On Tuesday, February 23, 2021, we celebrated the official launch of 619, 1871’s new employee resource group committed to equity in tech workspaces. 619 is founded and led by a committee of Black 1871 team members, and will work to educate and empower our employees and build a coalition of allies through programming, intimate forums, and informative roundtable conversations. The virtual event brought together our 1871 members and team for an afternoon of incredible speakers, thoughtful and open discussions, and some excellent dance moves!
The afternoon began with opening comments from 1871 CEO Betsy Ziegler and our Experience Operations Manager Donna Carson, who introduced the 619 mission, history, and team. From there, we welcomed three wonderful leaders who shared their insights on building resiliency and new opportunities for future Black entrepreneurs. The panelists included EX3 Labs CEO Adam Wisniewski, StudioPod Co-Founder Julian Lewis, and City of Chicago’s Chief Diversity Officer Marquis Miller.
Adam started off our speaker lightning round by discussing his work at EX3 Labs, including building a DEI card game that works to foster greater emotional intelligence and the first ever 3D hologram of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. He explained how we must continue to fight against racial injustice as entrepreneurs and citizens, and shared an important quote from motivational speaker Les Brown, who said “until the pain of staying the same is greater than the pain of change, you’ll never change.” This idea echoed throughout the event, as Julian Lewis went on to urge attendees to pursue their worth and give back when possible to support the next generation of Black innovators. Finally, Marquis Miller discussed his role in promoting racial equity across Chicago, from City Hall to every community and neighborhood.
Following our speaker lightning round, we broke off into small groups to network, discuss the habits we formed to overcome the challenges this past year has presented, and begin the first of many honest and supportive conversations to come in future programs. To round out the afternoon, our 619 launch party turned into an actual dance party, as our attendees broke out their best moves to the tune of the talented DJ Marcus!
We’re so proud to see our 619 group is live and can’t wait to come together again for future events! For more information about 619 and updates on future programming, check out our webpage and subscribe to our newsletter for regular updates!
Going public requires endurance. When I was on the M&A side, I’d often joke that the two exit paths are analogous to a founder running on a treadmill who has three options to select from; i) continue running at the same or higher pace, gradually cool down and come to a full stop, or crank up the speed at a very high incline and see how far you can go.
Going public and staying public is definitely not easy. In 2019, I had drinks with the CEO of a publicly-traded company on TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV) and I asked him what every executive should think about before going public. His response? “Every CEO should believe without an ounce of doubt that they can get their business past $100M+ in valuation (with the sights of hitting the billion mark). If you have that kind of vision, then going public is worth the effort.”
So what does a founder have to think about or do in order to get the company in a position where a milestone like going public is feasible? Let’s dig in. *Please keep in mind that some of the points mentioned pertain more to the Canadian public markets which often sees earlier-stage companies going public relative to U.S. markets*:…
To read the full article, click here.
As a result of the pandemic, many technology companies were forced to change the way they operate and reevaluate the needs of their workforce. What will employee perks programs look like now and into the future?
To find out, we’re conducting a nationwide survey, TECHniques: Perks, PTO & Policies that Attract & Retain. Understanding how your employee perks and policies compare to other technology employers can reveal strategies for how to attract new talent and continue to engage the seasoned team you already have.
Assurance and MMA Midwest are inviting 1871 members to complete the survey and receive a complimentary copy of the results. The survey should take you no more than one hour to complete.
The survey will remain open until March 12, 2021. Click here to get started.
Please contact Joe Spallina at jspallina@assuranceagency.com with any questions.
Strengthens Robotic Process Automation in Basis, Centro’s Omnichannel Ad Management Platform
Chicago, February 24, 2021 – Centro (www.centro.net), a global provider of enterprise automation technology, announced the acquisition of QuanticMind (https://quanticmind.com), a developer of predictive advertising technology for digital channels. QuanticMind’s martech platform utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to unify and analyze data, which powers its software for search, keyword bid management, and marketing intelligence visualization.
Basis, Centro’s flagship automation platform for marketers, is the industry’s most comprehensive, automated, and intelligent digital media platform, and the only software solution of its kind to consolidate digital operations across programmatic, direct, connected TV (CTV), search, and social campaigns. It delivers robotic process automation to omnichannel advertising and media workflow. Integrating QuanticMind strengthens Basis by providing:
“Centro is far ahead in building for marketers the most comprehensive omnichannel digital advertising platform. QuanticMind drives our vision by enabling us to weave PPC and search advertising seamlessly alongside all other digital capabilities,” Shawn Riegsecker, CEO of Centro. “We’re embedding QuanticMind’s best-in-class data science, AI-driven algorithms, and SEM software with the proven benefits of workflow automation and programmatic advertising in Basis. Centro is one step further to completing our vision of a singular, unified platform helping advertising agencies and marketers save time, money and resources by eliminating data and process silos through improved organization and automation of critical functions.”
Basis is a software-as-a-service (SaaS) offering with fully-integrated essential elements for marketers: media governance through workflow automation tools, programmatic advertising through its top user-rated demand side platform (DSP), and business intelligence through a data analytics engine. More than 500 agencies and marketers have implemented Basis since its launch in 2018 with more than $1.5 billion in digital ad spend being facilitated through it. Learn more at: https://www.centro.net/solutions/basis.
QuanticMind originated in 2011 with an intelligent keyword bid-management platform, which ingests data from disparate marketing tools generating improved search and PPC performance using proprietary machine learning to optimize marketing performance. Centro is infusing it with additional resources to continue development, innovation and support for its customers.
QuanticMind was represented by investment bank Nfluence Partners. QuanticMind’s 30 employees are now part of Centro’s renowned workplace culture. Centro’s 700 team members across 44 offices cover North America, South America and Europe. As Centro integrates systems, adds capabilities and improves features, it is continuing to grow with plans to hire more than 150 new team members across its product, engineering, data science, operations and sales teams. Explore careers at: https://www.centro.net/company/careers.
About Centro
Centro (https://www.centro.net) is a provider of ERP and automation software for digital advertising teams and organizations. Its technology platform, Basis, is the first of its kind SaaS advertising solution unifying programmatic and direct media buying, along with workflow automation, cross-channel campaign planning, universal reporting and business intelligence. It streamlines business operations and optimizes advertising performance by enabling marketers to plan, buy and analyze real-time bidding (RTB), direct, advanced TV, search and social campaigns in a single platform. Headquartered in Chicago with 44 offices covering North America, South America and Europe, Centro has received numerous accolades for its commitment to employees and workplace culture.
# # #
Originally published here.
A global pandemic, wildfires, racial protests and a polarizing election: at this moment, a ranking of stores that offer a satisfying shopping experience might seem completely irrelevant. And if that’s what you’re feeling, we won’t argue. But still, if there were ever a time when one wanted to feel listened to and accommodated, it’s now. Newsweek has again partnered with respected global data research firm Statista to identify the stores that consistently provide the Best Customer Service 2021. Whether it’s an intuitive website, a generous return policy or a friendly voice on the other end of the phone, these companies have found a way to put you, the consumer, first.
Even amid this ongoing pandemic and its resulting restrictions, our families still want—and need—things. And don’t forget that the holidays are fast approaching! We hope our Newsweek-Statista rankings of the Best Customer Service 2021 companies will help make your shopping an easier, more efficient and more pleasant experience—at a time when even a little bit of satisfaction goes a long way.
Originally published here.
For the second consecutive year, CSC Corptax® has been named to Built In’s list of the Best Places To Work in Chicago and also ranked at the top for benefits. This year’s program more heavily weighted criteria like remote opportunities and programs for diversity, equity, and inclusion.
“I was thrilled to hear that we’d won this award for the second year in a row—it’s such an honor for us! This year has thrown many challenges our way. We’ve had to adapt how we operate as a business to continue to provide a great experience for our employees and customers while everyone is working remotely. CSC Corptax has always believed in flexibility. Our strong company values have allowed us to stay connected as an organization and not lose our identity or culture,” says Justin Stull, CSC Corptax talent acquisition manager. Check out the full press release here: corptax.com/press-releases/corptax-named-a-2021-best-company-to-work-for-in-illinois/.
CSC Corptax has employment opportunities in software development and tax analysis throughout the greater Chicago area and beyond, including remote positions. To learn more or apply, visit corptax.com/careers.
Principals Cass and Kara interview Professor Chris McGowan from University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business. As an investor, advisor and teacher, Chris has been in the private equity industry for 26 years, when he began his own career in private equity as an associate at AEA Investors in New York City. In this episode, Cass and Kara explain their own personal impact that Chris has had on their careers, and Chris gives advice for MBA students and non-students alike who are trying to navigate breaking into private equity.
Listen to the podcast episode here!
“Part of being an entrepreneur is learning how to solve those itches, that voice in your head every single day. For me, that voice in my head was telling me to open a computer shop, despite the odds.”
Keith Gordon started his entrepreneurial journey at 15, when he joined an After School Matters high school program that taught him to take apart computers and put them back together. As Keith tells it, he started his first business “on accident” when people began handing him their computers to fix, launching a life-long pursuit to learn and grow.
Today Keith is the founder of We Love Code, a full-stack, product development agency that works with non-technical teams and entrepreneurs to build, maintain and upgrade websites. Keith is also an active member and mentor in the 1871 community, where he is leading the effort to create the Black Founder Directory—a centralized and searchable listing that will allow potential customers, partners, and investors to more easily support and work with our members.
We’re thrilled to announce that the Black Founder Directory is now live! It has been long overdue for Chicago to have a way to find Black entrepreneurs running companies, and we are proud to unveil it during Black History Month as a testament to the work that needs to be done.
“We’re incredibly lucky to have Keith as a member of our 1871 community,” said Betsy Ziegler, CEO of 1871. “He’s a talented entrepreneur, an innovative technologist, and most of all a wonderful, caring person. I’m proud that we’ve had the opportunity to partner with Keith as a contractor on the Black Founder Directory and thankful for his leadership and devotion to making Chicago tech a more inclusive space.”
So what’s Keith’s secret for success when following that itch to learn?
“I’m not afraid to go outside my comfort zone every day,” he said, “and that’s what makes this thing called entrepreneurship so fun.”
__
Founding Moments
“Founding Moments” is 1871’s early-stage member series that spotlights our members, their journey, and the moments that made them.
1871 and Catapult join forces to drive collective acceleration for experienced, early stage founders.
CHICAGO (February 17th) — 1871 and Catapult Chicago are excited to announce today that they have entered into a binding agreement pursuant to which Catapult’s intellectual property assets and programs will be acquired by and integrated into 1871.
Founded in 2012, 1871 and Catapult share a similar history, mission, and vision of driving economic growth in Chicago and across the region by supporting entrepreneurs building extraordinary businesses. As long-time, dedicated partners in the city’s tech community, many successful start-ups have participated in the programming of both organizations. Unified by the goal of increasing the probability of success for businesses and shortening the time frame to reach that success, this integration will elevate the experience for all members, alumni, and partners.
As a result of today’s announcement, members of both organizations will join together under the 1871 name. Catapult members will have the opportunity to benefit from 1871’s resources and scale. Additionally, 1871 will incorporate Catapult’s peer-selected and community-driven structure into the “Grow” stage of its PYROS program, which will be renamed “Catapult.” This structure will emphasize peer-to-peer interactions, introducing a tight-knit community where experienced, early stage members can support one another as they scale their businesses.
“Catapult has long served as an important partner in the Chicago tech community. Their unique model of peer-selection and founder-focused programming will be a welcome addition to our 1871 community and our world-class offerings,” said Larry Eppley, Chairman of 1871 and Managing Partner of Sheppard Mullin’s Chicago office. “1871 is proud to be joining forces with Catapult and carrying on its legacy as we continue to inspire, equip and support our members.”
Catapult’s capabilities will strengthen 1871’s holistic approach to the founder experience by creating greater opportunities to deliver targeted resources, experiences, and connections. In February 2020, 1871 added the growth-stage programming of the Illinois Technology Association (ITA), and today’s agreement further adds to this momentum by building a new and necessary bridge between early stage businesses and growth-stage companies.
“Both nonprofit organizations launched around the same time, playing a central role in growing and shaping Chicago’s startup community. By coming together with 1871, Catapult’s membership, both current and alumni, will act as a force multiplier for 1871’s well-established, diverse, and extensive ecosystem. We anticipate the enhanced access to experienced other founders and increased number of educational opportunities offered by strategic partners will elevate and expedite our startups’ growth trajectory exponentially,” says Josh Berman, Catapult Board Member and Executive Director.
Guided by the ethos that a diverse and supportive community of peers can create collective success, Catapult has fostered a well-known legacy of spurring growth in the Chicago tech sector. Together, its members have raised more than $410 million in funding during the organization’s nine years of operation. 1871 is proud to carry on the Catapult model of cross-company collaboration and amplify its members’ reach and resonance across a wider network.
“Catapult was founded by founders for founders. Our goal has always been to provide a supportive and accessible environment for innovative startups to grow and learn from each other. Integrating Catapult’s community into 1871 is an extremely exciting next step for the organization,” added Ryan Leavitt, Catapult Founder and Board President. “The effects of COVID-19 require a new way for founders to build and nurture relationships. I am confident the coming together of our two leading organizations will serve our Catapult Community and the greater startup universe in extraordinary ways.”
“Organizations such as Catapult and the work they do for early stage businesses are what make Chicago one of the best places to build a business,” said Betsy Ziegler, CEO of 1871. “Following the power of “and” is an important aspect of our vision, so we firmly believe that through this acquisition and integration, we can better serve members throughout every stage of their development and expand our collective reach in Chicago, Illinois, and across the Midwest.”
###
About 1871
1871 is Chicago’s technology hub and the #1 ranked private business incubator in the world. It exists to inspire, equip, and support early stage, growth scalers and innovators in building extraordinary businesses. 1871 is home to ~450 technology startups, ~400+ growth stage companies, and ~1,500 members, and is supported by an entire ecosystem focused on accelerating their growth and creating jobs in the Chicagoland area. The member experience includes virtual and in person access to workshops, events, mentorship, and more. The nonprofit organization has 350 mentors available to its members, alongside access to more than 100 partner corporations, universities, education programs, accelerators, venture funds and others. Since its inception in 2012, more than 650 alumni companies are currently still active, have created over 11,000 jobs, and have raised more than $1.65 billion in follow-on capital.
About Catapult Chicago
Designed for a flexible work environment, Catapult’s boutique setting goes beyond our Class A+ office to initiate powerful connections and sleeves-rolled-up programming for start-up founders and their leadership teams. Our unique peer-to-peer membership pitch program ensures a diverse and supportive group of high-growth companies function like a board of advisors. Established in 2012, our companies have scaled raising ~ $410 million in capital.
The Illinois Angel Investment Tax Credit Program encourages investment in innovative, early-stage companies to help obtain the working capital needed to further the growth of their company in Illinois. Investors in companies that are certified as Qualified New Business Ventures (QNBVs) can receive a state tax credit equal to 25% of their investment (up to $2 million).
A total of $10 million in Angel Investment tax credits are allocated in CY 2019, 2020 and 2021. Credits will be released by quarter, on a first-come first-served basis. Once tax incentive credits for a particular quarter are exhausted, no further credits can be allocated until the subsequent quarter. The allocation schedule can be found here.
***We have recently launched a webinar series to learn more about this program.***
If you are a startup and interested in this program, find webinars here.
If you are an investor and interested in this program, find webinars here.
Find the full article here
How do our utilities partners ensure that key IT systems will remain functional during extreme weather events such as thunderstorms, hurricanes and winter blizzards? The answer: by performing Seasonal Readiness Testing.
The Seasonal Readiness Test (SRT) is an integrated end-to-end performance test of select storm-critical applications and interfaces, such as Outage Management (OMS), Mobile Workforce Management (MWFM), Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA), and Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) systems, for the purpose of verifying operational readiness ahead of summer and winter storm seasons. Such performance testing is crucial for assessing the health of an integrated application environment and its ability to handle high volume outages during a storm.
Olenick leads Seasonal Readiness Performance Testing using simulated system loads that span a range of storm levels from very small to extreme. Under these various system loads, we verify that applications do not fail, that queries complete in a reasonable amount of time, and that response times of user actions are realistic. We have also recently introduced a rapid and pronounced storm profile to simulate customer traffic under worst-case conditions.
Olenick has been on the front line of this high-priority performance testing initiative with our Utilities partners for several years, including leading the first-ever company-wide SRT for a large U.S. based multi-Operating Company (OPCO) Investor Owned Utility (IOU).
Specific Test Scenarios for the SRT include:
Inbound outage reports, status inquiries and events
Operational Procedures
Olenick led two first-of-their-kind SRT tests for a major utility in 2019. In May 2019 the Olenick team led the execution of our client’s first end-to-end Seasonal Readiness Test, encompassing twenty-six (26) connected applications across four of the utility’s Operating Companies. Olenick orchestrated the test, created and ran automation, and was responsible for compiling, analyzing, and reporting results.
This work has continued into our current project leading our client’s bi-annual Seasonal Readiness Test, which now covers thirty-nine (39) integrated and fully connected Storm Management, Communication, and Restoration applications. Work continues in support of multiple Operating Companies.
Olenick’s repeatable testing process facilitates multiple test runs each year and covers comprehensive SRT services including test development, planning, execution and reporting for the storm performance tests, as well as project management and automation.
Some of Olenick’s SRT best practices include:
To read the full article, click here.
Chicago, February 2, 2021 – Centro (www.centro.net), a global provider of advertising technology, announced a free and expanded virtual curriculum for digital advertising—available through its Centro Certified learning programs. Centro Certified’s Essentials is a series of self-guided classes for mastering key elements of digital advertising. The series launched in 2020, with nearly 1000 professionals meeting certification for Digital Media Essentials. Newly available are Search Essentials and Social Media Essentials, with additional courses for Programmatic 2.0, TV Buying, Data, and more, to be released in 2021. To register for all Essentials courses, visit: https://www.centro.net/institute/certified.
Centro Certified is an AdExchanger Awards 2020 finalist for Best Education Program. It offers subject matter expertise, collaborative group discussion, and relevant coursework at no cost. Essentials courses cover the basics of ad industry subject matter and educate on ad buying platforms, media strategy, campaign optimization and more. It is designed for junior professionals and advertising veterans alike, who are newcomers to digital ad fields.
“Centro will bring our knowledge to learners wherever they are. The tenet for Centro Certified Essentials is to create accessibility within the digital advertising field for any growth-minded professional,” said Ryan Manchee, VP of media innovations and technology at Centro. “Free educational resources available virtually, from any location at any time, is an important foundation for our industry’s advancement and has been a part of Centro since our founding two decades ago.”
Centro Certified programs meet the needs of all learners, remote and in-office, to deliver robust understanding of digital markets. Other tiers of Certified courses offer advanced instruction for Centro’s clients and partners, via virtual summits, live training events and on-demand video tutorials, with certifications in foundational knowledge, advanced strategies, and new business development. Once participants complete the coursework and pass a comprehensive test, they receive digital badges to verify their mastery and officially become ‘Centro Certified’.
Centro Certified is a component of Centro Institute, a set of resources encompassing educational programs, content and events. Its content range from current industry trends, to fundamental knowledge and advanced best practices. Other offerings within Centro Institute include workshops, webinars, leadership forums and podcasts. More than 13,000 professionals participated in these events collectively, over the last year.
Centro’s expertise via multiple channels of digital advertising is being honed through the development of its flagship technology for marketers—Basis. Basis is the industry’s most comprehensive, automated, and intelligent digital media platform, and is the only software solution of its kind to consolidate digital operations across programmatic, direct, connected TV (CTV), search, and social campaigns.
To learn more, visit: https://www.centro.net/institute. Agencies and marketers interested in attending any of the programs can email institute@centro.net.
About Centro
Centro (https://www.centro.net) is a provider of enterprise-class software for digital advertising organizations. Its technology platform, Basis, is the first of its kind SaaS advertising solution unifying programmatic and direct media buying, along with workflow automation, cross-channel campaign planning, universal reporting and business intelligence. It boosts media, team and business performance by enabling advertisers to plan, buy and analyze real-time bidding (RTB), direct, advanced TV, search and social campaigns in a single platform. Headquartered in Chicago with 44 offices covering North America, South America and Europe, Centro has received numerous accolades for its commitment to employees and workplace culture.
# # #
Originally posted here.
At Centro, we know that keeping up with the trade pubs and latest trends can be tough and time-consuming. To make that easier, we’ve compiled all the articles, reports, and other bits of awesomeness you may have missed, but should definitely read. Enjoy our latest list below!
IAB 2021 Marketplace Outlook [:09]
The IAB’s final impact study of 2020 showcases that buyers are optimistic about 2021 and expect a 6% overall increase in their 2021 budget (versus estimated actual spend in 2020). However, they have concerns about: 1) Preparing for a cookie-less future / loss of identifiers, 2) the need for 1st party data, and 3) cross-platform measurement solutions.
This Year, Next Year: Global 2020 End-of-Year Forecast Report from GroupM [:09]
Despite the grim realities of a global economy that will be the worst since the Great Depression, advertising weathered the storm relatively well and will end up at declining by “only” 5.8% on an underlying basis (excluding-U.S. political advertising).
This annual report examines the eight largest markets—the U.S., China, Japan, the U.K., Germany, France, South Korea and Canada, and predicts that the global advertising market for 2021 will see 12.3% growth.
8 Marketing Trends to Watch For in 2021 as Aftereffects of a Volatile Year Linger [:14]
While 2020 is *finally* over, it’s set to be another volatile year for marketers. One item which remains top priority is first-party data. As cookies and mainstay methods of in-app tracking change, developing the personal connection with consumers will become essential. While there is no shortage of options in picking partners, there will be fresh new opportunities with companies like TikTok, Walmart, Target, Walgreens and Kroger.
The Jig Is Up : The End of the Identity Workaround [:04]
Just because there are workarounds to online ad restrictions doesn’t mean they should be taken. Both Google and Apple are weeding them out in the name of customer privacy. Most post-cookie solutions have been in other forms of ID-based tracking like device fingerprinting. The biggest risk in pursuing some of the alternatives that have come out are the potential reputational and ethical risks that come along with it.
2020 Was All About Digital Identity – And Expect the Same in 2021 [:03]
With 2021–and massive change–on the horizon for digital identity, there’s a lot of scrambling, with some marketers proactively preparing for the changes, others putting together plans, and some still trying to piece together what is changing and how it may impact their advertising.
What’s the Fate of Location Intelligence in 2021? [:03]
Now that we’ve said goodbye to the dumpster fire that was 2020, it’s time to project what’s to come in the newly arrived year of 2021. Rather than rattle off a list of projected happenings, Street Fight zeroes in on one area that’s central to their coverage: location data.
The Year in TV: A Major Shift to Streaming [:07]
2020 was nothing short of transformational. Major media companies had to adapt to overcome huge problems from a content development and distribution standpoint across the board, including the elimination of sports, the shutdown of production, and originals being pushed back.
Those that were able to adapt successfully saw massive gains in streaming due to more at-home media consumption, solid growth in ad-funded video on demand (AVOD) as consumers looked to cut or minimize extra costs, and an acceleration of innovations with tech integrations.
Global OTT Subs To Grow 65%, to 1.9B, by End of 2025 [:01]
Growth will be driven mainly by broadcasters’ turning to streaming services to compete with Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and other online video giants. Streaming services need to keep their offerings competitive to retain subscribers.
In-game Advertising Is on the Up — Here’s How it Can Support Your Brand [:04]
Video games have become an important stage for players to keep in touch, interact, and celebrate creativity. While games have always had a social element, today’s leading titles are emerging as the “third place,”or a social environment that people turn to outside of home and work, and a great place to consider exposing consumers to brands.
How Does the eCommerce Experience in China Differ from the West? [:08]
Home to the world’s largest ecommerce market, two of the world’s largest online retailers (JD.com and Alibaba), and more than 900 million internet users, marketing and selling in China is a tantalizing prospect for any western ecommerce company.
But the ecommerce landscape in China, while it has its similarities to the west, is also a distinctive one, with a different set of consumer expectations, different trends, and different interactions with brands. Understanding these differences is the first step towards building a successful strategy for the Chinese market, and for learning what trends could shift west and impact advertising.
Originally posted here.
International Technological University (ITU) To Pay Settlement for False Claims Allegations to Student Visa Fraud
The International Technological University (ITU) has agreed to settle allegations related to student visa fraud. ITU will pay the United States $1.17 Million under the qui tam (whistle blower) provisions of the False Claim Act.
ITU is a non-profit educational institution located in Santa Clara, California. The organization participates in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program which is a component within the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). HSI certifies educational outlets that focus on enrolling non-immigrant students to qualify for the Student and Exchange Visitor Program. For individuals to qualify for a visa under the Program, a foreign national must first apply and be admitted to an approved U.S. educational institution. Then, they can submit a visa application to the Department of State.
This investigation is based on allegations between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2015 that ITU did not comply with federal immigration laws regarding student visas. The investigation was brought by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG).
The allegations claim ITU had knowingly submitted false forms for foreign nationals hoping to qualify for a student visa. As a result, ITU allegedly deprived the United States of visa application fees.
If you have questions regarding the Student and Exchange Visitor Program or any visa related concerns, contact us at ILBSG to get the right advice. Our experienced attorneys work to understand your specific needs, providing expertise guidance for any circumstance.
Originally posted here.
January 21, 2021 Chicago, IL: Steadfast, a leader for over 20 years in complex cloud consulting, engineering and managed hosting is proud to announce a partnership with NAKA, a minority-owned IT services and consulting provider, that will combine the strengths of NAKA’s assessment and consulting capabilities with the reliability, security and performance of Steadfast Simplicity Cloud Services.
Two Strong IT Companies Come Together to Provide a Deep Evaluation and Blueprint for Performance Hosting and Support
This combination is a true game-changer for businesses looking to modernize and better control their technology.
NAKA dives deep into assessing and strategically approaching an organization’s network infrastructure and virtual assets. This allows companies to truly understand the depth of their IT environments, including vulnerabilities that can affect balance, growth and operational cohesiveness. With a thorough understanding of client environments, NAKA will work with Steadfast cloud engineers and their 20+ year of infrastructure expertise, to design and deploy custom cloud solutions that meet immediate needs and positions clients for continued growth.
The blending of these organizations combines a thorough needs assessment and corresponding cloud solution that is custom-built to those exact needs for the greatest reliability, security, and performance, without the unnecessary and costly resources typically baked into common cloud offerings.
“There is an overwhelming number of name-brand cloud suppliers in the market and trying to choose a provider to help make that move into the cloud can be a scary decision”, states Tim Monner, Steadfast VP Marketing and Business Development. “Our approach is clear. Understand our customers’ unique needs and build for their success. This partnership with NAKA will directly help us both better understand the specific opportunities that customers can take advantage of and how to achieve them.”
NAKA CEO Anil Jagtiani states, “While assessing your IT infrastructure, NAKA’s Center of Excellence (CoE) team evaluate process, performance and security to provide insights into your organization’s infrastructure that helps make decisions on improving operational efficiency along with security posture. Our experts provide detailed analysis of your environment along with an intuitive roadmap for innovation and growth for organization of all sizes. However, our differentiator is customer experience that’s beyond compare with standard solutions, supported by unparalleled experts”.
Interested in Learning More?
If you would like to engage NAKA and Steadfast about a possible cloud assessment or cloud services consultation, please submit a request and one of our team members will reach out to schedule an initial discussion.
About Steadfast
We make IT work, so you can take care of business. Specialists in Cloud Consulting, Engineering and Hosting for over 20 years, Steadfast offers customized services at all stages of design and deployment to maintenance and expansion planning. As an extension of your team, Steadfast will ease technology constraints, making your life easier so you can Strengthen Your Focus on your core business. www.steadfast.net
About NAKA
NAKA, a minority-owned company, headquartered in Hauppauge, NY, is a leading North American IT solutions provider focused on Assessments, Cybersecurity, Managed Services, Strategic Consulting, Staffing Services, and Cloud Enablement. We deliver this technology expertise through a full life cycle model of professional, managed and support services. www.nakatech.com
Contact Steadfast
Tim Monner
VP, Marketing and Business Development
+1.888.281.9449
tim.monner@steadfast.net
Contact NAKA
Dan Bergschneider
Director of Business Development
+1.773.507.2337 call or text
drb@nakatech.com
Kossl’s Experience in Large Scale M&A and Funding Builds on Centro’s 2020 Business Momentum; Centro Promotes Executives in Technology Infrastructure, Product, Operations and Data Privacy
Chicago, Jan. 19, 2021 — Centro (www.centro.net), a global provider of advertising technology, announced the appointment of Clayton Kossl as chief financial officer (CFO). By adding a finance leader who has guided companies to large scale mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and funding transactions, Centro is capitalizing on its business momentum from the past year. Additionally, joining the company’s board of directors is Christian Hendricks, who had led McClatchy’s digital business through two decades and is currently the president of the Local Media Consortium (LMC). Centro also promoted Michael Freiman to chief technology officer (CTO), Hiten Mistry to chief product officer (CPO), Matt Sauls to technology division General Manager and Igor Fey to SVP of data privacy and security.
“Centro’s most successful year, to date, was powered by the explosive growth of Basis, our comprehensive workflow automation and trading platform. Shifting to hyper-growth has propelled us as a landing spot for premier talent in the larger robotic process automation software and media industry,” said Shawn Riegsecker, CEO and Founder of Centro. “Both Clayton Kossl and Christian Hendricks have vast experience guiding organizations as they scale and open new markets, which complements the leadership strength and product that Michael Freiman, Hiten Mistry, Matt Sauls and Igor Fey have driven for Centro.”
Kossl brings a wealth of experience raising capital and stewarding M&A. He was recently CFO of Paintzen, a technology business acquired by PPG Industries (NYSE: PPG). Prior to Paintzen, Kossl served on the finance and strategy team at ZocDoc, a healthcare technology business, where he helped raise capital at a multibillion-dollar valuation. He has served as an advisor, outside CFO, and board member for several businesses and has helped achieve successful outcomes including ZipDrug’s sale to Anthem, Inc. (NYSE: ANTM), and MyClean’s sale to Surge Private Equity.
Hendricks is a recognized figure in the media industry known as a catalyst and provocateur for change and innovation. He is president of the Local Media Consortium, which is made up of more than 80 media companies that include more than 3,300 different outlets. He is also the managing partner at Extol Digital, a management consulting firm providing businesses with growth and execution strategies. Hendricks spent 20+ years leading McClatchy’s digital business units.
Centro’s accelerated growth in the market is being powered by its technology, Basis. Basis is the industry’s most comprehensive, automated, and intelligent digital media platform—and is the only software solution of its kind to consolidate digital operations across programmatic, direct, connected TV (CTV), search, and social campaigns.
Centro is promoting team members playing sizable roles in the development of Basis to continue its rapid innovation and expansion:
About Centro
Centro (https://www.centro.net) is a provider of enterprise-class software for digital advertising organizations. Its technology platform, Basis, is the first of its kind SaaS advertising solution unifying programmatic and direct media buying, along with workflow automation, cross-channel campaign planning, universal reporting and business intelligence. It boosts media, team and business performance by enabling advertisers to plan, buy and analyze real-time bidding (RTB), direct, advanced TV, search and social campaigns in a single platform. Headquartered in Chicago with 44 offices covering North America, South America and Europe, Centro has received numerous accolades for its commitment to employees and workplace culture.
# # #
Originally posted here.
1871’s launches BLK•Tech in partnership with Verizon, an accelerator for Black entrepreneurs in the tech industry starting on February 2, 2021.
CHICAGO (January 20, 2021) – 1871 is excited to announce the launch of BLK•Tech, a new accelerator group and programming initiative devoted to building Black-led startups in the tech sector that complements their core PYROS curriculum. BLK•Tech in partnership with Verizon, and other founding sponsors such as William Blair, is set to become the latest evolution in 1871’s ongoing mission to foster the next generation of Black entrepreneurs throughout the Midwest and will begin virtually on February 2, 2021.
1871’s newest launch will work to directly address the needs of Black entrepreneurs in the community and the numerous and unique challenges they face when building a business. BLK•Tech builds upon 1871’s core programming by providing peer-learning, dedicated one-on-one mentorship from fellow Black tech and civic leaders, and exclusive programming designed to increase access to a new world of opportunities for founders.
“At 1871, our community of engaged founders, growth-scalers, and innovators come from all backgrounds and corners of Chicagoland and beyond. Together, we share a commitment to building a stronger and more equitable tech environment for everyone,” said Betsy Ziegler, CEO of 1871. “BLK•Tech is both the latest step in our ongoing commitment to being allies in inclusive innovation and the result of various meetings, listening sessions, and conversations with our steering committee of Black founders about the support they need to tackle the unique challenges they face. We’re excited to work with our partners to make this program a reality and to welcome what I hope will be the first of many successful cohorts of Black-led startups.”
1871 is proud to align its services with organizations that are also invested in enhancing critical business pathways for Black entrepreneurs.
“As part of our larger Citizen Verizon responsible business plan, we’re proud to partner with 1871 and other organizations that connect diverse technology entrepreneurs with crucial resources to develop innovative solutions and advance their businesses,” said Carrie Hughes, Director of Corporate Social Responsibility at Verizon.
Other founding sponsors of the program include William Blair, among others. “William Blair and its employees have a long history of being engaged in the communities where we live and work, and we are excited to support BLK•Tech. This is a prime opportunity to step up and apply our financial industry expertise to help accelerate entrepreneurs, and foster more diverse businesses and workplaces,” said James O’Connor, managing director, head of Venture Capital at William Blair.
About BLK•Tech
BLK•Tech is designed for Black founders that are either at the ideation or build phase of their business. The program will run for a total of 12 weeks in conjunction with PYROS, and will culminate in an annual demo day showcase.
Led by a dedicated program manager and entrepreneur-in-residence (EIR), the program is made up of four main parts:
BLK•Tech is one of the accelerator groups in 1871’s PYROS program, a tailored curriculum that offers educational programming and mentorship to members building, launching, and scaling their businesses. PYROS, which was first introduced in 2019, redefined the startup experience through a format that empowers founders at any stage to build out and scale their innovative ideas. BLK•Tech builds on the success of long term programs WISTEM and LatinX, which support women and LatinX founders in the 1871 community.
The first cohort of BLK•Tech will begin on February 2, 2021 and conclude on April 20, 2020, with subsequent cohorts thereafter, averaging from at least 1 – 2 per year depending on the rotation of 1871’s accelerator programs listed above. Those interested in signing up for BLK•Tech can apply for an 1871 membership to join today.
###
About Verizon
Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) was formed on June 30, 2000 and is celebrating its 20th year as one of the world’s leading providers of technology, communications, information and entertainment products and services. Headquartered in New York City and with a presence around the world, Verizon generated revenues of $131.9 billion in 2019. The company offers data, video and voice services and solutions on its award winning networks and platforms, delivering on customers’ demand for mobility, reliable network connectivity, security and control.
About 1871
1871 is Chicago’s technology hub and the #1 ranked private business incubator in the world. It exists to inspire, equip, and support founders, growth scalers and innovators in building extraordinary businesses. 1871 is home to ~450 technology startups, ~400+ growth stage companies, and ~1,500 members, and is supported by an entire ecosystem focused on accelerating their growth and creating jobs in the Chicagoland area. The member experience includes virtual and in person access to workshops, events, mentorship, and more. The nonprofit organization has 350 mentors available to its members, alongside access to more than 100 partner corporations, universities, education programs, accelerators, venture funds and others. Since its inception in 2012, more than 650 alumni companies are currently still active, have created over 11,000 jobs, and have raised more than $1.65 billion in follow-on capital.
