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U.S. Waterproofing Expands Geographic Footprint to Southeast U.S. Via Acquisition of Crawl Space Brothers

Rotunda Capital Partners LLC

U.S. Waterproofing, a Rotunda Capital Partners portfolio company, has acquired Crawl Space Brothers, one of the Southeast’s premier providers of residential crawl space encapsulation, repair, and basement waterproofing services. The acquisition of Crawl Space Brothers marks the first acquisition completed by U.S. Waterproofing since partnering with Rotunda in November 2022. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Crawl Space Brothers will expand U.S. Waterproofing’s geographic footprint to the Southeastern U.S. Through years of successful greenfield expansion, Crawl Space Brothers has grown its service area throughout six markets and multiple locations, including North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Maryland, Virginia, and Washington D.C. Crawl Space Brothers will continue to pursue new market growth in partnership with U.S. Waterproofing. The acquisition by U.S. Waterproofing will also enable Crawl Space Brothers to expand its residential waterproofing and foundation repair offerings to more comprehensively serve its customers. U.S. Waterproofing’s best-in-class marketing, sales training and installation expertise will further strengthen Crawl Space Brothers’ value-proposition and service capabilities. Collectively, U.S. Waterproofing and Crawl Space Brothers will pursue additional complementary acquisitions throughout the U.S. Crawl Space Brothers is led by David Dygowski, Aaron Caddel, and Jacob Broussard who will each continue in their existing roles post-transaction. “We are excited to partner with David, Aaron, Jacob and the entire Crawl Space Brothers team,” said U.S. Waterproofing CEO Matt Stock. “With this acquisition, U.S. Waterproofing expands beyond its core Chicagoland market. We are prepared to leverage U.S. Waterproofing’s substantial infrastructure and marketing expertise to expand upon the customer-centric culture that has made Crawl Space Brothers so successful. The acquisition of Crawl Space Brothers is just the beginning of growing our geographic footprint and solution capabilities through complementary acquisitions nationally.” “We are thrilled to join the U.S. Waterproofing team and have been impressed with their 50+ year legacy of success, growth trajectory and our shared core values centered around our collective employees and providing exceptional solutions for our customers,” said David Dygowski of Crawl Space Brothers. “The entire Crawl Space Brothers team looks forward to collaborating with U.S. Waterproofing to build one of the largest residential services platforms in the U.S.” About U.S. Waterproofing Founded in 1957, U.S. Waterproofing is a leading provider of basement waterproofing and foundation repair services, improving the value, health, and longevity of homes. The Company has helped more than 500,000 customers throughout Chicagoland, Northwest Indiana and Southeast Wisconsin enjoy a dry basement and stable foundation. Fueled by their market leading reputation, U.S. Waterproofing’s services include crawl space encapsulation, concrete raising, sump pump installation, window well solutions, gutter cleaning and humidity control. U.S. Waterproofing is A+ rated by the Better Business Bureau. For more information, visit www.uswaterproofing.com. U.S. Waterproofing is seeking to acquire other basement waterproofing and foundation repair service providers and is interested in acquisition opportunities presented by business owners, management, or M&A intermediaries. Please contact Margaux Georgiadis, Head of Business Development at Rotunda Capital Partners for more information. About Crawl Space Brothers Headquartered in Charlotte, with operations throughout North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Maryland, Virginia, and Washington D.C, Crawl Space Brothers is a leading residential crawl space encapsulation and waterproofing services company. Crawl Space Brothers wins on high-quality customer service and a comprehensive service offering. For more information, visit www.crawlspacebrothers.com. About Rotunda Capital Partners Rotunda Capital Partners is an operationally oriented private equity firm focused on transforming family-founder owned companies into dynamic, data-driven platforms able to achieve and manage significant growth. Since its founding in 2009, Rotunda has partnered with management teams to build great businesses within three primary sectors: value-added distribution, asset-light logistics and industrial & business services. Rotunda strives to achieve replicable results by implementing its Rotunda Performance System to create strategic alignment, develop lean processes and create robust, data-driven infrastructures. For more information, visit www.rotundacapital.com. Contact Details Rotunda Capital Partners Jill Lafferty +1 847-280-1295 jill@rotundacapital.com Company Website https://www.rotundacapital.com

April 25, 2023 07:49 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Accesso Technology Group has "so much opportunity ahead" after acquisition

Accesso Technology Group PLC

Accesso Technology Group PLC (AIM:ACSO, OTC:LOQPF) (AIM:ACSO, OTC:LOQPF) CEO Steve Brown speaks to Proactive after announcing the acquisition of Paradocs Mountain Software, a Canada-based ski software solutions provider. Brown said that the acquisition is representative of the kind of deal he hopes to continues making, highlighting that Accesso will carefully consider any opportunities that present themselves. He adds that there is "so much opportunity ahead" following the announcement. Contact Details Proactive UK Ltd +44 20 7989 0813 uk@proactiveinvestors.com

April 25, 2023 06:19 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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New Ally survey reveals “Bucket Lists” and affordability top-of-mind for Americans

YourUpdateTV

On this National Bucket List Day, a new survey from Ally Financial (NYSE: ALLY) reveals that even amid high-inflation and lending rates, nearly 90% of Americans are still dreaming big with their bucket lists – with many looking forward to everything from trips to Fiji to purchasing their dream home. However, more than one-third of people with a bucket list haven’t crossed off a single goal in the last 12 months, and nearly 75% say finances are what’s holding them back. Helping make those “bucket list” goals and experiences achievable for more Americans, Ally Bank has launched a new money management tool that is designed to enhance and complement the benefits of its most popular tool, Savings buckets. Spending buckets help people set and stick to a budget, add more to their savings and get to their bucket lists even faster. “We see our customers, who have created millions of Savings buckets, are much more successful ticking off their bucket list items and they accomplish them two times faster,” said Anand Talwar, Head of Deposits & Invest at Ally. “It has been incredible to hear stories from customers who have been able to experience a bucket list moment, like going to their first Beyonce concert, with the help of a Savings bucket. We believe Spending buckets are a great addition to these tools, which are all designed to help people worry less, save more and reach their goals sooner.” Like digital envelopes, Spending buckets allow customers to automatically set money aside for recurring bills and common expenses – such as rent and groceries – and track their spending across customized categories in real-time. While similar to Savings buckets as far as functionality, Spending buckets are designed to manage money within Ally Bank’s Interest Checking Account, such as monthly and recurring expenses. The digital bank will continue to enhance Spending buckets based on customer feedback. “Spending buckets take the guesswork out of budgeting so consumers can be confident that an unplanned expense, or impulse splurge, will not impact their ability to pay the bills or add to their savings,” said Talwar. “Similar to our Savings buckets, Spending buckets are designed to motivate real behavior change. They give you a clearer picture of your spending habits – and an opportunity to create better ones, helping you afford what matters most to you in life.” The Ally survey found that pen and paper are still the primary budgeting tools for Americans. Yet almost a quarter of those surveyed say that even with a budget, they have trouble tracking and estimating their household’s monthly spending. Being able to visualize money goals and automate money management were cited as being the most helpful features a budgeting tool could have. Additional survey findings include: Travel reigns supreme on consumers’ bucket lists ● Traveling to a specific destination is on 85% of consumer bucket lists – with Italy, the United Kingdom, and Australia coming in as the top three international destinations. ● One in five say a spot in the US is the top destination on their bucket list, with nearly a third (32%) of Gen Zers saying so. ● The top international destination varies by age. Gen Xers chose Australia, while millennials and Gen Zers went with European destinations, choosing the United Kingdom and France, respectively. Gen Zers lead the bucket list game with the most items on their bucket lists ● Beyond travel, Americans also crave quality time with loved ones (58%), financial stability (50%), and want to learn new skills or hobbies (49%). ● Nearly one in four (23%) Americans dream of leaving their day jobs to pursue their passions. ● Gen Zers have hefty goals, with over seven items on their bucket lists on average - significantly more than their older counterparts. ● Out-of-the-box bucket list goals were accounted for, too: buying a luxury car and getting a tattoo (25%), skydiving (22%) and overcoming fear of heights (20%). Nearly 90% of US adults have a bucket list, but money and time are top obstacles ● 50% of adults cite finances as the ultimate hurdle to crossing off bucket list goals, with 75% ranking it among their top three barriers. Lack of time is another key barrier. ● Gen Xers are especially likely to say finances are the number one barrier (61%). ● Sticking to a budget is the top hurdle for both budgeters and non-budgeters, with 31% of non-budgeters citing it as the reason they don’t have one. ● While 81% of consumers are confident in their budgeting skills, half report feeling stressed when they go over budget. ● Gen Zers (38%) and Millennials (52%) are especially likely to struggle sticking to their budget. ● One in 10 of Gen Zers have no idea how much they spend monthly. You can learn more about Ally Bank’s Savings and Spending buckets at www.ally.com/bucketlist. Savings Buckets are a feature of Ally Bank’s Savings Account. Spending Buckets are a feature of Ally Bank’s Interest Checking Account. Ally Bank, Member FDIC. This online survey was conducted by CITE Research on behalf of Ally Financial between March 21 and 31, 2023, among 1,000 U.S. adults. About Ally Financial Ally Financial Inc. (NYSE: ALLY) is a financial services company with the nation’s largest all- digital bank and an industry-leading auto financing business, driven by a mission to “Do It Right” and be a relentless ally for customers and communities. The company serves more than 11 million customers through a full range of online banking services (including deposits, mortgage, point-of-sale personal lending, and credit card products) and securities brokerage and investment advisory services. The company also includes a robust corporate finance business that offers capital for equity sponsors and middle-market companies, as well as auto financing and insurance offerings. For more information, please visit www.ally.com and follow @allyfinancial. For more information and disclosures about Ally, visit https://www.ally.com/#disclosures. For further images and news on Ally, please visit http://media.ally.com. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

April 24, 2023 03:47 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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yourDigitalLab Announces Inaugural Digital Growth Summit Featuring Celebrated Economist & Retirement Guru Tom Hegna

AmeriLife

yourDigitalLab (YDL) – a nationally recognized digital marketing agency specifically servicing wealth advisors, insurance agents and independent marketing organizations (IMOs) – announced today the agenda for its highly anticipated Digital Growth Summit. Its focus: charting the course to navigate the complex digital marketing ecosystem. The summit is taking place virtually on Wednesday, July 26, and will feature a special guest appearance by noted economist, author and retirement expert Tom Hegna, who will also help introduce YDL’s newest digital marketing offerings for wealth advisors, all with one goal in mind: helping attendees drive real growth. “YDL is excited to host our first virtual summit showcasing how the various digital channels can be used by agents and advisors to strengthen their current sales strategies and introduce new tactics to grow their book of business” said JoAnna Barker, head of strategy and business development for yourDigitalLab. “This summit is for every agent and advisor in the life, health, annuities and financial services space who is interested in dominating their results from the previous year.” “I’m really excited about what yourDigitalLab is doing with its digital offerings, especially to help agents sell a broader suite of products such as annuities,” added Hegna. “One of the biggest reasons they often don’t is a lack of confidence and understanding of the products. Together with yourDigitalLab, I look forward to helping them fix that. We’ll show them the ‘math and science’ behind the selling and how adding these products – supported by the right digital marketing strategies – can increase their clients’ success in retirement.” Over the course of the day, attendees will have access to a variety of educational and thought-provoking sessions that will leave them with practical knowledge and a greater understand of the digital landscape that they must navigate today. Sessions will include: Tom Hegna on “10 Ways to Stand Out in 2023” Building Your Personal Brand Bringing Your Brand to Life – Website, Podcast and Radio, and More All About Email Marketing Driving Leads with Social and Video Launched in January 2023, yourDigitalLab has been at the forefront of digital marketing for the modern health and wealth agent and advisor, offering bespoke and pre-packaged services designed to drive more qualified leads and elevate its clients’ online brand presence. A full-service agency – created in partnership with AmeriLife for its national distribution network of more than 70 companies and their agents and advisors – YDL is a one-of-kind solution that combines deep expertise in modern marketing practices with extensive knowledge of the Medicare and wealth business, recruitment and regulatory landscape. “The Digital Growth Summit is an incredible opportunity to bring together Tom’s expertise and prestige in the retirement space with the proven capabilities of a premier agency such as yourDigitalLab,” said Ovi Vitas, Chief Marketing Officer for AmeriLife. “This event will undoubtedly be a gamechanger for attendees and help further cement AmeriLife and its family of companies as the partner of choice for agents and advisors nationwide.” To register for the Digital Growth Summit, click here. ### About yourDigitalLab yourDigitalLab (YDL) is a leading full-service digital marketing agency that was created exclusively for insurance agents and financial advisors with a focus on speed, cost and quality. For five years, YDL have been working to optimize various marketing campaigns designed to deliver the results agents and advisors want. YDL is the trusted choice for agents and advisors looking to drive sales and leads with modern, proven online marketing strategies. For more information about YDL or to schedule a consultation, visit yourDigitalLab.com. About AmeriLife AmeriLife’s strength is its mission: to provide insurance and retirement solutions to help people live longer, healthier lives. In doing so, AmeriLife has become recognized as the leader in developing, marketing, and distributing life and health insurance, annuities and retirement planning solutions to enhance the lives of pre-retirees and retirees across the United States. For more than 50 years, AmeriLife has partnered with top insurance carriers to provide value and quality to customers served through a distribution network of over 300,000 insurance agents and advisors and 120 marketing organizations and insurance agency locations nationwide. For more information, visit AmeriLife.com, and follow AmeriLife on Facebook and LinkedIn. Contact Details Media Jeff Maldonado +1 321-297-1112 jmaldonado@amerilife.com Partnership Inquiries Patrick Nichols +1 727-726-0726 pnichols@amerilife.com Company Website https://amerilife.com/

April 24, 2023 01:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Shareholder to Urge Warren Buffett to Relinquish Some Power at Berkshire Hathaway Annual Meeting

National Legal & Policy Center

Ahead of the annual meeting for Berkshire Hathaway Inc. on May 6 in Omaha, National Legal and Policy Center is sponsoring a shareholder proposal and will again call for a separation of powers between the Chairman and CEO – with both roles presently held by legendary nonagenarian investor Warren Buffett – to proceed on what the company says is inevitable, and to smooth the oncoming leadership transition. NLPC presented a similar proposal at last year’s meeting, where the organization’s Chairman, Peter Flaherty, said in a speech that since Mr. Buffett is “the face of capitalism, why don’t you do something to save it?” Flaherty will again present this year’s proposal, and plans to address the company’s flawed reasoning for delaying the preordained outcome. NLPC filed a proxy memorandum with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Friday, which explains why the transition from Mr. Buffett’s concentrated leadership and power should start now instead of waiting until he leaves. The Berkshire Hathaway board of directors oppose NLPC’s proposal in the company’s proxy statement, but state that “once Mr. Buffett is no longer Berkshire’s CEO, a non-management director should be named Board Chair.” “Warren Buffett turns 93 this year and his top advisor, Charlie Munger, is 99 years old,” said Flaherty. “We are not ageists, but Berkshire Hathaway has already designated who the next CEO and likely Chairman will be, so what are they waiting for?” Berkshire Hathaway has identified Gregory Abel, Chairman and CEO of subsidiary Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company, as Mr. Buffett’s future successor as CEO. NLPC argues in its report to the SEC that the company’s identity is inextricably linked with Mr. Buffett’s, and if there is not an immediate transition or “handoff” to the next generation of leadership, it will only be more difficult for Berkshire Hathaway to shift from its personality-driven image to a performance-based one. Also, NLPC calls into question Mr. Buffett’s reticence to provide guidance to CEOs of companies in Berkshire Hathaway’s portfolio, such as American Express, Apple, and Coca-Cola. All three companies have suffered a backlash over their involvement in divisive political issues, a practice the celebrated investor has warned against in the past. NLPC argues that Mr. Buffett’s influence could improve the performance of the companies owned by Berkshire Hathaway. “Warren Buffett clearly still has his mental faculties and his acumen,” Flaherty added, “but Berkshire Hathaway’s loyal investors need to see how the succession plan will work for the long-term interests of the company. He has been different from every other Chairman and CEO in history, he needs to recognize that, and he should give his successor Greg Abel a running start for the future.” Founded in 1991, NLPC promotes ethics in public life and government accountability through research, investigation, education, and legal action. ### For more information or to schedule an interview with Paul Chesser, contact Dan Rene at 202-329-8357 or drene@nlpc.org. Please visit http://www.nlpc.org. Contact Details National Legal and Policy Center Dan Rene +1 202-329-8357 drene@nlpc.org Company Website http://www.nlpc.org

April 24, 2023 12:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Keep Your Little Ones Happy & Healthy This Spring

YourUpdateTV

Having a picky eater can be increasingly frustrating and lead to feelings of guilt for many parents who are already experiencing immense pressure to ensure their kids are getting the right nutrients at mealtime.. Recently, SmartyPants Vitamins’ CEO, Brenda Demers, participated in a satellite media tour campaign to share insights on how to manage kids at mealtime and the role that multivitamins play in getting necessary nutrients. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/LGOB_yq8N9E For many parents, making sure their family gets the nutrients they need to stay healthy can be a constant struggle - especially if there are picky eaters in the house! Not to mention, with the vitamin market being as crowded as it is, knowing where to dig in can be daunting at times. Top it all off with trying to find a brand that also provides options that support the whole family, and you might be left paralyzed by indecision. As the best vitamin brand for parents of picky eaters, SmartyPants is industry-leading in the comprehensiveness of its formulations, transparency, and efficacy - with 30+ Clean Label Project® certified products that are non-GMO and contain zero synthetic colors. For its most innovative launch to-date, SmartyPants Vitamins announced new SmartyPants Sugar Free Multi & Omegas gummy multivitamins in Kids, Women’s, and Prenatal formats. Unlike other sugar free gummy multivitamins, SmartyPants’ new Sugar Free Multi & Omegas don’t use sugar alcohols. All SmartyPants products are non-GMO and third-party lab tested for purity, potency and safety. More information on the new products can be found below: ● SmartyPants Sugar Free Kids Multi & Omegas is a sugar free premium all-in-one multi and omega-3 for children's developmental years*. It is thoughtfully formulated with 16 nutrients in delicious sugar free strawberry banana-flavored gummies.* ○ SmartyPants Kids Sleep is also now available as a sugar free supplement with melatonin, that helps your children fall asleep and stay asleep for longer, in just 1 gummy.* It is formulated for children 4 years and older. ● SmartyPants Sugar Free Women’s Multi & Omegas is a sugar free premium all-in-one multi and omega-3 for daily nutrition support*. It is thoughtfully formulated with 19 nutrients in delicious sugar-free orange-flavored gummies.* ● SmartyPants Sugar Free Prenatal Multi & Omegas is a sugar free premium all-in-one multi and omega-3 to support the health of mom and baby*. It is thoughtfully formulated with 19 nutrients in delicious sugar free lemon-flavored gummies.* SmartyPants Sugar Free Multi & Omegas come as an additional option for daily nutrition support alongside the brand’s portfolio of delicious gummies for every life stage and dietary need – including organic and vegetarian options – to products that target functional needs such as immunity, sleep, and more. SmartyPants’ Sugar Free line is now available on Amazon and will be available on Target.com and in select Target locations. For more information about SmartyPants visit smartypantsvitamins.com ------------------------------------------------------ *These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. BIO Brenda Demers is the CEO of SmartyPants Vitamins, where she most recently led SmartyPants' integration into Unilever's Health & Wellbeing collective. Prior to joining SmartyPants, Brenda spent more than 23 years leading businesses across the Beauty, Personal Care, Food, OTC Pharmaceuticals, and Vitamins, Minerals & Supplements categories globally. Brenda, her husband, and their children currently live in Los Angeles, where they are avid sports fans and enjoy spending weekends exploring the beauty of their new home. ABOUT SMARTYPANTS VITAMINS Founded in 2011, SmartyPants Vitamins is a purpose-led supplement brand on a mission to simplify health for families without sacrificing quality. As the best vitamin brand for kids, SmartyPants supplements are formulated with premium nutrients and high-quality ingredients—and a delicious taste and texture that appeals to picky eaters. All SmartyPants supplements are third-party lab tested for purity, potency and safety. From its inception, SmartyPants has generated life-changing nutrient donations for women and children in the U.S. and globally via the brand’s partnership with Vitamin Angels. To learn more, visit smartypantsvitamins.com or check out @smartypants on Instagram. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

April 21, 2023 09:20 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Freelance Creative Jobs Thrive Despite AI Surge

FREELANCER.COM

New data released today by Freelancer.com (ASX: FLN) (OTCQX: FLNCF), the world’s largest freelancing marketplace by number of users and jobs posted, shows an incoming startup boom amongst an unprecedented surge in freelance creative design and AI job growth. The Fast 50 Q1 2023 Index, the world’s largest forward indicator of freelance job trends, analyzes over 304,000 jobs posted to Freelancer.com between January and March 2023. The index finds that jobs for T-Shirt Design (up 33.1%, from 1,403 to 1,868), Covers & Packaging Design (up 27.3%, from 1,128 to 1,436), and Corporate Identity Design (up 24.2%, from 2,474 to 3,073) were the three fastest growing job types by total percentage growth when compared to Q4 2022. These were followed by Product Design (up 22.9%, 1,214 to 1,493) and 3D Design (up 22%, from 5,027 to 6,135) jobs. Design skills with the largest job counts on the platform also grew significantly this quarter. There were a whopping 7,495 extra Graphic Design jobs in Q1 (up 12.1%, from 61,709 to 69,204), followed by an additional 6,731 Logo Design jobs (up 20.4%, from 32,963 to 39,694) and 5,902 extra jobs requiring skills in Photoshop (up 15.4%, from 38,224 to 44,126). Design is both the most in-demand and the highest paying skill on Freelancer.com, as found in the Freelancing in 2022 Report. These types of jobs, particularly logo design, packaging design and t-shirt creation, are typically the starting point for many founders launching a new business. The sudden influx of design, eCommerce and marketing jobs are a key indicator of a boom in startups. Simultaneously, jobs requiring skills in Artificial Intelligence were the seventh fastest growing skill on Freelancer.com (up 20.62% in Q1 2023 from 1,038 to 1,252). Jobs demanding Generative AI skills, such as ChatGPT, Dall-E, Midjourney and Chatbots, grew by more than 325% from 286 in Q4 2022 to 1,216 in Q1 2023. “While many speculate whether AI will take design jobs, our latest data shows that this is certainly not the case. Design jobs are the most popular job type on the platform and continue to grow despite advances in hyper-realistic generative AI tools,” said Matt Barrie, Chief Executive at Freelancer.com. “What’s more interesting in this data is zooming out and looking at the main trend: the startup boom. The most in-demand jobs on the platform for this quarter are all related to the launch of new businesses. New logo, website and branding jobs. In fact, there were 75 extra logo design jobs posted each day last quarter, which could suggest the launch of 75 new businesses.” The data also shows an increase in Digital Marketing (up 12.8%, from 1,524 to 1,720) and Videography (up 14.2%, from 2,716 to 3,102) jobs which also suggests businesses are focusing more on their online marketing and content creation strategies to amplify their brands. Fastest Falling Jobs of Q1 2023 While design jobs dominated the fastest growing, the jobs that were in less demand in this quarter are related to tech, development and writing. Software Development, which was ranked as the fastest growing job in Q2 2022, began to decline this quarter and was down by 34.4% (from 2,001 to 1,311). Similarly, programming related jobs which were one of the fastest growing skills in Q4 2022 also declined this quarter by 20.9% (from 5,899 to 4,665). Demand for these types of jobs surged last year as many tech employees were laid off globally. However, the new data suggests demand is beginning to stabilize and return to pre-mass layoffs levels. Seasonality also plays into employers moving away from specific types of jobs quarter-to-quarter. Report Writing, Technical Writing, Research Writing and Business Plans were ranked as the fastest growing jobs in Q4 2022 as many employers traditionally turn to freelance support to help prepare end of year reports and 2023 plans. These types of jobs naturally reduce in the first quarter of the year. Fast 50 Q1 2023 - Data Analysis Startup Boom Fuels Creative Design Job Growth Historically, more businesses are started during a recession. Economic downturns have led to the creation of some of the world’s most well known brands, such as Microsoft, Uber and Burger King, just to name a few. Only a few years ago, the world witnessed this trend playing out as COVID sparked a startup boom, which saw a 24 percent increase in new business applications in the United States alone. According to the latest US Census Business Formation Statistics, the number of new business applications is beginning to grow in 2023 by an increase of 451,752, an increase of 4.5 percent compared to February 2023. Data from the latest Freelancer Fast 50 Index suggests there’s a sudden increase in the number of new businesses and startups being launched globally. The fastest growing skills, such as T-Shirt, Covers & Packaging, and Corporate Identity Design, as well as the growth of major jobs such as Logo Design, are all usually posted by founders at the starting point for a new business or venture. T-Shirt Design jobs, as an example, are growing as people hire freelancers to create t-shirts with their business logo as a way of promoting a brand or creating business uniforms. An uptick in Covers and Packaging Design jobs are the result of businesses turning to freelancers for new product labels and marketing brochures. Growth in website building jobs, such as Shopify (up 20.5%, from 2,302 to 2,775), Shopify Templates (up 16.1%, from 1,392 to 1,617) and eCommerce (up 15.5%, from 4,212 to 4,866), also support the rise of new businesses last quarter. Almost three quarters of the fastest growing jobs (72%) posted on Freelancer.com in the last quarter required skills in creative design or marketing. Serial entrepreneur Davuud Ghani, who recently founded Pivitt, a creative and branding support agency based in the United Kingdom, is just one example of how founders are turning to freelancers to support the growth of their business in 2023. “As a start-up, agility is our advantage over mature businesses with similar service offerings. It’s becoming easier for businesses to locate and leverage global talent, with platforms such as Freelancer.com. We are able to really finetune the skills needed on a project basis to drive excellence through our service offering to our partners, keeping us competitive in the market. That’s what our model is built from and has allowed us to secure partnerships with the likes of BMW & MINI,” said Davuud Ghani, founder of Pivitt. Generative AI Jobs Triple In Last Quarter Advancements in artificial intelligent and generative AI are impacting almost every faucet of business and creativity. Powerful AI tools, such as ChatGPT, Dall-E and Midjourney, are becoming smarter and more sophisticated by month, resulting in rapid leaps in capabilities and applications. In the first quarter of 2023, Open AI released GPT-4, introducing a more powerful and intelligent version of the application which could exhibit human level performance on several benchmarks. In the AI image generation space, research lab Midjourney also released the alpha iteration of its 5th version which allowed users to create photorealistic generations. Growing interest for AI is represented clearly in the Fast 50 Q1 2023 data which ranks jobs for Artificial Intelligence as the seventh fastest growing job on the platform, growing by 20.6% up to 1,252 jobs in total. Many projects posted in the first quarter aim to harness AI text generators or automate mass image generation, while some look for freelance experts who can help create their own AI models and applications. Generative AI skills (ChatGPT, Dall-E, Midjourney, Chatbots) grew the fastest over the quarter, recording a total percentage increase of 325% from 286 last quarter to 1,216 in Q1 2023. In total, there were 5,262 jobs requiring skills in AI, Machine Learning, Deep Learning, TensorFlow, ChatGPT and Dall-E. Digital Marketing & Content Creation Popularity of content marketing is growing amongst businesses. Major success stories, such as Netflix’s Drive to Survive series or Spotify’s Wrapped, are pushing businesses and marketers towards incorporating content marketing within their strategies. It’s a trend that was identified in the Fast 50 Q3 2022 Index and is continuing in Q1 2023. Videography (up 14.21%, from to 3,102), Digital Marketing (up 12.86% to 1,720), YouTube (up 11.30% to 1,576), and Video Production (up 10.25% to 5,401) were all in-demand skills last quarter. This finding suggests that businesses are increasingly focusing on online marketing and content creation strategies to reach their target audiences. While YouTube remains as the main platform people are turning to freelancers for support, employer interest in TikTok video creation is also growing, increasing by 25% in Q1 2023, from 405 projects in Q4 2022 to 507 total jobs Q1 2023. Product Design Jobs Apart from design projects specific to branding and new business ventures, the number of 3D Design, Product Design and general Design collectively grew over Q1 2023. ##### Freelancer Fast 50 The Freelancer Fast 50 index is the world’s largest forward indicator of trends in online jobs related to industries, technologies, products, and companies. The data is based on 304,000 jobs posted to the Freelancer platform between January 1 to March 31 2023. Fast 50 Quarterly Index – Q1 2023 About Freelancer Freelancer.com is the world's largest freelancing and crowdsourcing marketplace by total number of users and projects posted. More than 64 million registered users have posted over 22.3 million projects and contests to date in over 2,000 areas as diverse as website development, logo design, marketing, copywriting, aerospace engineering and manufacturing. Freelancer also owns Escrow.com and Loadshift. Freelancer Limited is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange under the ticker ASX:FLN and is quoted on OTCQX Best Market under the ticker FLNCF. Contact Details freelancer.com Marko Zitko +61 404 574 830 mzitko@freelancer.com

April 21, 2023 08:15 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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CITY GEAR DROPS PART ONE OF LATEST 'FRESH OFF THE BLOCK' ST. LOUIS FEATURING BOTH A RAPPER & FILMMAKER

Hibbett, Inc.

Hibbett, Inc., (NASDAQ:HIBB), an athletic-inspired fashion retailer with more than 1,100 Hibbett and City Gear specialty stores nationwide, today announced a new two-part episode of City Gear Fresh Off The Block (FOTB), featuring two men from St. Louis, Missouri. Part one of the episode launches today and part two drops on May 4, 2023 and both will be viewable on You Tube at @CityGearOfficial. The FOTB series first launched in the fall of 2022 to spotlight the stories and lifestyles of sneaker fashion enthusiasts from urban cities across America. The newest FOTB episode introduces viewers to St Louis locals Muhammad Austin, @Mvstermind, rapper, producer and creator of “Mvstercamp" and Drew Brown, @thefilmlord, a digital photographer and cinematographer. Both share their love of St. Louis culture, food and music and how this city has influenced them, their careers and their style. “It’s been fun to bring our Fresh Off The Block project to life with our partners at Nike to emphasize the fashion lifestyle influence of culturally-rich cities like St. Louis,” said Sarah Sharp-Wangaard, VP Marketing, Hibbett. “St. Louis has a great mix of both southern and midwestern culture and as we see through the lens of Muhammad and Drew, there is an abundance of inspiration and creativity there.” The FOTB crew followed and filmed both Austin and Brown in their hometown and visited some favorite places. In part one, 32 year-old rapper, Muhammad “Mvstermind” Austin takes the crew around to a couple of his favorite dining spots Lefty’s Fried Rice and Seoul Taco. “Man, when I’m not out there soaking up the culture in the city, you can usually find me out in nature, taking in the sights and sounds that St. Louis has to offer, like picnicking in Tower Grove Park with my fam, hiking through the nearby state parks and just strolling through Forest Park and letting my mind unwind. I remember when I was a kid, my dad taking me to City Gear, trying on shoes and picking the perfect outfit for the first day of school. To this day, whenever I go to the City Gear store, I can’t help but feel a little nostalgic for those simpler times. If I were to describe the music I create, it’s a reflection of everything I love and everything in my past that’s led me to be my city’s hometown hero.” Austin talks fashion and says St. Louis weather is unpredictable and comfort is key, so he is ready for anything when it comes to his wardrobe. “I’m talking about layering up, mixing and matching pieces so I can add or remove them as needed to stay comfy and look fresh at the same time. Yo, when it comes to sneakers, I need em to pop like fireworks on the Fourth of July. Give me colors that scream out to the world like neon orange. A bold pair of kicks can elevate my whole mood and energy. But that’s just the start, cause I need my sneakers to have some real intention behind em. I ain’t talking about just looking good, I need a story, a purpose, a reason for existing. Whether it’s a collab that brings together two worlds or a shoe that’s made with the planet in mind, I wanna know what’s going on behind the scenes. At the end of the day, sneakers ain’t just shoes to me, they’re a whole vibe, a way to show the world who I am and what I’m about. And when I find a pair that’s got the color, the intention and the innovation all in one, I’m rockin em.” Drew Brown @thefilmlord, 27, has a bachelor’s degree in digital film and video production and is usually on the go, filming projects on location. Since his father gave him his first video camera in high school, Brown has made a career in cinematography and has filmed hundreds of documentaries, music videos and commercials all over the country and is currently on tour with St. Louis born performer Smino. Brown takes the FOTB crew around St. Louis to visit his favorite stylists at The Chop Shop and then to Bus Loop Burgers for his favorite burgers, fries and shakes. They visit The Show Me League, where he played youth basketball and learned life skills both on and off the basketball court. “St. Louis is a melting pot of the United States because we have so many different cultures here.” “St. Louis influenced the way I dress because I have to be comfortable but also have my own unique style,” said Brown. “No one wants to dress like another here, so we venture off and find our own personal style, which sets a tone for our personality. In St. Louis we get fly for every occasion, it’s just how we show who we truly are and how original we are. What drives me to a pair of shoes is the story behind the shoe and how comfortable it can be because as a filmmaker I must be comfortable while carrying heavy cameras and while moving around the city. Three things a shoe must have for me are style, comfort and a colorway to match a high percentage of my wardrobe.” Part one of FOTB debuts today with the second part launching on May 4 th and both can be viewed across multiple social platforms and @CityGearOfficial on You Tube. About Hibbett, Inc. Hibbett, headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, is a leading athletic-inspired fashion retailer with 1133 Hibbett and City Gear specialty stores, located in 36 states nationwide. Hibbett has a rich history of convenient locations, personalized customer service and access to coveted footwear, apparel and equipment from top brands like Nike, Jordan, and adidas. Consumers can browse styles, find new releases, shop looks and make purchases online or in their nearest store by visiting www.hibbett.com. Follow us @hibbettsports and @citygear on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. ### Contact Details Wendy Yellin pr@hibbett.com Company Website https://www.Hibbett.com

April 20, 2023 01:05 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Luxury Meets Cannabis Conference (LMCC) Spring 2023 Edition Returns To Hudson Yards, NYC: May 18 & 19

LMCC Ventures LLC

The Luxury Meets Cannabis Conference (LMCC) today announced its first wave of speakers, retail attendees, and showcasing brands for its Spring 2023 Edition, which returns to Hudson Yards in New York City on May 18 & 19, 2023. Launched in 2018 as a first-of-its-kind B2B event, LMCC has grown into the go-to biannual venue for product discovery and extensive education, connecting visionary CBD and Cannabis wellness, beauty, food/beverage, and lifestyle accessories brands – and their founders – to a powerful combination of hundreds of traditional retail buyers, luxe dispensaries, editorial press, and investors from around the world. 2023: The Year of the Brand “We’ve reimagined the boutique trade show experience by providing an immersive luxury retail environment for our business attendees to discover the finest wellness, beauty, and food & beverage brands in the space,” said LMCC’s Co-Founder & Executive Director Jed Wexler. “And as Cannabis retail comes alive in New York, 2023 truly is ‘The Year of the Brand’ with LMCC being the bridge to a massive new, elevated mainstream CPG wellness category.” In a testament to the mainstreaming of the category, LMCC will welcome a robust roster of industry leaders for two full days of panel discussions – each moderated by a veritable who’s who in media. Speakers: Jacques Tortoroli, CEO, Charlotte’s Web (“The Official CBD of Major League Baseball”) Jake Bullock, Co-Founder & CEO, Cann Tremaine Wright, Cannabis Control Board Chair, New York Office of Cannabis Management Arana Hankin-Biggers, President, Union Square Travel Agency Emily Schildt, Founder & CEO, Pop Up Grocer Amir Zwickel, Founder, SHOWFIELDS Melany Dobson, CEO, Hudson Cannabis & Ben Dobson, President, Hudson Cannabis Media: Tiffany Kary, Bloomberg News Chala June, Contributor, Bon Appétit Brian Underwood, Women’s Health Michael Kusek & Brit Smith, Different Leaf Kelly Kovack, Founder & CEO, BeautyMatter Oset Babür-Winter, Food & Wine Claire McCormack, Beauty Independent Erica La Sala, Beauty Independent Jeremy Berke (‘Cannabis Business Reporter of the Year”) Recently named one of BeautyMatter’s “Top Global Wellness & Beauty Trade Events” and Trade Show Executive Magazine’s “Leading Upcoming Trade Events in North America,” LMCC will present its signature Brand Showcase Studio — a pre-vetted, store-ready exhibition throughout the two-day program featuring keynotes and conversations with speakers, founders, and journalists. The LMCC 2023 Spring Edition will welcome hundreds of buyers from A-tier retail outlets, 50 accepted showcasing brands, 50 industry-leading speakers, and close to 900 global business attendees. Indicating the excitement and opportunity surrounding New York’s just-opened legal Cannabis market, LMCC is slated to host its largest and most impactful event to date. Exclusive New York and National Brand Launches at LMCC Spring 2023 From Charlotte’s Web and the re-rise of CBD wellness to Hudson Cannabis, 1906, Rose Los Angeles, Drew Martin, Dad Grass, PAMOS, and a slew of pioneering New York Cannabis brand launches exclusively during the show, LMCC presents the world’s finest store-ready product portfolios in and outside of the space. View the LMCC Spring 2023 peaker schedule and Brand Showcase Studio line-up at lmccshow.com. Follow LMCC Instagram or LinkedIn. LMCC SPRING 2023 BRAND SHOWCASE STUDIO DIRECTORY Brands can still apply to activate their brands at LMCC Spring 2023 HERE. View the latest Brand Showcase Studio directory HERE. LMCC SPRING 2023 RETAIL BUYER PREVIEW Admission is complimentary only for qualified retail buyers and their teams. Register representatives from traditional/online retailers, hotels/spas, independent wellness boutiques, luxe dispensaries, natural markets, and more HERE. ### Attendee Tickets: Two-day, all-access passes to LMCC Spring 2023 are $695. Purchase passes HERE. About LMCC: Founded in 2018, LMCC Ventures LLC is the parent company of the annual Luxury Meets Cannabis Conference (LMCC) in New York City. LMCC is the premier B2B event connecting A-tier retailers, media, investors, leading dispensaries, and CPG executives to premium CBD, hemp and Cannabis brands — with a keen focus on beauty, wellness, food & beverage. Past participants include retailers like Sephora, Nordstrom, Credo Beauty, and Bloomingdale’s; media including The New York Times, Glossy, Travel & Leisure, O, The Oprah Magazine, and Robb Report; and speakers from Mitch Baruchowitz (Merida Capital Holdings) and Cindy Capobianco (Lord Jones) to Bobbi Brown and Frederic Fekkai. Guidelines & Legal: Cannabis in name only; No smoking or vaping on any kind permitted inside the venue; Illegal products will NOT be allowed on-site Local laws strictly apply. Badge or Pass Required: LMCC is an invite-only B2B trade event not open to the public. A badge or pass is required. Contact Details LMCC Press Katie Shapiro +1 303-882-5596 katie@katieshapiromedia.com Company Website https://www.lmccshow.com/

April 20, 2023 06:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Luxury Meets Cannabis Conference (LMCC) Spring 2023 Edition Returns To Hudson Yards, NYC: May 18 & 19