Day

YourUpdateTV

A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/RzeyHzRzLFU If you’ve been getting mom a bouquet of flowers year after year, consider a unique Mother’s Day gift for 2022 that will surprise and delight her! Jewelry will be at the top of many Mother’s Day shopping lists. If you are thinking about giving the gift of jewelry you might be wondering, where do you start, what are the hottest trends, what is the perfect gift that will make her say “wow”, how do I stay in the know and get the best value and style? Here is a look at some of the top trends: Script jewelry is a huge trend featuring Zales’ Serena Williams diamond “mama” pendant. So bold and stylish. You can also get creative and personalize a gift with engravings and birthstones. For those moms who love big, bold diamonds, you can get a larger lab-created diamond piece for what you’d pay for a smaller mined design. Zales, Kay, and Jared are all offering timeless pieces that maximizes your budget. Featuring a gorgeous Zales Vera Wang Love True multi-row band with a splash of two natural sapphires. There is also a timeless bracelet by KAY featuring round-cut lab-created diamonds that she’ll treasure forever, and if you’re looking to gift mom some neck candy, you can’t go wrong with a 3-carat total weight heart pendant necklace from Jared, it’s gorgeous and sentimental. Gemstones are a great way personalize a gift whether it’s mom’s favorite color, her birthstone, the kids' birthstones, wedding month. The Jared Montana Blue Natural Sapphire necklace is a show-stopper with round diamonds that fade from light blue greens to smokey blue grays, so beautiful. You can have so much fun with color and it holds deeper, more personal meaning, too. Final trend is all about layering right now! It’s fun and easy and you can even add in some of mom’s classic diamond jewelry to give her a modern look. From Zales is an oval link-chain choker. It’s bold, yet effortless and works from morning drop off to date night. that gives it a really sophisticated sparkle as it moves. I’ve never seen anything like it! It comes with earrings to match, too. For more information visit: KAY, Jared, and Zales.com to browse the Mother’s Day gift guide for more gift inspiration Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

May 04, 2022 02:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Web3 Solidity Engine, tEVM 2.0 - Ahead of Schedule

Telos Foundation

As the Goliaths of crypto continuously crash ( Solana ), fail to deliver ( Ethereum ), or live in their white papers ( Cardano ), David ( Telos ) continues to defy them all and over-deliver. The Telos story is very much a David vs. Goliath story. Why? Because Telos is tens and even hundreds of billions of dollars smaller than its peers in market cap, yet still manages to significantly lead them in speed, costs, true capacity, credible neutrality, front running protection, fair governance, and energy efficiency ( Net Zero ). The tEVM Version 1.0's capabilities are already a quantum leap ahead of its peers and are clearly demonstrated in this video. Now, less than a year later, version 2.0 is set to elevate the tEVM's performance further. Jesse Schulman (Lead Architect and TCO), alongside Kersten Wirth (Program Manager), will be providing detailed insights into the development of Telos EVM 2.0. This hybrid "Super-Node" solution will be even easier to operate and integrate than the previous version, offer top-notch history management, and tie in with the best available Ethereum clients. The dev-duo will also be discussing the many benefits and successes of the existing tEVM Version 1. Since its launch, the tEVM’s ecosystem is closing on six months of strategic growth. On the DeFi side, it has already launched multiple Dex/AMMs, Price Oracles, Farming dApps, multi-Chain bridges, Lending dApps, and everything else that a vibrant DeFi ecosystem requires to level up its TVL and end-user occupancy. Telos’ TVL is now where the market cap leading chains were not long ago but with far superior governance, no front running, credible neutrality, true decentralization, and an ESG compliant EVM that is several multiples faster. In utopian fashion, Telos’ ecosystem is now ready to scale its occupants and its TVL simultaneously. About Telos Live since 2018, Telos Blockchain (ticker: TLOS) is a third-generation smart contract platform that offers compatibility with Solidity, Vyper, and Native C++ smart contracts. Telos provides full EVM/Solidity support with fixed low-cost gas fees and no front running and, more uniquely, offers a path to fee-less transactions via its robust native C++ smart contract support. Even while operating as a Net Zero Blockchain, Telos still sustainably supports hundreds of millions of transactions per day, produces blocks in 0.5 second intervals (on a first-in-first-out basis, eliminating front running on the network), and securely validates transactions via a credibly neutral and globally decentralized block producer network. As a result, the Telos blockchain has the throughput needed to facilitate and scale the thriving Metaverse / Web 3.0 landscape better than any other blockchain in existence. Its performance is unrivaled in the industry and was purpose-built to offer speed, scalability, cost-effectiveness, credible decentralization, and end-user fairness. Telos harnesses its power by utilizing tight C++ on the frontend and a custom WASM runtime environment on the backend. About The Foundation The Telos Foundation is a Decentralized Autonomous Organization established as a promotional and funding body to advance the Telos Blockchain Network and provide support to network applications. Not investing advice. Contact Details The Team hello@telosfoundation.io Company Website https://www.telos.net/

May 04, 2022 01:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Huguette Marcelle Clark: A Portrait of the Artist -- First Exhibition of Famed Heiress’ Paintings in Over 90 Years Now at Santa Barbara Historical Museum

Santa Barbara Historical Museum

Stories about copper heiress Huguette Clark (1906–2011) have captivated the news media and public. Though she stayed out of the public eye in her later years, she was a talented artist who held exhibitions of her paintings in both New York and Paris as a young woman. Clark’s artwork is now on view to the public for the first time since 1931 at the Santa Barbara Historical Museum, presented in collaboration with the Bellosguardo Foundation. “Huguette Marcelle Clark: A Portrait of the Artist” is on exhibit through June 12, 2022. (Note: Huguette is pronounced hyoo-GETT.) Never before publicly seen images from Clark’s recently rediscovered personal photo album and ephemera from her scrapbooks are also displayed, giving glimpses of her at work in her art studio and from her private life at her Bellosguardo estate and elsewhere in Santa Barbara from the 1910s through the 1940s. For more information, visit www.sbhistorical.org. “We wanted to show the breadth of Huguette Clark’s talent,” said Dacia Harwood, director of the Santa Barbara Historical Museum. “She lived a fascinating life, and we’ve learned more about her time in our community while preparing this exhibition.” Clark has been the subject of extensive media coverage and several books, including New York Times bestselling “Empty Mansions: The Mysterious Life of Huguette Clark and the Spending of a Great American Fortune” by Bill Dedman. Clark painted throughout her time in Santa Barbara, first at Meridian Studios on East De la Guerra Street (located next to the current site of the Historical Museum) from 1933 to 1935 while the Bellosguardo estate was being built, and then in her studio in the estate. As a younger woman Clark evidenced a wide-ranging interest in the arts as a painter, musician, and collector of beauty: decorative and fine art, costumes, exquisitely fashioned dolls, and fine jewels. Trained by renowned portraitist Tadeusz (Tadé) Styka [pronounced Taa-DEY-uw-sh (Tejd) STY-ka], she built a deep body of work throughout her long life. The exhibition presents self-portraits, portraits, a still life, and images of a Japanese geisha, a ballerina, and a Spanish dancer, among others. Styka’s portrait of Clark is also on view. As the residual beneficiary of Clark’s estate, the Bellosguardo Foundation received an extensive collection of her paintings. Several of the works selected, all oils, were conserved in anticipation of the exhibition. The Foundation has also shared a selection of personal items from her photo albums and scrapbooks which illustrate her life from her childhood and early life in Santa Barbara. The 23-acre oceanfront estate Bellosguardo was redesigned and rebuilt after the 1925 earthquake by Anna Clark, widow of Senator William Andrews Clark, and then passed to Huguette. At one time, Senator Clark was the second richest man in America. Following her death in 2011 at age 104, the property was bequeathed to the Bellosguardo Foundation with the goal of transforming it into a focal point for art and culture in Santa Barbara and beyond. Visit www.bellosguardo.org. The Santa Barbara Historical Museum is located in downtown Santa Barbara at 136 East de la Guerra Street. Admission is free. Hours are currently Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. and Thursdays from noon to 7 p.m. Visit www.sbhistorical.org. The Museum’s mission is to create meaningful connections to Santa Barbara history. The signature installation, The Story of Santa Barbara, traces our community’s story from the Chumash to the mid 20th century. Accessible and diverse community programming along with rotating exhibitions feature dynamic local traditions, art, and historical events. Visitors also experience the Edward Borein Gallery, the Gledhill Research Library, and two historic adobes. Visit www.sbhistorical.org. Contact Details Julia McHugh +1 805-569-3303 julia@juliapr.com

May 04, 2022 10:00 AM Pacific Daylight Time

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GIFT IDEAS TO DELIGHT EVERY MOM IN YOUR LIFE

YourUpdateTV

A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/UxM5jvVZJQ4 Mother’s Day is one of the biggest retail holidays of the year and consumers are expected to spend more than $25 billion in 2022. A few of the most popular gifting trends include flowers, jewelry, and sweets. Although, spa visits, restaurant gift certificates, and electronics continue to see record levels of spending. Sunday, May 8 th is Mother’s Day, the perfect time to think about and celebrate the mothers and mother figures in your life. According to a recent survey, many moms are happy with a greeting card or a special experience with their family. In fact, staycations are another growing trend, whether visiting a local green space, movie theater, or museum, moms are asking for more quality time with loved ones. Braun-Silva has some of the best bets to make moms happy this Mother’s Day. SHOP & DELIVER: Braun-Silva says once you know this year’s top gifts, it’s important to know how to get them into your mom’s hands. The Lifestyle Expert recommends DoorDash, saying, “It has everything you need to treat mom this Mother’s Day, including those restaurant meals, groceries, baked goods, retail gifts, alcohol, and now—flowers.” This Mother’s Day, consumers are able to order mom a beautiful bouquet of flowers through DoorDash. The popular service has partnered with more than 4,000 local and national florists across the country for on-demand delivery. Braun-Silva explains, “The way I see it, this is the perfect way to send flowers to all the moms in your life—whether you want to schedule a delivery in advance, send a bouquet across the country, or have flowers delivered on-demand. DoorDash makes gifting so easy and convenient. For more information, go to DoorDash.com. Direct link: https://www.doordash.com/ Social media handles: @doordash NEVER GO OUT OF STYLE: Braun-Silva acknowledges that many moms sacrifice on beauty and style to focus their attention on their families. That’s why she wants to help women feel like the best version of themselves. She admits to knowing the feeling, “I’m the mom of two boys that bring me so much happiness. However, sometimes I want to get dressed up and do a day with my girls.” This Mother’s Day, she recommends finding cute and fashionable dresses for every woman on your list, adding, “Now that it’s getting warmer, I can’t wait to put on a dress. So, I turn to Kohl’s.” Whether you’re attending a brunch or want to give the gift of must-have staples to rotate throughout the season, she says Kohl’s exclusive Draper James RSVP, Simply Vera Vera Wang and Lauren Lane x Sonoma collections will have something for everyone. She points out that, “The florals look fantastic, and stripes and patterns are always a fun way for moms to express their personal style and taste in clothing.” The lifestyle expert highlights another trend, saturated colors, like Kelly green, hot pink, and tangerine. As Mother’s Day approaches, she says Kohl’s is here to make shopping a breeze for everyone, especially all the moms in your life. For more information, go to Kohls.com. Direct link: https://www.kohls.com Social media handles: Facebook Instagram TikTok Twitter Hashtag: #KohlsFinds HAIR WITH A FLARE: Another category Braun-Silva wants consumers to consider when gifting is Beauty. She says Mother’s Day is always about women feeling their best as they spend time with their loved ones, adding, “If we feel good on the inside, we want to show it on the outside.” She steps away from the obvious, skincare routines, and focuses on hair. The lifestyle expert says, “I may not be on a curly journey, but, a few of my girlfriends are—they have naturally curly hair. And, for curls that transform through heat, color, protective styling and more, the DevaCurl® CurlBond™ product line allows you to Live Your Curls without the fear of damage in just one wash.” One product she recommends, the DevaCurl CurlBond Mask, includes DevaCurl’s Patented CurlBond Complex, which is dermatologist co-developed, backed by science and stylist approved. It repairs broken bonds & recoils curls from the inside-out, helping curls to flex through heat, color, detangling, and everything in between with improved strength. The brand attracts conscious consumers and moms, because all the DevaCurl CurlBond products are formulated with everything curls love and nothing they don’t! They are vegan, cruelty-free, and made without SLS/SLES sulfates, silicones, parabens, and gluten. For more information, visit Devacurl.com. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

May 03, 2022 02:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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SPOTLIGHT SPORTS GROUP ANNOUNCES LONG-TERM STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP WITH PLAYMAKER CAPITAL INC. BRAND YARDBARKER

Spotlight Sports Group

Spotlight Sports Group assists Playmaker Capital Inc and Yardbarker in expanding market-leading content offering through the creation and provision of turnkey, always-on premium horseracing digital destination Spotlight Sports Group (SSG), a world-leading technology, content and media business specializing in sports betting and fantasy sports, has announced a long-term strategic partnership with Playmaker Capital Inc. (Playmaker) brand Yardbarker, a premier US sports and entertainment media platform which attracts more than 12 million user sessions per month. Spotlight Sports Group will provide a turnkey, always-on, premium horseracing destination on Yardbarker.com, featuring entries, results, content, tools, games, and coverage of all the largest US horseracing tracks. Spotlight Sports Group’s horseracing platform will provide coverage for Yardbarker customers throughout North America. Initially, the partnership includes significant coverage of the forthcoming Kentucky Oaks and the Kentucky Derby delivering: - Entries, results and charts for races leading up to the 2022 Kentucky Derby - Profiles of every horse scheduled to Run for the Roses, and horse-by-horse breakdowns with notes and quotes for the big races - Complete stats articles breaking down ten ways to play the big races and exclusive pick-6 analysis for both the big days In addition to the 2022 Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks content, the site will have coverage for all other US tracks throughout the year, including: - Entries, latest odds, results and charts for races at major US tracks - Feature horseracing articles for both casual and regular handicappers - Daily free bets and exclusive offers for the best places to play - Horseracing event guides for major track openings - AI-based automated horseracing generated content - Unique contests and games to make horseracing more fun “It could be argued that there is a perception that horseracing in America has been thought to be difficult to understand and consume,” commented Rick Wolf, SVP, Spotlight Sports Group. “Spotlight Sports Group’s decades of experience publishing premium horseracing content and actionable betting intelligence, coupled with Yardbarker’s reach to sports fans, gives us the unique opportunity to make horseracing digestible, understandable and continue to support its growth and popularity with all sports fans.” “Understanding that our audience loves all sports but was not engaged in horseracing created an opportunity to deliver a world-class experience and encourage our users to embrace an amazing sport,” added Yardbarker CEO Ben Maggin. “Yardbarker’s brand is the perfect place to ignite a renewed love of horseracing and create a place where fans can understand, embrace and enjoy one of the oldest sports in America. Spotlight Sports Group is the perfect partner to introduce horseracing to the Yardbarker audience and explode awareness across the sports landscape.” In addition to the creation and activation of sports betting content platforms for media, Spotlight Sports Group’s partner offerings include unique free-to-play games, betting intelligence and data, and automated entries, results and picks. For more information on Spotlight Sports Group partner offerings please visit: https://www.spotlightsportsgroup.com/en_us/. #### ABOUT SPOTLIGHT SPORTS GROUP Spotlight Sports Group (owned by Exponent Private Equity) is a world-leading technology, content and media business specializing in sports betting and fantasy sports. Evolved from the Racing Post Group, Spotlight Sports Group engages millions of people directly through Racing Post, Pickswise, Fantasy Alarm, Free Super Tips and myracing. The company also has decades of experience in powering growth and conversion for the world’s biggest sportsbooks and media companies, delivering best-in-class technology and expert scalable content experiences in more than 70 languages. ABOUT PLAYMAKER Playmaker Capital Inc. (TSX-V: PMKR; OTC: PMKRF) is a digital sports media company that lives at the intersection of sports, gambling, media and technology. Playmaker is building a premier collection of sports media brands, curated to deliver highly engaged audiences of sports fans to sports betting companies, leagues, teams and advertisers. ABOUT YARDBARKER Yardbarker is a digital media property focused on the publishing of sports and entertainment news and information. Founded in 2006, the property distributes content on its website, social media platforms, and via third-party syndication partners. In addition, Yardbarker curates and distributes 'The Morning Bark' and 'Quiz of the Day' email newsletters to more than 370K daily subscribers. MEDIA CONTACT Camilla Wright, Red Knot - E: camilla@redknotcomms.com ABOUT SPOTLIGHT SPORTS GROUP Spotlight Sports Group (owned by Exponent Private Equity) is a world-leading technology, content and media business specializing in sports betting and fantasy sports. Evolved from the Racing Post Group, Spotlight Sports Group engages millions of people directly through Racing Post, Pickswise, Fantasy Alarm, Free Super Tips and myracing. The company also has decades of experience in powering growth and conversion for the world’s biggest sportsbooks and media companies, delivering best-in-class technology and expert scalable content experiences in more than 70 languages. Contact Details Tom Webb +1 512-952-9369 tom@redknotcomms.com Company Website https://www.spotlightsportsgroup.com/en_us/

May 03, 2022 11:37 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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IAPC Awards 2022 Democracy Medal to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and The People of Ukraine

International Association of Political Consultants

The International Association of Political Consultants ( IAPC) announced today that it is awarding the prestigious 2022 Democracy Medal to the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy on behalf of the Ukrainian people. The citation notes that this award is “in recognition of their crucial fight for democracy against the violent attack on their country by the authoritarian aggression of the Russian government”. The medal is awarded annually by members of the IAPC, which is the global professional body representing election consultants, strategists, and pollsters. This is the second Democracy Medal being awarded to a President of Ukraine. The first was in 2005 to Viktor Yushchenko. IAPC President Matt Klink said the timing of the medal’s awarding had been brought forward from late 2022, at the organization’s annual conference, to show the strongest possible support for the valiant defence of Ukraine and of democratic values by President Zelenskyy and the people of Ukraine. “President Zelenskyy has rallied world attention to the brutal assault on a sovereign democratic nation with a popularly elected government by a dictatorship that is determined to strike at democracy itself,” Klink said. “Through appearances at the United Nations, the European Union, the U.S. Congress, the British, Canadian, Australian and other Parliaments, Zelenskyy has urged democratic countries to support Ukraine’s democratically elected government’s effort to defend itself.” “The world has had a savage reminder of why democracy is something we must protect and cherish. Without it, nations revert to the rule of the gun rather than the will of the people,” Klink added. IAPC Democracy Award Committee Chairperson, Feyi Akindoyeni said, “This is the second year in a row that the Medal has been awarded to those standing up to the Putin autocracy. Last year we recognised the Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny." “We hope through our award to draw attention to the heroism of Mr Zelenskyy and the millions of Ukrainian citizens who have mounted an extraordinary defence of their country and the principles of freedom and democracy,” Akindoyeni went on to say. Klink concluded by saying, “We join with all civilised nations in condemning the brute violence and illegality of the Russian state in prosecuting this unlawful and unprovoked invasion, noting this war is opposed by many Russian citizens. We condemn the alleged war crimes and urge their prosecution. We encourage further support by the global community of Ukraine’s stand against tyranny. We express our hope for a peaceful resolution that restores the sovereignty of Ukraine and respects its people’s right to live in a free and democratic country with a government of their own choosing.” Since 1982, IAPC has been a pioneer in awarding an organization or an individual who in the judgment of its membership has worked courageously to foster, promote and sustain the democratic process anywhere in the world through our Democracy Medal, the first international award of its kind. This is the 40th time since 1982 that the Medal has been awarded. Recipients have included individual politicians and leaders, political organizations, and political movements that have contributed to free elections through their leadership and commitment to democratic ideals. Past winners include Hong Kong Umbrella Movement founder Joshua Wong, the Women of Belarus, Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez, Polish Solidarity leader Lech Walesa, US Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton, Philippines President Corazon Aquino, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, and the Committee to Protect Journalists. Established in 1968, The International Association of Political Consultants is committed to fostering democracy and the democratic process throughout the world. Members span a variety of political backgrounds and activities fostering the growing and diverse profession of political consulting as well as the practical aspects of democratic elections. Contact Details IAPC President Matt Klink +1 310-283-6267 matt@klinkcampaigns.com IAPC Vice-President Communications Marcel Wieder +1 416-907-2126 marcel@aurorastrategy.com Company Website https://www.iapc.org

May 03, 2022 11:14 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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