Leadership Changes Mark the Next Step in Becoming Independent Operating Company

ALPHARETTA, Ga., Oct. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Kawneer Company, Inc. announced the appointment of Kate Anderson to Chief Executive Officer and Timothy Montz to Chief Financial Officer. The appointments are an important milestone in the Company's transition to an independent company under the continuing ownership of funds managed by Apollo (the "Apollo Funds"). The transition will occur over the next year and should be complete by 2027.

Anderson brings extensive leadership experience across commercial operations, customer engagement, and business transformation. Most recently, she served as Vice President of Sales and Sales Operations at Kawneer, where she led efforts to strengthen customer engagement, drive commercial transformation, and improve business performance across North America.

"This is our path forward and we are excited about the change," said Anderson. "As part of this transition, we will be investing in and upgrading to a fully independent operating system which will support a dedicated team to support our customers and long-term growth. Our focus remains on improving key metrics, investing in our manufacturing facilities and enhancing the customer experience."

Montz joins Kawneer's executive leadership team with more than two decades of experience leading finance organizations, driving business transformation, and supporting growth across large and complex enterprises. Most recently, he served as Senior Vice President, Finance & Accounting at Cox Communications.

"Supported by an experienced leadership team, I remain committed to the path we have established to deliver the products, service and innovation our customers come to expect from Kawneer," Anderson added. "The legacy, capabilities and expertise of Kawneer are unmatched in the industry and we are going to be relentlessly focused on ensuring the customer experience matches it. We are excited to build on our 120-year history and confident in our future."

About Kawneer

Kawneer is a leading manufacturer of architectural aluminum building systems and products for commercial construction. For more than a century, Kawneer has partnered with architects, glazing contractors, building owners, and developers to deliver innovative solutions that help shape the built environment across North America.

SOURCE Kawneer Company, Inc.

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Electric Era's Energy Management System Correctly Predicts All Five PJM 5CP Events, Mitigating Capacity Charges for EV Charging Stations

SEATTLE, Oct. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Electric Era launched the EV charging industry's first 5CP energy management program which correctly predicted all five PJM 5CP (coincident peak) events, saving their EV fast charging customers tens of thousands of dollars on capacity charges. Electric Era operates EV fast charging stations for retailers and charging networks across the United States. Three stations are in PJM territory and therefore operate under PJM's 5CP utility tariff methodology. These types of peak demand/capacity charge programs are expected to increase as rising energy demand increasingly strains the grid.

"We've seen time and again that demand charges and capacity charges single-handedly put an EV charging station's P&L underwater," said Quincy Lee, CEO and Founder of Electric Era. "Our team continues to build intelligence into how our system operates that reduces operating costs and increases station profitability. This is a great example of our commitment to making EV charging a profitable business for our customers."

Grid operators like PJM and ERCOT leverage coincident peak (CP) charges to retroactively allocate costs associated with system-wide peak demand intervals. In PJM, a site's average load during the summer's five highest demand hours sets its Peak Load Contribution (PLC), which determines its capacity charges for the following year. Importantly, PJM provides no advanced notice to operators — operators who are not able to anticipate these events and reduce grid draw lock in a year of elevated capacity costs from just a few hours of load.

Electric Era's patented battery-backed EV charging system intelligently and rapidly manages how the station draws power across sources (primarily the grid and battery) and then distributes that power to vehicles. Earlier this year, Electric Era built the energy management system (EMS) capability to predict and rapidly react to PJM's 5CP events, leveraging the battery to minimize grid demand from the EV charging site during the five 1-hour periods.

Based on preliminary data, this summer's peak events occurred on July 1, July 2, July 15, July 16, and September 1; each from 5-6pm EDT. Electric Era's EMS predicted with 97% confidence that these five coincident peak events would happen at these times, preconditioned the battery to be ready to deploy, and dynamically reduced the station's grid limit.

At one site, across the five coincident peak events, the station delivered an average of 72 kW to vehicles while only drawing 9 kW from the grid. With the site's PLC-based capacity rate of $16.28/kW/month, reducing the PLC by 63 kW saves about $12,000 annualized. Had the station demand spiked during that same hour, the savings could have been many times that amount.

Electric Era's tight coupling of hardware and software enables them to make operations a software problem. And with advanced software, like their ML algorithm to predict coincident peak events, they help customers effectively manage operating costs resulting in more profitable EV charging stations.

ABOUT ELECTRIC ERA

Electric Era delivers intelligent infrastructure solutions that unlock the biggest bottleneck to a dynamic, electrified, 21st century economy. Founded in 2020, the company provides vertically integrated systems combining advanced battery storage, intelligent software control, and rapid deployment expertise—with more than 30 deployments to date. The company is headquartered in Seattle, Washington. For more information, visit www.electricera.tech or follow on X, Instagram and LinkedIn.

SOURCE Electric Era

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Playboi Carti and Hiroshi Fujiwara & Fragment Design Lead Creative Direction as Artistic Directors

00pium Takes Over With Headlining Performances From Playboi Carti, Ken Carson, Destroy Lonely,ApolloRed1, HXG and F1lthy at Crypto.com Arena

More Than 300 Brands Spanning Over Half a Million Sq Feet of Exhibition Space, ThriftCon's Expansive Vintage Experience, Family Style Food Festival, Artist-Led Activations, ComplexCon(versations) and More Take Over the Los Angeles Convention Center

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- ComplexCon, the boundary-pushing festival and exhibition at the intersection of style, sneakers, music, art, food and innovation, will celebrate its 10-year anniversary October 3–4, 2026, making its Los Angeles debut with its most expansive edition yet, taking place across the Los Angeles Convention Center and Crypto.com Arena.

After a record-breaking two-year run in Las Vegas, which welcomed more than 70,000 attendees in 2025, ComplexCon arrives in Los Angeles for the first time in festival history, bringing together more than 300 of the most influential brands alongside global music talent, artists, designers, creators and restaurants for a weekend of exclusive product releases, immersive experiences, headlining music performances, live conversations and food.

At the center of the anniversary edition, Playboi Carti joins legendary streetwear pioneer Hiroshi Fujiwara & Fragment Design as Artistic Directors, guiding a creative vision spanning product, programming and experience. The weekend will also feature a full-scale 00pium takeover of the L.A. LIVE campus, anchored by two nights of performances at Crypto.com Arena: Ken Carson headlines Saturday, October 3 with HXG and ApolloRed1, followed by Playboi Carti closing out the festival on Sunday, October 4 alongside Destroy Lonely and F1lthy.

For a decade, ComplexCon has served as a global meeting point for the people, brands and ideas shaping what comes next. Dubbed "Streetwear Disneyland" by The New York Times, the festival has brought together pioneering creatives while serving as the launchpad for coveted collaborations and releases from the biggest global brands.

The 10-year anniversary builds on that history while expanding the ComplexCon experience across Los Angeles at an unprecedented scale.

PLAYBOI CARTI AND HIROSHI FUJIWARA LEAD COMPLEXCON 2026

For the first time, Playboi Carti will serve as a ComplexCon Artistic Director, extending his distinct creative universe beyond the stage and throughout the broader festival experience. Known for continually pushing the boundaries of music, fashion and performance, Carti's role reflects the increasingly fluid intersection of music, style and design that ComplexCon has championed since its inception.

He joins Hiroshi Fujiwara & Fragment Design, whose influence has helped define global streetwear for decades. Recognized worldwide as the "Godfather of the Streetwear Movement," Fujiwara emerged as a founding force of Tokyo's Ura-Harajuku scene and has since become one of the most influential figures across streetwear, sneakers, music, art and contemporary design.

Together, Carti and Fujiwara will shape the creative direction of ComplexCon 2026 across programming, product and experience, bringing together two distinct generations of creative influence for the festival's landmark anniversary.

As part of his Artistic Director role, Fujiwara will also debut a collection of exclusive collaborations spanning apparel, collectibles, wearables, food and more, with select products releasing for the first time at ComplexCon. Collaborations include Disney / Mickey Mouse, Pokémon, Los Angeles Dodgers, Weekend by Sequel, Rayban, Street Fighter, BRABUS and BE@RBRICK.

00PIUM TAKES OVER L.A. LIVE

For one weekend, 00pium will take over the L.A. LIVE campus with music, exclusive collaborations, artist-led environments and experiences culminating in two nights of performances at Crypto.com Arena.

On Saturday, October 3, Ken Carson will headline with performances from HXG and ApolloRed1. On Sunday, October 4, Playboi Carti will close ComplexCon with a headlining performance alongside Destroy Lonely and F1lthy.

The takeover will extend onto the ComplexCon show floor, where artist-led booths and immersive environments will give fans access to exclusive collaborations, first-to-market products, talent appearances and experiences built around some of today's leading artists and music communities.

Featured artist and music activations include Playboi Carti, Destroy Lonely, Ken Carson, HXG, F1lthy, ApolloRed1, Lil Yachty, Travis Barker, Young Thug, Quavo, North West, Westside Gunn, NBA YoungBoy, LISA's LLOUD, Wu-Tang, Interscope Records, Atlantic Records, Fat Beats, Def Jam and countless others.

MORE THAN 300 BRANDS DESCEND ON LOS ANGELES

The ComplexCon marketplace will bring together more than 300 brands and creative innovators across fashion, footwear, streetwear, music, design, art and collectibles for exclusive releases, limited-edition drops, collaborations and immersive installations.

The 2026 lineup includes Nike, Fear of God, Gallery Dept., Warren Lotus, Sp5der, Godspeed, VIVET, Body by Raven, The GV Gallery, Satoshi Nakamoto, I AM GIA, Happy Memories Don't Die, Billionaire Boys Club and Ice Cream, Jae Tips, New Era, Ray-Ban, Menace, HOMERUN, Avirex, BAPE, ZICMADE, Vandy the Pink, Protocol Index, Palm Angels, Vans, HELLSTAR, Victor Victor, Interscope, Babylon, Thug Club, Mitchell & Ness, Alice Hollywood, Timberland and many more.

COMPLEXCON(VERSATIONS) BRINGS LIVE DISCUSSIONS TO THE STAGE

ComplexCon(versations) returns with a weekend of live panel discussions featuring some of the most influential voices across music, fashion, sneakers and innovation. Throughout Saturday and Sunday, leading voices across music, fashion, entertainment and innovation will debate and discuss the people, products, moments and ideas that defined the year.

Saturday, October 3

LIVE "Sneaker Shopping" featuring Cody Rhodes

Complex's hit series Sneaker Shopping comes to the ComplexCon show floor for a special LIVE episode, as host Joe La Puma is joined by WWE Superstar Cody Rhodes to shop the festival's most coveted sneakers in real time. The pair will hit the show floor together, talking sneakers and personal style while browsing standout releases and hunting for Rhodes' next pair.

"Album of the Year: LIVE" featuring French Montana, DK Akademiks and Adam22

Each year, Complex's ranking of the best albums of the year sparks conversation and debate across music and culture. At ComplexCon, that conversation will unfold LIVE for the first time Complex's Jordan Rose, is joined by French Montana, DJ Akademiks and Adam22, to debate their picks, challenge each other's takes and break down the albums that mattered most this year.

"Streamer of the Year: LIVE" featuring Agent00, Ray and Yonna Jay

Hosted by Complex's Jordan Rose and featuring Agent00, Ray and Yonna Jay, the new live panel will bring together a who's-who of streamers to break down and debate their picks for the top streamers of the year, discussing the creators, moments and personalities that defined streaming in 2026. The debut of "Streamer of the Year: LIVE" comes as ComplexCon celebrates a decade of bringing the conversations shaping culture to the festival stage. Ten years after the first ComplexCon, streaming has emerged as one of the most influential forces in entertainment, with creators commanding massive audiences and increasingly shaping music, fashion, sports and pop culture.

A Live Conversation with Kai Cenat and Jerry Lorenzo

In a special ComplexCon(versations) event, Kai Cenat and Fear of God founder Jerry Lorenzo come together for a rare sit-down conversation exploring creativity, influence, entrepreneurship and the evolving intersection of fashion and culture, moderated by Complex Editor-in-Chief Aria Hughes. Fresh off the launch of his new clothing brand, Vivet, Cenat joins Lorenzo, one of the most influential designers of his generation, to discuss building brands, shaping communities and translating cultural influence into something lasting.

Sunday, October 4

Birkenstock Presents: Making Your Own Way with Cole Bennett

A special screening followed by a live conversation with Cole Bennett, music video director and founder of Lyrical Lemonade, and Complex Editor-in-Chief Aria Hughes.

"Sneaker of the Year" featuring Lil Yachty, Rich Paul and Shannon Sharpe

Complex's biggest annual sneaker debate returns to ComplexCon for its definitive live showdown. This year, Rich Paul, Lil Yachty and Shannon Sharpe take the stage to debate the year's most important releases, make the case for their favorites, and ultimately determine which pair earns the title of Sneaker of the Year 2026. Bringing together three distinct perspectives from across sports, music, business and culture, the panel breaks down Complex's Top 10 sneakers of 2026 — debating the releases, collaborations and cultural moments that shaped the year in footwear.

For the full ComplexCon(versations) line-up and schedule, visit: https://www.complexcon.com/lineup.

The Complex News hub will also broadcast live interviews from the convention show floor throughout the weekend in conjunction with Complex Bets powered by Fanatics Sports and Casino.

THRIFTCON LIVE AT COMPLEXCON BRINGS THE FESTIVAL'S LARGEST VINTAGE EXPERIENCE EVER

For the first time, ComplexCon will converge with ThriftCon, taking over an entire exhibition hall at the Los Angeles Convention Center to create the largest vintage experience in ComplexCon history.

Spanning more than 100,000 square feet, ThriftCon will bring together more than 100 carefully curated vintage dealers and collectors showcasing thousands of hand-selected pieces ranging from rare vintage apparel and archival streetwear to retro collectibles, watches, jewelry, sports memorabilia, accessories and home goods.

DURHAM, N.C., Oct. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Society of Automation (ISA) — the leading professional society for automation — announced that Agilicus has officially joined the ISA Global Cybersecurity Alliance (ISAGCA), demonstrating its commitment to advancing operational (OT) cybersecurity through ISA/IEC 62443 and helping secure critical infrastructure.

Created by ISA, the ISA Global Cybersecurity Alliance is a collaborative forum focused on strengthening OT cybersecurity through education, knowledge sharing and industry collaboration. Leveraging the ISA/IEC 62443 standards, ISAGCA works to expand cybersecurity expertise, openly share knowledge and resources and protect the OT cybersecurity worldwide community.

Agilicus' focus on zero trust and secure remote access aligns with key cybersecurity principles addressed within the ISA/IEC 62443 series, including identity and access management, least-privilege access, network segmentation, restricted data flows and secure access to industrial systems. Agilicus' technology enables organizations to provide authorized users with secure remote access to critical resources, including SCADA environments, while reducing reliance on traditional perimeter-based approaches.

Through ISAGCA membership, Agilicus will collaborate with global industry leaders to accelerate awareness, adoption and implementation of the ISA/IEC 62443 standards framework while continuing their business focus on organizational learning and using advanced technology to make security simple and accessible.

"This is an exciting milestone for the community," said Michelle Ritterskamp, ISAGCA program coordinator. "Agilicus brings deep experience in operational technology environment and a strong commitment to measurable, standards-based cybersecurity."

"Joining ISAGCA reflects our commitment to advancing OT cybersecurity," said Don Bowman, CEO and founder of Agilicus. "Our experience in protecting operational technology within critical infrastructure align perfectly with ISAGCA's mission. We look forward to bringing our subject-matter expertise to ISAGCA and its members, including zero trust, protecting against AI-powered cyber threats and fortifying critical infrastructure including in regulated areas such as NERC CIP."

About ISAGCA

The ISA Global Cybersecurity Alliance (ISAGCA) is a collaborative forum to advance OT cybersecurity awareness, education, readiness, standardization and knowledge sharing. ISAGCA's global ecosystem includes leaders such as Chevron, GSK, Trane Technologies, Honeywell, Johnson Controls, Schneider Electric, Trane Technologies, Rockwell Automation and Fortinet, among others. For more information, visit www.isagca.org.

About Agilicus

Agilicus' background focuses on organizational earning, bringing advanced technology to make security accessible. They provide cloud-native cybersecurity solutions designed to make secure access to critical systems simpler and more manageable. Through its AnyX Zero Trust Network Access platform, Agilicus enables organizations to securely connect authorized users to applications, desktops, file shares, databases and operational technology environments without traditional VPNs. The platform applies identity-based, least-privilege access controls while helping organizations reduce network exposure, limit lateral movement and maintain greater visibility into access to critical resources. For more information, visit www.agilicus.com.

About ISA

The International Society of Automation (ISA) is a non-profit professional association founded in 1945 to create a better world through automation. ISA's mission is to empower the global automation community through standards and knowledge sharing. ISA develops widely used global standards and conformity assessment programs; certifies professionals; provides education and training; publishes books and technical articles; hosts conferences and exhibits; and provides networking and career development programs for its members and customers around the world. Learn more at www.isa.org.

SOURCE The International Society of Automation

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Drawing on insights from her books Growth IQ and The Experience Mindset and her work advising some of the world's leading businesses, Bova's keynote, Future-Proof Your Business for Revenue Growth, addresses a question every Partner faces: how do you accelerate growth in an ever-shifting landscape of market expectations?

Tiffani will walk Partners through how to set themselves up for a win before the first client conversation, how they can make the right investments in processes and technology to accelerate pipeline velocity, and how to uncover the current market context to shape future strategies. Her session offers Partners a holistic framework for turning today's evolving landscape into top-line growth.

Those interested in joining this keynote session, led by one of the world's foremost authorities on growth, sales, and customer experience, can register and explore the agenda by clicking HERE!

The 2026 National Summit will feature 65+ Providers, educational sessions across Sales, Growth, and Tech tracks, Mainstage sessions, and countless opportunities to engage with a community focused on helping Partners grow their business.

PLEASE NOTE: Outside of Partners and soon-to-be Partners, only sponsoring Providers are allowed to attend this event. Those interested in participating as a sponsor can learn more by contacting the Sandler Partners team at [email protected].

About Tiffani Bova

Tiffani Bova has been ranked among the Top 50 Business Thinkers in the world by Thinkers50 for six years running, and Forbes says she "reshapes our perception of growth." Over a nearly 30-year career, she has helped lead the tech industry through several evolutions. As a Research Fellow at Gartner, she advised Microsoft, Cisco, AWS, and others through the shift from on-premise to as-a-service models. As an early Cloud pioneer, she took a new Fortune 500 division to $300 million in revenue in two and a half years. She was Salesforce's Growth and Innovation Evangelist. Today she runs the research and strategy organization at The Futurum Group and leads its work across the technology and telecom Channels. She is the author of two Wall Street Journal bestsellers, Growth IQ and The Experience Mindset, and hosts the podcast What's Next! with Tiffani Bova. For more information, visit https://www.tiffanibova.com/.

About Sandler Partners

Sandler Partners helps empower its network of leading independent Sales Partners to deliver a comprehensive range of technology solutions to organizations worldwide, including Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Connectivity, Cloud, Colocation, Mobility, Internet of Things (IoT), and Continuity. Its community-focused approach enables Partners to identify the right solutions for customers quickly and objectively from a diverse portfolio of 220+ Providers. Partner sales agents, VARs, and MSPs gain access to an innovative suite of sales tools within the Sandler Portal—including SCOUT, Solutions Finder, Scout for Solutions, and the Marketing Center—several of which are AI-powered, all backed by a robust support network, dedicated Sales Engineering expertise, and rich marketing resources. Together, these tools and resources empower Partners to focus on what they do best: delivering quality, value, performance, innovative solutions, unmatched expertise, and exceptional service to their clients. Members of the Sandler Partners community also benefit from the industry's strongest negotiated agreements and a dedicated team committed to ensuring commissions are accurately identified, tracked, and paid. For more information, visit www.sandlerpartners.com.

Sandler Partners – Media Contact

Tina S. Dyksterhouse

[email protected]

310-861-2295

SOURCE Sandler Partners

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AI Is Changing Workforce Planning, Yet Few Organizations Feel Fully Prepared

NEW YORK, Oct. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- CHRO confidence remained positive in Q3, but continued to edge down from its record high earlier this year. That's according to the latest survey of US chief human resource officers (CHROs) from The Conference Board.

The CHRO Confidence Index declined to 56 in Q3 from 58 in Q2. A reading above 50 reflects more positive than negative responses. The hiring component of the Index rose slightly, while the retention and engagement components declined.

The survey also reveals that AI is already changing workforce planning, even as many organizations remain early in preparing for its impact. More than 8 in 10 CHROs (82%) say their organization has changed its workforce-planning process because of AI, although half describe the change as only slight. Just 19% say anticipated AI effects have been incorporated into workforce and financial planning across the enterprise.

And while 55% of CHROs consider their organizations at least somewhat prepared to manage AI-driven workforce change over the next two years, only 4% say they are very prepared. The biggest barriers are difficulty predicting AI's workforce impact (41%), limited AI skills (39%), and an unclear AI strategy (31%).

"CHROs are still planning to hire, but the broader workforce picture is becoming more cautious," said Diana Scott, US Human Capital Center Leader, The Conference Board. "Organizations are balancing the need for talent with slower workforce growth and mounting concerns about engagement and retention. At the same time, AI is forcing leaders to rethink what skills they will need in the future and how they plan their workforces."

Hiring: Do HR leaders expect to hire more employees in the next six months?

The CHRO Confidence Index: Hiring component was 61 in Q3, up from 59 in Q2.

Hiring expectations remain positive.

- 53% expect hiring to increase over the next six months, compared with 17% who expect it to decrease.

- Those expectations were relatively stable from Q2, when 54% expected an increase and 17% expected a decrease.

Expectations for overall workforce size have cooled.

- 49% expect total workforce size to increase over the next six months, down from 55% in Q2.

- 28% expect workforce size to remain unchanged, up from 23%.

- 23% expect their workforce to decrease, essentially unchanged from 22% in Q2.

Retention: Do HR leaders expect employees to stay over the next six months?

The CHRO Confidence Index: Retention component declined slightly to 54 in Q3 from 55 in Q2.

Retention expectations softened.

- 33% of CHROs expect employee retention to increase, down from 36% in Q2.

- 22% expect retention to decrease, up from 19%.

- The gap between those expecting improvement and deterioration narrowed to 11 percentage points from 17 points in Q2.

Engagement: Were employees committed, motivated, and connected to their work and the organization over the past six months?

The CHRO Confidence Index: Engagement component fell to 55 in Q3 from 59 in Q2.

Employee engagement emerged as the clearest source of weakness this quarter.

- 44% report increased engagement, down slightly from 46% in Q2.

- 24% report decreased engagement, up notably from 16% in Q2.

AI and Workforce Planning: How is AI changing organizations' workforce planning?

Most are changing workforce planning because of AI, but for many, the changes remain limited.

- 50% of CHROs say their organization has made only a slight change to workforce planning.

- 25% report a moderate change, while only 7% report a significant change.

Organizations are analyzing AI's impact more often than changing how frequently they plan.

Among organizations that have changed their workforce planning process:

- 67% have analyzed AI's potential impact on jobs, tasks, or workforce demand.

- 67% have brought AI technologies or AI leaders into workforce planning discussions.

- 45% have incorporated new AI-related workforce, skills, or labor-market data.

- Just 21% have changed workforce planning schedules; 20% have increased the frequency of planning.

Enterprise-wide integration of AI into workforce planning remains limited.

- Enterprise-wide incorporation is 19% for both global and non-global organizations.

- Among global organizations, 32% have incorporated anticipated AI effects into workforce and financial planning for selected functions, roles, business units, or geographies.

- Among non-global organizations, 30% have done the same.

The biggest barriers to successful AI workforce planning are:

- 41%: Difficulty predicting AI's workforce impact.

- 39%: Limited AI skills among the current workforce.

- 31%: An unclear AI strategy.

- Financial resources, executive alignment, and workforce data are cited much less frequently as barriers.

Few organizations feel very prepared for AI-driven workforce change.

- 55% describe their organization as prepared to manage AI-driven workforce change over the next two years, but only 4% say they are very prepared.

- 27% say their organization is unprepared.

"AI is clearly becoming part of workforce planning, but most organizations are still working through what it means in practice," said Robin Erickson, PhD, Head of Human Capital Research, The Conference Board. "The biggest obstacles aren't simply budget or data. Organizations are uncertain about how AI will change work, the potential gaps in workforce skills, and, thus, the lack of a clear AI strategy. CHROs will need to connect the HR technology strategy much more closely with workforce and skills planning."

About The Conference Board

The Conference Board is the global, Member-driven think tank that delivers Trusted Insights for What's Ahead®. Founded in 1916, we are a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization.

TCB.org  l  Learn about Membership

SOURCE The Conference Board

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ioki has established its own US company and is building a local team • Market entry is the first concrete step of the international growth strategy • First ioki customer in the US: on-demand service for Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.

FRANKFURT, Germany, Oct. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- ioki, a European provider of software for the digitalization of public transit, is expanding into the United States. The Frankfurt-based company has won Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. as its first customer in the US. Starting in October, the university will use the ioki platform for its new on-demand shuttle service.

ioki has set out to advance individual public transit in the car-centric US market, combining mobility simulation with digital public transport solutions. As in Europe, ioki primarily addresses public transport authorities that want to automate their services and expand them on a financially sustainable basis. To this end, the company has established its own US subsidiary and is building a local team to offer its public transit products in the US market over the long term.

Dr. Michael Barillère-Scholz, co-founder and CEO of ioki, says: "The idea for ioki was born during a visit to the US. We were founded and grew in Germany, and today ioki is active across Europe. Now we are coming back and launching our first US project with Georgetown University. This step into a new market shows that our platform works outside Europe and adapts to different local mobility conditions. We see a clear opportunity to help cities and transit operators in the US make individual public transit more digital and, above all, more efficient."

Tobias Liebelt, CEO of BENTELER Mobility: "When BENTELER acquired ioki earlier this year, we named international growth potential as a central perspective. With the entry into the US market, we are now delivering on that promise. For us, ioki is a core building block of our strategy to support cities and operators in the economically viable integration of autonomous mobility."

Public transit in Europe and the US faces similar challenges

In the US, transit authorities and operators face the same questions as in Europe: How can a service remain economically viable when funding programs expire and cost pressure rises? This is where ioki's expertise in data-based transport planning and mobility simulation comes in, alongside its software platform for on-demand and fixed-route services. In more than 230 planning projects, ioki has analyzed and simulated billions of mobility patterns and trip distances, deriving efficiency potential in existing public transit networks. This expertise is as relevant in the US market as it is in Europe.

The Georgetown University project is expected to be followed shortly by further services running on the ioki Platform and by mobility concepts based on ioki Analytics.

The US public transit industry will have the opportunity to get to know ioki and its products for the first time at the APTA 2026 TRANSform & EXPO. The American Public Transportation Association's (APTA) flagship trade show takes place October 4 to 7 in Chicago. HOLON and BENTELER Mobility will also be on site.

About ioki

ioki is Europe's leading technology company for digital mobility and the market leader for on-demand transport in the DACH region. With more than 230 projects, we are among the pioneers in data-driven transport planning and operations simulation. With our holistic solutions, we digitalize public transport and drive the sustainable mobility transition forward – together with our partners from cities, municipalities, and public transport operators.

SOURCE ioki

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Acquisition expands Rightfiber's Nebraska footprint, bringing enhanced fiber connectivity, local service, and continued investment to additional communities across the state.

BLAIR, Neb., Oct. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Rightfiber, formerly Great Plains Communications, and a Grain Management portfolio company, today announced the completion of its previously announced acquisition of the American Broadband Holding Company, dba Fastwyre Broadband, business in Nebraska.

The acquisition builds on the momentum of the recent merger of Great Plains Communications and Ritter Communications to form Rightfiber, further expanding the company's footprint across Nebraska and beyond.

Former Fastwyre customers in Nebraska are now part of Rightfiber, one of the nation's largest independent fiber broadband providers, serving customers across 20 states with more than 28,000 route miles of fiber, enabling over 300,000 Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) passings.

"We're excited to welcome Fastwyre's Nebraska customers and employees to Rightfiber," said Heath Simpson, Chief Executive Officer of Rightfiber. "We look forward to serving these communities with reliable connectivity, responsive local support and the customer-first experience that define Rightfiber. Our focus is on making this transition as seamless as possible."

With the acquisition complete, Rightfiber has begun integrating Fastwyre's Nebraska operations. Customers will receive ongoing communications throughout the transition, including information about products, services, billing and future enhancements.

"Nebraska has been an important part of our story for more than 115 years, and completing this acquisition reinforces our long-term commitment to the communities we serve across the state," said Todd Foje, Executive Chairman of Rightfiber. "We're excited to build on that legacy by strengthening our relationships across Nebraska and continuing to support the people, businesses and communities that have been the foundation of our success for generations."

The acquisition includes Fastwyre's Nebraska operations serving the communities of Arlington, Bassett, Belden, Bellevue, Blair, Carroll, Emerson, Fort Calhoun, Fremont, Herman, Homer, Kennard, Laurel, Lyons, Macy, Meadow Grove, Newport, Oakland, Osmond, Pender, Rosalie, Tekamah, Thurston, Walthill, Wayne and Winnebago.

About Grain Management 

Founded in 2007, Grain Management is a leading global investment firm. We believe broadband and digital infrastructure are foundational to the tech-enabled transformation occurring across all industries and facets of society. Our global team of seasoned and diverse professionals share a collective passion for the power of connectivity to strengthen communities and unlock human potential for all.

We specialize in digital infrastructure and are a trusted solutions provider to the broadband and communications industry. Our unique combination of sector knowledge, experience as operators and disciplined analytical approach guide our differentiated investment strategy across fiber networks, data centers, wireless spectrum, cell towers, as well as managed and infrastructure services. For more information, visit graingp.com.

About Rightfiber

Rightfiber is a U.S. telecommunications and broadband provider delivering world-class fiber internet, video, data center and wholesale communications services to residential, business and carrier customers. Built for what's next, Rightfiber serves more than 400 communities across 20 states through an expanding national fiber network. Formed in 2026 through the combination of Ritter Communications and Great Plains Communications, Rightfiber brings together a combined 200-year legacy of telecommunications experience and a shared commitment to doing right by employees, customers and the communities it serves. Learn more at Rightfiber.com.

SOURCE Rightfiber

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Metallium Continues to Advance Production Capabilities of Multi-Unit FJH Chlorination

Completes 12-Hour Multi-Unit Campaign Using High-Value PGM-bearing Catalytic Converter Feedstock to Demonstrate Controlled Multi-Unit Operation under High-temperature Reactive Chlorination Conditions

HOUSTON, Oct. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Metallium Limited (ASX: MTM; OTCQX: MTMCF; OTCQX ADR (MTLMY) announced it continues to prove its technology with the successful completion of its third-quarter 2026 multi-unit Flash Joule Heating (FJH) operations campaign at the Company's Texas Technology Campus.

This campaign involved three FJH reactors operating with chlorine and PGM-bearing catalytic converter material, marking an important progression from the Company's earlier multi-unit inert commissioning campaign into reactive processing. Additional details can be found here: https://asx.api.cmfyapp.com/asx-research/1.0/file/2924-03142870-6A1347079&v=undefined.

The campaign followed an earlier demonstration of three FJH reactors operating simultaneously for a sustained period of 12 hours. "This completed activity has taken the next step from simply a same multi-unit operating capacity to one that is significantly more commercially relevant for the company," said Michael Walshe, Managing Director and CEO of Metallium. He noted that this campaign was designed to generate operating and metallurgical data required to better understand the thermochemical behavior of the feedstock within the reactors and how key process variables interact under chlorination conditions.

"It is exactly how we need to develop the platform as we move toward commercialization, which we anticipate will begin sometime in the first half of 2017 as the company begins to produce saleable metal-bearing products, including metal chlorides and other intermediate forms, prior to a full-scale commercial launch next year," Walshe noted.

Metallium (https://www.metalliuminc.com) is developing and commercializing Flash Joule Heating (FJH) technology to recover critical and precious metals from mineral concentrates and selected waste streams. Through its wholly owned subsidiary, Flash Metals USA Inc., the company operates the Gator Point Technology Campus in Texas, supporting technology development, customer testwork, commercial technology services and the staged deployment of metal-processing operations.

SOURCE Metallium Ltd.

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One-Day Event Offers Exclusive Founding Rates and Member Perks

PHOENIX, Oct. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwest Fitness Holdings LLC, a subsidiary of leading Crunch Fitness franchise group CR Fitness Holdings, is proud to announce a special one-day only Cyber Sale for its newest location, Crunch Arcadia, happening Saturday October 3rd. This brand-new, $5 million, 36,500-square-foot state-of-the-art fitness center is located at 4533 E Thomas Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85018. In addition to standard hours, once open, the club will be offering 24 hours of access, 5 days a week.

For one-day only on October 3rd, visit CrunchArcadia.com for exclusive online-only membership deals. Memberships will start at just $9.99 per month with $0 enrollment fees, plus additional limited-time savings. The first 500 members to join will receive exclusive perks including a free limited-edition t-shirt, discounts on personal and small group training, and more!

Crunch Arcadia will also host an in-person Cyber Sale Party that same day, featuring tours, giveaways, and fitness experiences for the community from 9am to 5pm.

As a brand-new 3.0 location with a sleek, modern design, Crunch Arcadia will deliver a complete, high-end fitness experience focused on quality service and inclusivity. The 36,500-square-foot facility will feature top-of-the-line cardio and strength equipment, Olympic squat racks, an Abs & Glutes area, Ride Cycle studio, and a dedicated performance turf area. Members can take advantage of a full group fitness studio, a hot studio for yoga and Pilates, and high-energy boxing classes, along with the innovative HIITZone™ for heart-pumping interval training. Premium recovery and relaxation amenities include dry saunas, HydroMassage®, and tanning, creating a well-rounded fitness destination that supports performance, recovery, and total wellness.

Whether you're new to fitness or a seasoned athlete, Crunch Arcadia is designed to support a wide range of fitness goals in a motivating, welcoming, and community-driven environment.

"Launching our Arcadia location is an exciting first step in our new expansion into the Phoenix market," said Tony Scrimale, CEO of CR Fitness Holdings. "Our mission is to provide a fun, high-value, and unparalleled Crunch Fitness experience. With premium amenities, top-tier equipment, and dynamic group fitness programming all under one roof, Crunch Arcadia will bring something special to the community."

The new club opening is expected to create more than 70 local jobs across personal training, group fitness, sales, operations, member services, and club leadership.

For more information or to secure Cyber Sale pricing, visit CrunchArcadia.com on October 3rd.

About Southwest Fitness Holdings, LLC

Southwest Fitness Holdings LLC, a subsidiary of CR Fitness Holdings, currently operates 14 Crunch gyms in the Dallas-Fort Worth area (as well as 5 coming soon to Arizona) - and is on track to operate nearly 20 total in Texas by the end of 2026. Its parent company, CR Fitness Holdings, is a leading Crunch Fitness franchise group that currently serves over one million members across 99 Crunch Fitness locations.

CONTACT: [email protected]

SOURCE CR Fitness Holdings, LLC.

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