Market Newsdesk

CHICAGO, Feb. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Besides Tampa Bay, this year’s big winner was Cadillac with its Edward-Scissorhands-inspired commercial that led to a 194% traffic bump to its respective branded pages on Cars.com™ (NYSE: CARS), a leading digital automotive marketplace and solutions provider.¹ GM also saw triple-digit traffic increases to its EV pages on the marketplace while Jeep came in third place at a whopping 93% lift from car-shopping football fans. Overall, auto brands’ Big Game commercials drove a 38% average increase in Cars.com site pageviews as football fans multitasked during the game and sought the marketplace’s trusted third-party input to aid them on their shopping journey.

“This year’s Big Game saw 50% less OEM advertisers compared to last year, likely due to overall sports viewership down all season,” said Brooke Skinner Ricketts, chief experience officer of Cars.com. “Some automakers favored more targeted, efficient digital media advertising on Cars.com around the Big Game to better reach the millions of active car shoppers who choose our marketplace as a critical destination to research, read reviews and connect with local dealers. As automotive brands continue to focus on this valuable in-market shopper audience, Cars.com is a leading platform for marketers who prioritize impact and efficiency.”

For those brands that opted for a big ticket TV commercial during the game, some ads sparked more action from car shoppers than others. When Will Ferrell portrayed holding a grudge against Norway for the country’s electric vehicle adoption in GM’s comedic commercial, Cars.com saw a 169% increase in consumers flocking to GM’s EV pages to discover more about the automaker’s EV models. In addition, the commercial triggered a 77% increase in total EV searches on Cars.com during the game and a 41% increase for used Hummers.

Visits to other featured brands’ pages peaked, too:

• 93% – Jeep’s ‘The Middle’ featuring Bruce Springsteen
• 13% – Toyota’s Jessica Long story
• 157% – Ford Mach-E, aired in select local markets

Cars.com analyzed site traffic patterns to advertised car model pages during the eight minutes before each spot aired and again eight minutes after.

For more reviews, car-buying advice and tips, visit Cars.com/news.

¹

Cars.com Internal Data

About CARS
CARS is a leading digital marketplace and solutions provider for the automotive industry that connects car shoppers with sellers. Launched in 1998 with the flagship marketplace Cars.com and headquartered in Chicago, the Company empowers shoppers with the data, resources, and digital tools needed to make informed buying decisions and seamlessly connect with automotive retailers. In a rapidly changing market, CARS enables dealerships and OEMs with innovative technical solutions and data-driven intelligence to better reach and influence ready-to-buy shoppers, increase inventory turn, and gain market share.

In addition to Cars.com, CARS companies include Dealer Inspire, a technology provider building solutions that future-proof dealerships with more efficient operations and connected digital experiences, FUEL, which gives dealers and OEMs the opportunity to harness the untapped power of digital video by leveraging Cars.com’s pure audience of in-market car shoppers, and DealerRater, a leading car dealer review and reputation management platform.

The full suite of CARS properties include Cars.com™, Dealer Inspire®, DealerRater®, FUEL™, Auto.com™, PickupTrucks.com™ and NewCars.com®. For more information, visit www.Cars.com.

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SOURCE Cars.com Inc.

NEW YORK and MIDDLEBURG, Va., Feb. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Meredith Corporation‘s (NYSE: MDP) FOOD & WINE and Sheila Johnson’sSalamander Hotels & Resorts announce the debut of The Family Reunion presented by Kwame Onwuachi, a multi-day event that will celebrate diversity in the hospitality community through cooking classes and demonstrations, wine tastings and dinners, and thought-provoking panel discussions with world-class chefs, sommeliers and industry leaders including Carla Hall, Edouardo Jordan, Nina Compton, Carlton McCoy, Gregory Gourdet, Mashama Bailey, Rodney Scott, Tavel Bristol-Joseph, Pierre Thiam and more.

Co-hosted by chef and author Kwame Onwuachi and Salamander Hotels & Resorts Founder & CEO Sheila Johnson, The Family Reunion will take place August 19 – 22, 2021 at Johnson’s Five-Star-rated Salamander Resort & Spa in Middleburg, Virginia, located in the heart of the state’s wine country and just one hour from Washington, D.C.

Event tickets will go on sale in April at www.SalamanderHotels.com/FamilyReunion. Resort packages and individual ticket options will be available, while specific programming will also be unveiled at that time.*

Nurturing, developing and celebrating racial and ethnic diversity within the next generation of hospitality professionals is a core part of the mission of the event. In addition to experiences taking place throughout the 340-acre property’s outdoor event spaces, Cooking Studio, Culinary Garden and restaurants, there will be a center stage venue hosting a rotating lineup of presentations and panel discussions. Throughout the weekend, speakers, chefs and sommeliers will delve closely into the Black cooking traditions that have shaped cuisine in America, share lessons from the past, and focus on building a better and more inclusive future.  

A portion of the proceeds will be used to create a mentorship and scholarship program which fosters diversity in the hospitality industry, as well as to support efforts to help end childhood hunger.

The only African-American woman to wholly own a Forbes Five-Star resort, Sheila Johnson is renowned as the co-founder of Black Entertainment Television and is also a partner in Monumental Sports & Entertainment. As CEO and founder of Salamander Hotels & Resorts, which manages luxury properties in the US and the Caribbean, she has spoken frequently about the need for greater diversity within the hospitality industry.

“Our remarkable, constantly renewing and evolving industry is as diverse as any other,” said Johnson. “But, we can, and should do more. Therefore, I’m immensely proud to partner with FOOD & WINE and Kwame Onwuachi and delighted Salamander Resort & Spa can provide a platform for thoughtful discussion about inclusion.” 

Leading up to the event, Onwuachi, who is also a 2019 FOOD & WINE Best New Chef and the author of the culinary memoir Notes from a Young Black Chef, will spend nine days in residency at the resort, where he will be cooking food based on his Afro-Caribbean heritage.

“We should be doing everything in our power to celebrate diversity in our industry,” said Onwuachi. “For too long we have gone unnoticed and under-appreciated. This is our time.”

The Family Reunion Presented by Kwame Onwuachi is part of the expanding FOOD & WINE Classic network of events that’s anchored by the celebrated FOOD & WINE Classic in Aspen, a mainstay of the culinary world for over three decades, as well as the recently launched FOOD & WINE Classic at Home virtual events, among others. Created in collaboration with Salamander Hotels & Resorts, FOOD & WINE will bring its expertise in editorial event production to the creation of The Family Reunion and share stories about the event in print, on foodandwine.com and on F&W Pro, a business content vertical for the hospitality industry.

FOOD & WINE Editor in Chief Hunter Lewis said, “We’re grateful to Kwame for bringing the idea of The Family Reunion to FOOD & WINE and thrilled to partner with him, Sheila, and the team at Salamander Hotels & Resorts to help produce the inaugural event in Virginia’s beautiful wine country. The event’s mission aligns with FOOD & WINE’s commitment to empowering and uplifting more diverse voices in the culinary and food media industries.” 

The Family Reunion enjoys sponsorship support from Virginia Tourism Corporation, Lexus and the Brett Johnson Collection.

* The event will follow appropriate COVID-19 health and safety measures in conjunction with CDC and state guidelines.

About Salamander Hotels & Resorts
Salamander Hotels & Resorts delivers comfortable luxury through signature, immersive experiences that personally enrich the lives of its guests. The company is privately owned and operated, and based in Middleburg, VA, just outside Washington, D.C. Founded by entrepreneur Sheila Johnson in 2005, it has a luxury portfolio featuring the Forbes Five-Star Salamander Resort & Spa in Middleburg, a 340-acre equestrian-inspired property near Washington, D.C.; Half Moon, the iconic luxury resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica, which features the newly opened Eclipse; The Henderson, a 170-room grand beach resort in Destin, FL; Hotel Bennett, a spectacular 179-room hotel in Charleston, SC, overlooking the city’s historic Marion Square; and Innisbrook Resort in Tampa Bay, which hosts the PGA TOUR’s Valspar Championship each year on its Copperhead Course. All Salamander properties are members of Preferred Hotels & Resorts. For additional information visit www.SalamanderHotels.com.

About Salamander Resort & Spa
Salamander Resort & Spa is a Forbes Five-Star rated and LEED Green Building Certified resort situated on 340 picturesque acres in the historic village of Middleburg, Va. Located only one hour from Washington, D.C. and just 35 minutes from Washington Dulles International Airport, the resort is designed to respect the architectural traditions of Virginia’s countryside with 168 spacious rooms and suites that blend into their natural environment. Resort Owner Sheila C. Johnson has created a luxurious destination featuring an award-winning 23,000-square-foot spa, Harrimans Virginia Piedmont Grill, the Gold Cup Wine Bar, a dedicated Cooking Studio, a chef-inspired Culinary Garden as well as the adventurous Tree Top Zip Tour. The resort includes a full-service Equestrian Center with unique programming, a 22-stall stable and riding arena. All spa, culinary and equestrian facilities and programs are open to the community. For more information, visit www.SalamanderResort.com

About FOOD & WINE
FOOD & WINE is the ultimate authority on the best of what’s new in food, drink, travel, design and entertaining. FOOD & WINE has an extensive social media following on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube. FOOD & WINE includes a monthly magazine in print and digital; a website, foodandwine.com; a books division; plus newsletters, clubs, events, dinnerware, cookware and more. At FOOD & WINE, we inspire and empower our wine and food-obsessed community to eat, drink, entertain and travel better—every day and everywhere. FOOD & WINE is part of Meredith Corp.’s (NYSE: MDP: Meredith.com) portfolio of best-in-class brands.

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SOURCE Meredith Corporation

NEW YORK, Feb. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Today, Color Of Change, the nation’s largest online racial justice organization, launched The Pedestal Project – an Augmented Reality (AR) experience on Instagram that lets users place statues of racial justice leaders atop empty pedestals where confederate statues once stood as a refreshing new symbol of equality and progress.

Experience the interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8850551-color-of-change-launches-the-pedestal-project/  

Color Of Change has advocated for the removal of contentious statues for many years. Now, The Pedestal Project uses technology to see a world where statues finally portray worthy idols for future generations. The campaign launches with three incredible racial justice leaders to honor and virtually place on the empty pedestals where the likes of Robert E Lee and Stonewall Jackson once stood:

• 
  
  
  John Lewis
  
  
  
  , Civil Rights leader and Former United States Congressman
• 
  
  
  Alicia Garza
  
  
  
  , Co-founder of the Black Lives Matter Movement, Author, and Principal at Black Futures Lab
• 
  
  
  Chelsea Miller,
  
   Co-founder of Freedom March NYC

The campaign encourages people to snap a picture or a video of their experience and share to social page by tagging @ColorOfChange. The Pedestal Project Instagram Lens is activated via a mobile device on the Color of Change Instagram page, at home, anytime. Color Of Change encourages people to go outside, safely, within their own communities to find empty pedestals where confederate symbols once stood. The AR experience is easy and immersive. Upon accessing the lens, users will be able to select from a gallery of statues, place it atop an empty pedestal and in the activists’ own voice, hear why change is worth fighting for.

“In their time, white nationalist officials erected statues of Confederate leaders for a reason – to send a message about who should dominate this country, and to put Black people in our place,” said Rashad Robinson, president of Color Of Change “In our time, Confederate statues continue to encourage white nationalists who are hell bent on resisting progress. It’s not enough to remove them, we must replace them with symbols of a just vision of America. But most importantly, every statue we change must go hand in hand with a statute we change. We cannot allow symbols like monuments to be a consolation prize — they must accompany real efforts to change laws and outcomes for real people, which is why we’re focusing on three of the many heroes fighting for concrete, anti-racist policy changes that will transform our country for the better.”

“Symbols and their substance matter,” said Alicia Garza, Co-Founder of the Black Lives Matter Movement and one of the featured virtual racial justice leaders in The Pedestal Project. “They are a representation of that which we vow to never forget — they are regular reminders of what we value, who we strive to be, as individuals, as communities, as a nation, as a people. There are symbols of racial terror all over our country — Confederate monuments, crosses burning on lawns of civil rights workers, statues to killers and war criminals. But what if there were monuments to our ongoing struggle for racial justice, for dignity, for democracy — not confined inside of memorials and museums, but everywhere that people gather? The Pedestal Project allows us to imagine a United States that was committed to remembering rather than forgetting, a country striving towards equality and justice.”

“The Civil Rights Movement never ended; it has just taken new forms,” said Chelsea Miller, Co-Founder of Freedom March NYC and one of the featured virtual racial justice leaders in The Pedestal Project. “It is on every generation to build on the work of those who came before us and unapologetically stand on the shoulders of our ancestors. This partnership with Color of Change is a reminder of the power of this movement and the intergenerational work that is required to reimagine what’s next.”

As Instagram users are interacting with The Pedestal Project Lens, Color Of Change is also calling for action! Sign their online petition for the removal of all Confederate symbols in public spaces and replace those empty pedestals of equality and hope. To learn more about the initiative and to find a local empty pedestal, visit ThePedestalProject.com and help turn these ill-conceived pedestals into beacons of racial justice.

The Pedestal Project
 was a pro bono initiative created in partnership with leading creative agency, BBDO New York.

Social Media Tags: #ThePedestalProject , @ColorOfChange

About Color
O
f Change
Color Of Change is the nation’s largest online racial justice organization. They help people respond effectively to injustice in the world around us. As a national online force driven by over 7 million members, they move decision-makers in corporations and government to create a more human and less hostile world for Black people in America. Learn more at www.colorofchange.org and follow on social media at @Colorofchange. 

About BBDO
BBDO’s mantra is “The Work. The Work. The Work.”  Every day, BBDO people in 289 offices in 81 countries work day by day, job by job and client by client to create and deliver the world’s most compelling commercial content.  BBDO is part of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC) (www.omnicomgroup.com), a leading global marketing and corporate communications company.

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/color-of-change-launches-the-pedestal-project-augmented-reality-experience-to-power-racial-justice-301223976.html

SOURCE Color Of Change

RADNOR, Pa., Feb. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — The law firm of Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP alerts investors that a securities fraud class action lawsuit has been filed against Penumbra, Inc. (NYSE:  PEN) (“Penumbra”) on behalf of those who purchased or acquired Penumbra common stock between August 3, 2020 and December 15, 2020, inclusive (the “Class Period”).

Deadline Reminder:  Investors who purchased or acquired Penumbra common stock


during the Class Period may, no later than March 16, 2021, seek to be appointed as a lead plaintiff representative of the class. For additional information or to learn how to participate in this litigation please contact Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP: James Maro, Esq. (484) 270-1453 or Adrienne Bell, Esq. (484) 270-143); toll free at (844) 887-9500; via e-mail at

[email protected]; orclick https://www.ktmc.com/penumbra-inc-securities-class-action?utm_source=PR&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=penumbra

Penumbra is a global healthcare company that develops, manufactures and sells innovative medical devices for patients suffering from stroke and other vascular and neurovascular diseases.  Until recently, one of Penumbra’s flagship products was the “Jet 7 Xtra Flex,” an aspiration catheter designed to be inserted into an affected artery, navigated to a blood clot, and used to suck the clot out of the patient’s body. The Jet 7 Xtra Flex was introduced to the U.S. market in July 2019 and quickly became a “growth driver” for Penumbra, a key source of new revenues.

In mid-2020, however, concerns about the Jet 7 Xtra Flex’s safety began to emerge. On July 27, 2020, Penumbra issued a notice to its U.S. customers and practitioners acknowledging reported instances in which the distal tip of the catheter broke or expanded, carrying a risk of injury or death. The notice warned physicians to exercise caution with Penumbra’s Jet 7 Xtra Flex, and maintained that Penumbra was “committed to product safety and performance” and was “continuing to monitor and investigate these adverse event reports.”  Despite the foregoing, the defendants repeatedly assured investors during the Class Period that the Jet 7 Xtra Flex was “absolutely safe” and “not a product that has any possibility of needing to be recalled,” as Penumbra was taking all necessary steps to protect patients.

The Class Period commences on August 3, 2020, when Penumbra announced its financial results for the second quarter of 2020. On a conference call with analysts conducted the same day, Adam Elsesser, Penumbra’s Chief Executive Officer, was asked about the Jet 7 Xtra Flex MAX, a delivery device that utilizes the Jet 7 Xtra Flex catheter, and responded that Penumbra was “doing some of the work we do with every new product that is cleared to evaluate and make sure it’s all good” and boasted that the device “is exactly what we hoped it would be.”

The truth regarding Jet 7 Xtra Flex’s safety was revealed to the market through a series of disclosures.  First, on September 14, 2020, the Foundation for Financial Journalism (“FFJ”), an independent non-profit news outlet, published an article raising serious questions about the Jet 7 Xtra Flex’s safety profile. The FFJ noted that since being introduced in mid-2019, there were twelve deaths listed in an FDA database that occurred after a surgeon injected an iodine contrast dye into the Jet 7 Xtra Flex.  Following this news, Penumbra’s stock price fell by nearly 3%, from $199.43 per share on September 13, 2020 to $193.66 per share on September 14, 2020.

Then, on November 23, 2020, an article was published in the Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery presenting the cases of three patients who suffered as a result of Jet 7 Xtra Flex device malfunctions, including two fatalities. As this report became more widely circulated, it caused Penumbra stock to fall from $254.71 on November 23, 2020 to $224.12 on November 25, 2020, a decline of about 12%. Finally on December 15, 2020, after the market closed, Penumbra issued a press release announcing that it was issuing an “urgent” recall of the Jet 7 Xtra Flex because the catheter “may become susceptible to distal tip damage during use” which could lead to injury or death.  Following this news, Penumbra’s stock price fell by 7%, from $188.82 per share on December 15, 2020 to $174.98 per share on December 16, 2020, a decline of $13.84 per share.

The complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, the defendants failed to disclose to investors that: (1) the Jet 7 Xtra Flex had known design defects that made it unsafe for its normal use; (2) Penumbra did not adequately address the risk of the Jet 7 Xtra Flex causing serious injury and deaths, which had in fact already occurred; (3) the Jet 7 Xtra Flex was likely to be recalled due to its safety issues; and (4) as a result, Penumbra’s public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.

Penumbra investors may, no later than March 16, 2021, seek to be appointed as a lead plaintiff representative of the class through Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP, or other counsel, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member.  A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of all class members in directing the litigation.  In order to be appointed as a lead plaintiff, the Court must determine that the class member’s claim is typical of the claims of other class members, and that the class member will adequately represent the class.  Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision of whether or not to serve as a lead plaintiff. 

Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check prosecutes class actions in state and federal courts throughout the country involving securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duties and other violations of state and federal law. Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check is a driving force behind corporate governance reform, and has recovered billions of dollars on behalf of institutional and individual investors from the United States and around the world.  The firm represents investors, consumers and whistleblowers (private citizens who report fraudulent practices against the government and share in the recovery of government dollars).  The complaint in this action was not filed by Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check. For more information about Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, please visit www.ktmc.com.

CONTACT:
Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP
James Maro, Jr., Esq.
Adrienne Bell, Esq.
280 King of Prussia Road
Radnor, PA 19087
(844) 887-9500 (toll free)
(610) 667-7706
[email protected]

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SOURCE Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP

ROCHESTER, N.Y., Feb. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Vuzix® Corporation (NASDAQ: VUZI), (“Vuzix” or, the “Company”), a leading supplier of Smart Glasses and Augmented Reality (AR) technology and products, announced today that KDDI Research, Inc. (“KDDI Research”), a research institute that combines the think tank functions of the KDDI Group with R&D functions, has developed a smart hands-free nursing care support system that employs Vuzix Smart Glasses.

The support system, developed in conjunction with Zenkokai, a social welfare corporation that operates and manages nursing care welfare facilities in Tokyo, displays nursing care-related information using Vuzix Smart Glasses, as well as reads it aloud, by combining facial recognition and speech synthesis technology developed by KDDI Research. By using this system, staff members without detailed resident information can now have this information immediately presented on the spot, even that of new residents, making it possible to take any needed appropriate measures.

Demonstration experiments using this system were conducted at Zenkokai nursing homes from October to December 2020 and confirmed that it would be useful for work in nursing care sites. For employees of nursing care facilities to provide optimal care for its residents, it is very important to always keep track of information such as what condition each resident is currently in and what kind of care they need. The nursing care industry tends to have a high turnover rate compared to other industries, a shortage of human resources, and the number of residents that one employee responds to tends to increase. In addition, residents may not be equipped with ID tags for personal identification, and there is a need for a hands-free system that allows employees to quickly identify and view information about residents to provide better services by providing personalized and informed responses to each resident.

“Healthcare opportunities continue to steadily expand for Vuzix around the globe and this smart nursing care support system developed by KDDI Research in conjunction with Zenkokai is yet another example of how using smart glasses can make a real difference in people’s lives,” said Paul Travers, President and Chief Executive Officer at Vuzix. “We look forward to working with KDDI Research in their effort to bring greater safety, efficiency and productivity to the nursing home industry.”

A copy of the KDDI Research, Inc. press release discussing this system can be accessed at https://www.kddi-research.jp/newsrelease/2021/020201.html.

About Vuzix Corporation

Vuzix is a leading supplier of Smart-Glasses and Augmented Reality (AR) technologies and products for the consumer and enterprise markets. The Company’s products include personal display and wearable computing devices that offer users a portable high-quality viewing experience, provide solutions for mobility, wearable displays and augmented reality. Vuzix holds 184 patents and patents pending and numerous IP licenses in the Video Eyewear field. The Company has won Consumer Electronics Show (or CES) awards for innovation for the years 2005 to 2021 and several wireless technology innovation awards among others. Founded in 1997, Vuzix is a public company (NASDAQ: VUZI) with offices in Rochester, NY, Oxford, UK, and Tokyo, Japan.  For more information, visit Vuzix website, Twitter and Facebook pages.

About KDDI Research, Inc.

KDDI Research, Inc. is a research institute that combines the think tank functions of the KDDI Group with R&D functions. In August 2020, KDDI Research, Inc., together with KDDI, formulated KDDI Accelerate 5.0, a vision for a next-generation society with an eye toward 2030, that will accelerate the realization of Society 5.0, a sustainable, people-centered society that balances economic development with solving social issues. We will continue to propose lifestyles that excite customers, provide new value and experiences, and continue to work to solve social issues.

Forward-Looking Statements Disclaimer

Certain statements contained in this news release are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward looking statements contained in this release relate to Vuzix’ the potential of future business growth with KDDI and KDDI Research Institute, opportunities in the nursing home industry, and among other things the Company’s leadership in the Smart Glasses and AR display industry. They are generally identified by words such as “believes,” “may,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “should” and similar expressions. Readers should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which are based upon the Company’s beliefs and assumptions as of the date of this release. The Company’s actual results could differ materially due to risk factors and other items described in more detail in the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s Annual Reports and MD&A filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and applicable Canadian securities regulators (copies of which may be obtained at www.sedar.com or www.sec.gov). Subsequent events and developments may cause these forward-looking statements to change. The Company specifically disclaims any obligation or intention to update or revise these forward-looking statements as a result of changed events or circumstances that occur after the date of this release, except as required by applicable law.

Media and Investor Relations Contact:

Ed McGregor, Director of Investor Relations
Vuzix Corporation 
[email protected] 
Tel: (585) 359-5985

Vuzix Corporation, 25 Hendrix Road, Suite A, West Henrietta, NY 14586 USA, 
Investor Information – [email protected]www.vuzix.com

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SOURCE Vuzix Corporation

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Feb. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Pure Storage (NYSE: PSTG), the IT pioneer that delivers storage as-a-service in a multi-cloud world, today announced that CRN^®, a brand of The Channel Company, has named Andy Martin, Vice President, Global Partner Sales and Wendy Stusrud, Area Vice President, Americas Channel Sales to its 2021 list of Channel Chiefs. The prestigious CRN Channel Chiefs list, released annually, recognizes leading IT channel vendor executives who continually demonstrate outstanding leadership, influence, innovation, and growth.

As a 100% channel centric company, Pure delivers an unrivaled partner experience. Under the leadership of Andy Martin and Wendy Stusrud, the Pure Partner Program has continued to set a high bar, delivering on its promise of providing channel partners the technology and solutions they need to drive faster, smarter, and more innovative business.

In the past year, Pure has further empowered its partners to accelerate growth and customer impact by bringing several new program upgrades to Pure partners, including:

• enhanced offerings for marketing, support, and training;
• solutions for selling in an increasingly virtual world;
• new opportunities for increased incentives;
• the Pure WaveMakers program to reward leaders in solution selling, training and sales;
• the Pure Rewards VIP program, offering additional rewards to be redeemed by loyal partners based on their transactions.

“As we always say, the success of our partners is the success of Pure. I continue to be impressed by and grateful for our many outstanding partners who have achieved the seemingly impossible for their customers over the last year and I look forward to even more growth together in the future.” — Andy Martin, Vice President, Global Partner Sales, Pure Storage

“Partners are an extension of Pure and our mission is to make their lives easier and ensure they have best-in-class solutions, technology, and support to exceed their goals and the goals of their customers. We’re proud to be honored for our commitment to ensuring partner success.” — Wendy Stusrud, Area Vice President, Americas Channel Sales

The 2021 Channel Chiefs are prominent leaders who have influenced the IT channel with cutting-edge strategies, programs and partnerships. All honorees are selected by CRN’s editorial staff based on their dedication, industry prestige, and exceptional accomplishments as channel advocates.

“CRN’s 2021 Channel Chiefs list includes the industry’s biggest channel evangelists, a group of individuals who work tirelessly on behalf of their partners and drive growth through the development of strong partner programs and innovative business strategies that help bring business-critical solutions to market. The Channel Company is proud to recognize these channel influencers and looks forward to following their continued success.” — Blaine Raddon, CEO, The Channel Company

CRN’s 2021 Channel Chiefs list will be featured in the February 2021 issue of CRN Magazine and online at www.CRN.com/ChannelChiefs.

To learn more about the Pure Partner Program, please visit www.purestorage.com/partners.

About Pure Storage
Pure Storage (NYSE: PSTG) gives technologists their time back. Pure delivers a modern data experience that empowers organizations to run their operations as a true, automated, storage as-a-service model seamlessly across multiple clouds. One of the fastest-growing enterprise IT companies in history, Pure helps customers put data to use while reducing the complexity and expense of managing the infrastructure behind it. And with a certified customer satisfaction score in the top one percent of B2B companies, Pure’s ever-expanding list of customers are among the happiest in the world.

Analyst Recognition
Pure Storage has been named a Leader in the 2020 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Primary Storage Arrays.

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Pure Storage, the “P” Logo and all Pure Storage product and service names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of Pure Storage. All other trademarks or names referenced in this document are the property of their respective owners.

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SOURCE Pure Storage