Connect with us

Technology

ROAR SOCIAL ANNOUNCES PROMOTION OF MIKE DODGE TO PRESIDENT AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

Published

2 years ago

on

Gen Z-focused Platform Revolutionizes Social Media as a Powerful Tool for Social Impact by Replacing the “Like” with the “Give”

LOS ANGELES, June 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Roar Social, the new Gen Z platform that reimagines social media as a powerful tool for social change, today announces the promotion of Mike Dodge to President and Chief Operating Officer. This significant promotion comes as Roar Social continues to experience substantial buzz since its launch in the Apple App Store.

Dodge, who has been instrumental in overseeing Roar Social’s Finance, Legal, Operations, Content Moderation, and Strategic Partnerships teams, will now expand his role to the critical areas of Corporate Strategy, Business Intelligence, and Human Resources.

“Mike’s promotion is a testament to his exceptional leadership and the significant contributions he has made to Roar Social’s growth and strategic direction,” said Robert Weiss, CEO and Founder of Roar Social. “His steady and experienced hand will help guide Roar Social through our closed beta period and upcoming public launch. We are committed to our mission of transforming social media into a powerful engine for social impact, and Mike is the ideal person to help lead us on this journey.”

Dodge brings over two decades of experience in building and growing companies at the intersection of media and technology. Before joining Roar Social, he was the Chief Operating Officer of Care Solace, where he focused on improving mental healthcare for school systems and their families. Dodge has also held C-Level roles at 101 Networks, theAudience, and Evolve Media, and has worked at a wide variety of iconic companies such as McKinsey & Company, General Electric, and Procter & Gamble. He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Dodge’s new position follows the previous promotions for Ash Steffy to EVP and Chief Experience Officer, and James Smitley to EVP and Chief Technology Officer. The elevation of Steffy and Smitley significantly expanded their responsibilities, helping to drive forward Roar Social’s mission and growth.

Steffy joined Roar Social in October 2020 as Chief Brand Officer and has been a pivotal force in developing Roar Social’s product vision and brand. He has built and led the company’s Product, Marketing, PR/Communications, and Human Interface and Design teams. His promotion to EVP and Chief Experience Officer then expanded his responsibilities to include Content Strategy, Community Development, and Creator/Influencer Relations. His previous roles include leadership positions at the Walt Disney Company, Ovation and FanDragon Technologies – where he excelled at leading teams to create unforgettable consumer experiences.

Smitley joined Roar Social as Head of Engineering in May 2022, where he built and led the company’s onshore and offshore software development teams, overseeing all aspects of Roar Social’s technical direction and engineering strategy. Smitley’s promotion to EVP and Chief Technology Officer then expanded his responsibilities to include Platform Scaling, Innovation/R&D, and AI/Machine Learning Integration. Smitley has over 20 years of experience in technology, having led teams at LinkedIn, Atlassian, PointDrive, and kettle.ai. His leadership at Roar Social has been crucial in developing innovative technical solutions and fostering high morale among the engineering team.

“Ash and Jim have both played critical roles in Roar Social’s success to date,” said Weiss. “Ash’s experience and expertise have been instrumental in shaping our company’s product vision and creative direction, while Jim’s exceptional leadership has led to groundbreaking technical solutions and a robust development cadence. We are fortunate to have such talented leaders driving our mission forward.”

Since its founding, Roar Social has made significant strides, including raising more than $10 million in seed funding, developing comprehensive Alpha and Beta products, and emerging from stealth mode in June 2023. The Beta product, available on the Apple App Store since August 2023, has opened the platform to a growing community of engaged users supporting causes such as Climate Change, Voting Rights, Mental Health, Cure Cancer, and Disaster Relief.

Roar Social invites creators, influencers, and users to join the VIP Early Access list. Download the Roar Social app in the Apple App Store. To learn more and download photos, please visit RoarSocial.com. 

About Roar Social

Roar Social is a new Gen Z platform that reimagines social media as a powerful engine for social impact. Launched in the Apple App Store summer 2023, Roar Social replaces the “Like” with the “Give,” leveraging the video content users love to raise money for causes they care about. Roar Social uses “Gamified Giving” to let everyone change the world, one tap at a time.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/roar-social-announces-promotion-of-mike-dodge-to-president-and-chief-operating-officer-302178853.html

SOURCE Roar Social

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Technology

America’s Largest Political Group Is Getting Its Own Election Night

Published

22 minutes ago

on

October 26, 2026

By

A record 45% of Americans identify with neither party. On November 3, they get the first nationally televised Election Night built around the independent voter bloc, presented by United Independents, the organization behind the Independent National Convention, in partnership with DeFiance Media.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Can the country’s largest bloc of voters turn identity into representation? Independents now make up 45% of U.S. adults, a record high in Gallup’s 2025 data, yet partisan coverage continues to dominate mainstream mediums. On November 3, one broadcast will cover the election from the Independent point of view.

Broadcast live from the National Press Club’s television studio in Washington, D.C. Election Night 2026: Independent Edition is an eight-hour program hosted by Christopher Life, founder and CEO of United Independents, and Macy Gunnell, NewsForce’s White House correspondent. DeFiance Media will be producing and streaming the broadcast.

Built on live election data from The Associated Press (AP), the program will call the national races as the returns come in. Then it goes where other broadcasts don’t: race-by-race coverage of independent candidates in consequential congressional contests, and guest conversations with the strategists and organizers behind them.

Built for the Voters Both Parties Are Chasing

Two generations of Americans have come of age as independent voters, and in 74 years of nationally televised Election Night broadcasts, not one has been built around them. This one is: national results and the balance of power, dedicated coverage of the independent candidates who could tip the next Congress, and a live chat with selected viewer questions put to the hosts and guests on air.

Open to Every Newsroom

Television pool feed. U.S. television outlets, including local stations, can carry the program live, in full or in part, separate from DeFiance Media’s full-program streaming.Social streaming. The broadcast streams through participating social media partners. Channels that want to carry it can sign up at Election2026.live.Live clips and excerpts. Newsrooms, commentators, and creators can pull portions of the program for reporting and social distribution while the broadcast is underway.

Request access through the Media & Distribution Access Form at Election2026.live.

Free and Accessible Nationwide

Going live Tuesday, November 3rd, 2026, from 6 PM- 2 AM ET. Updates, guest announcements, and viewing instructions: Election2026.live.

Media Contact

Shaun Saunders
shaun@graffiticreativegroup.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/americas-largest-political-group-is-getting-its-own-election-night-302919753.html

SOURCE DeFiance Media

Continue Reading

Technology

Pianist Michael Weinstein Wins Best Social Media Music Collaborations at the 2026 Vega Awards

Published

22 minutes ago

on

October 26, 2026

By

With more than a million followers across social media, Weinstein’s piano collaborations bring together vocalists from around the world to create unique musical performances and reach new audiences.

SOUTH SALEM, N.Y., Oct. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Pianist, entrepreneur and social media creator Michael Weinstein has been recognized at the 2026 Vega Digital Awards in the Social Media Collaboration category for his music collaboration series, Piano Sessions: Bringing Voices Together Through Music.

“I love collaborating with talented singers including building friendships that have become just as meaningful as the music itself.”

Weinstein has built a social media audience of more than a million followers across TikTok, Instagram and other platforms by sharing piano performances and collaborations with singers from around the world. His videos feature vocalists performing alongside his piano accompaniment, creating intimate musical performances that showcase each artist’s individual talent and style.

While Weinstein has spent much of his professional career building businesses and marketing consumer brands, music has always remained one of his greatest passions.

“Music has always been a huge part of my life and one of the things I enjoy most is collaborating with other musicians,” said Weinstein. “I’ve had the opportunity to work with so many incredibly talented singers and I love being able to play alongside them and create something special together. It’s also rewarding to introduce these artists to new audiences while building relationships and friendships that have become just as meaningful as the music itself.”

An accomplished pianist and keyboardist, Weinstein has collaborated with an impressive range of vocalists, including artists who have performed and recorded with Maroon 5, Sting, John Legend, Alicia Keys, Usher, Lauryn Hill and Jill Scott. He has also collaborated with standout performers from American Idol, America’s Got Talent and The Voice.

Weinstein is also planning a live concert in New York City in 2027, bringing together several of the talented vocalists featured on his social media channels for a special collaborative performance. Additional details will be announced in the coming months.

Outside of music, Weinstein is the Founder and CEO of JAM Direct, a marketing and advertising agency, and former Chief Marketing Officer of Allstar Products Group, where he was responsible for marketing some of the most successful products in “As Seen On TV” history, including the Snuggie, ShamWow and Shake Weight.

Watch Michael Weinstein’s performances here:

https://linktr.ee/mweinsteinmusic

About the Vega Digital Awards

The Vega Digital Awards is an international competition recognizing excellence in social media, digital marketing and brand strategy. Judged by the International Awards Associate (IAA), the competition honors work that demonstrates innovation, effectiveness and measurable impact across the global marketing landscape.

Media Contact

Michael Weinstein, JAM Direct, 1 9146610053, mw@jamdirect.com, https://michaelweinstein.me/

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prweb.com/releases/pianist-michael-weinstein-wins-best-social-media-music-collaborations-at-the-2026-vega-awards-302919551.html

SOURCE JAM Direct

Continue Reading

Technology

Landis+Gyr Secures Major Contract with Leading US Utility

Published

1 hour ago

on

October 26, 2026

By

CHAM, Switzerland and ALPHARETTA, Ga., Oct. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Landis+Gyr Group AG (SIX: LAND), a global energy technology leader driving intelligent innovation across the grid, today announced that it has secured a major contract with a leading US investor-owned electric utility. The agreement covers more than 3 million advanced metering endpoints.

Under the agreement, Landis+Gyr will provide Revelo meters and associated network and head-end system technologies, complemented by advanced security solutions, premium support, and software maintenance and services. The deployment is expected to advance the utility’s grid modernization objectives by enhancing security, grid visibility and operational performance.

“This important win reflects the strong momentum of our Grid Edge Intelligence portfolio and the trust customers place in Landis+Gyr to support large-scale grid modernization programs. By combining advanced metering, integrated technology, security and support capabilities, we look forward to helping this utility enhance grid visibility, reliability and operational performance,” said Peter Mainz, Chief Executive Officer of Landis+Gyr.

About Landis+Gyr

Landis+Gyr is a global energy technology leader, delivering intelligent solutions that connect devices, data, and decisions across the grid. Trusted by more than 2,000 utilities worldwide, we transform traditional devices into intelligent, networked sensors, giving utilities real-time grid visibility and system control. With these combined insights, electric, gas, and water companies can anticipate demand, optimize operations, and deliver energy that’s more reliable, resilient, accessible, safe, and sustainable for everyone. For more information, please visit our website www.landisgyr.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/landisgyr-secures-major-contract-with-leading-us-utility-302919687.html

Continue Reading

Trending