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“Explore China, Pay Your Way” forum promotes more convenient mainland payment for Hong Kong and Macao residents as well as overseas visitors

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HONG KONG, June 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The “Explore China, Pay Your Way” Forum was successfully held on June 26 in Hong Kong. The event was hosted by the Chinese Banking Association of Hong Kong (HKCBA), co-organized by UnionPay International (UPI) and supported by Bank of China (Hong Kong) (BOCHK). Stephen Chan, Deputy Chief Executive of BOCHK, representing the HKCBA; Liu Naji, Executive Vice President of SAFE Investment Company Limited, representing the People’s Bank of China (PBOC); Michelle Shao, General Manager of UPI Hong Kong Branch; and Dick Ho, Deputy General Manager of BOC Credit Card (International) Limited, delivered speeches at the event. Approximately 100 representatives from various sectors attended, including banks and electronic payment institutions from Hong Kong and Macao, international chambers of commerce, and the Hong Kong Chinese Visa Application Service Center.

At the beginning of this year, the State Council of China issued the Opinions on Further Optimizing Payment Services to Facilitate Payments, which included among its priorities facilitating payment for overseas visitors to the Chinese mainland. Relevant departments, Chinese local governments and financial institutions rapidly implemented the directive, leading to significant improvements in payment services. Following the issuance of the Opinions, UnionPay immediately launched “Project Excellence 2024” and collaborated with industry parties to enact the new priorities.

The continuous development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area has generated increasingly close relationships between the three regions while attracting more overseas visitors. Hong Kong and Macao serve as the optimal platforms for promoting and publicizing payment convenience in the Chinese mainland. Today’s event continues the efforts of “Project Excellence 2024” by showcasing the rapid development and innovation of UnionPay and the local payment system. This has helped Hong Kong and Macao residents, as well as overseas visitors to the Chinese mainland, enjoy a safer, more convenient and comfortable payment service experience, giving impetus to greater mobility, deeper exchange and increased economic cooperation.

On behalf of the HKCBA, Stephen Chan, Deputy Chief Executive of BOCHK, stated that Hong Kong possesses the unique advantage of being supported by the Chinese mainland while being connected to the world. Its integration with the nation’s development plan opens up enormous opportunities for Hong Kong to collaborate and develop in tandem with the Chinese mainland. At the same time, as an international financial center, Hong Kong serves as a bridge for overseas financial institutions and multinational corporations to access the mainland market. The city is also an important gateway for overseas visitors travelling to the mainland. The HKCBA has actively responded to the Central Government’s directives by continuing to strengthen the promotion of payment services, including publicizing the latest developments in mainland payment services to representatives from international chambers of commerce in Hong Kong as well as overseas enterprises. It has also boosted the overseas promotion of new enhancement measures to facilitate payment convenience on the mainland, encouraging overseas visitors to experience first-hand the exceptional payment services available.

On behalf of the PBOC, Liu Naji, Executive Vice President of SAFE Investment Company Limited, remarked, “The People’s Bank of China has implemented a series of measures to address difficulties in the payment field, achieving significant results in service optimization. In May, both the number and volume of foreign card transactions via POS machines doubled compared to February, with over two million overseas visitors now using mobile payment. Cash services in commercial banks also continued to improve. We are very pleased with the role that Hong Kong is playing as a unique platform for our efforts to increase visibility. Looking forward, China will continue to enhance payment services and convenience for all, allowing our friends worldwide to enjoy the nation’s high-quality development. We hope that smooth payment services will serve as a positive step towards strengthening trust and supporting future cooperation.”

Michelle Shao, General Manager of UPI Hong Kong Branch, explained that “Project Excellence 2024” is more than just a payment initiative: rather, it represents UnionPay’s commitment to building a robust and inclusive payment ecosystem that caters to customers’ needs. Subsequently, Roger Lee, Assistant General Manager of UPI Hong Kong Branch, provided a detailed introduction to UnionPay’s latest achievements in the field of cross-border payments as well as the diverse payment options available to Hong Kong and Macao residents. UnionPay data shows that transactions by Hong Kong and Macao residents in the Chinese mainland have continued to grow this year. In the first quarter of 2024, the number of mobile payment transactions in the Chinese mainland generated by UnionPay cards issued in Hong Kong and Macao increased by 107% year-on-year, 16 times that of the same period in 2019, accounting for 72% of the total number of transactions. In line with this trend, UnionPay will now offer more “SplendorPlus” benefits via its Greater Bay Area theme card, which is popular among Hong Kong and Macao residents.

Dick Ho, Deputy General Manager of BOC Credit Card (International) Limited, emphasized BOCHK’s full support of the mainland’s efforts to enhance payment convenience. By optimizing its payment products and promoting spending offers, BOCHK is actively encouraging customers to adopt a “swipe card for large purchases, scan QR codes for smaller ones” approach when making payments in the Chinese mainland. In the first quarter of 2024, the transaction value of BOC Credit Card in Shenzhen saw a robust year-on-year surge of over 60%, while transaction volumes more than doubled. In the same period, the overall QR payment transaction value and volume for its customers grew threefold in the Chinese mainland. Meanwhile, the number of transactions via mobile payment application BoC Pay surged more than 3 times, while the number of BoC Pay customers rose by more than 2 times. Dick added that BOC Credit Card is delighted with the remarkable performance of its payment services and will continue to collaborate with various strategic partners to provide seamless payment solutions that meet customers’ evolving needs.

This successful event showcased the innovation and development of the local payment system while promoting cooperation between Hong Kong, Macao and the Chinese mainland in payment services. Participants expressed their commitment to continuing the promotion of payment facilitation and providing more convenient and secure cross-boundary payment services for Hong Kong and Macao residents and enterprises. They also looked forward to further strengthening cooperation with banks and electronic payment institutions in Hong Kong and Macao, as well as international chambers of commerce and other institutions, to jointly promote innovation and development in the payment field.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/explore-china-pay-your-way-forum-promotes-more-convenient-mainland-payment-for-hong-kong-and-macao-residents-as-well-as-overseas-visitors-302184151.html

SOURCE UnionPay International

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CLIN OPS SOLUTIONS EXPANDS INDUSTRY IMPPACT THROUGH EXCLUSIVE EVENTS, NETWORKING DINNERS, AND EXPERT-LED WEBINARS

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Bridging talent, insight, and innovation—beyond recruitment

BOSTON, April 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Clin Ops Solutions, a leading recruitment partner to biotech and pharmaceutical organizations, is redefining how clinical research professionals connect, learn, and grow.

Known for delivering top-tier talent across clinical operations, the company is expanding its impact through a curated portfolio of exclusive networking dinners, industry-focused webinars, and collaborative event experiences—designed to go beyond traditional recruitment and actively support career growth, knowledge exchange, and operational excellence.

“At Clin Ops Solutions, we recognized that the industry doesn’t just need connections—it needs meaningful conversations and shared insight,” said Sylvain Bédard, Founder and CEO. “Our events create spaces where leaders can openly discuss challenges, exchange ideas, and ultimately strengthen the future of clinical research.”

A New Model for Industry Engagement
Networking Dinners – Private, invitation-only gatherings that bring together senior leaders in clinical operations, regulatory affairs, and vendor management. These settings foster candid discussions on real-world challenges—far from the noise of large conferences.

Expert-Led Webinars – Timely sessions addressing critical industry trends, including site engagement, patient recruitment, study start-up inefficiencies, and vendor alignment. Each webinar delivers actionable insights from experienced professionals across the clinical research ecosystem.

Collaborative Industry Events – Strategic partnerships with organizations and industry experts to host panels, roundtables, and thought leadership discussions that tackle the most pressing operational challenges in clinical trials today.

Beyond Recruitment: Driving Career Growth and Industry Progress
While Clin Ops Solutions remains a trusted recruitment partner, its expanded initiatives reflect a broader mission: to empower clinical research professionals at every stage of their careers.

Through these events, attendees gain direct access to industry leaders and decision-makers, insights into evolving clinical trial challenges and solutions, opportunities to build meaningful, long-term professional relationships, and exposure to new career pathways and organizational perspectives.

This approach not only strengthens individual careers but also contributes to more efficient, connected, and forward-thinking clinical trial operations.

Supporting a More Connected Clinical Research Community
As the clinical research landscape continues to evolve, Clin Ops Solutions is committed to creating platforms that encourage transparency, collaboration, and shared learning.

By integrating recruitment with thought leadership and industry engagement, the company is positioning itself as more than a staffing partner—it is becoming a connector of ideas, expertise, and innovation.

About Clin Ops Solutions
Clin Ops Solutions is a specialized recruitment firm supporting biotech and pharmaceutical companies in building high-performing clinical operations teams. Through a unique blend of talent solutions, industry events, and collaborative initiatives, the company connects professionals and organizations to drive success in clinical research.

The company’s business development efforts are led by Jason Milovanovic and Leticia Tarilonte, both Vice Presidents of Business Development, who work closely with clients and industry partners to support growth, build relationships, and expand Clin Ops Solutions’ presence across the clinical research landscape.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/clin-ops-solutions-expands-industry-imppact-through-exclusive-events-networking-dinners-and-expert-led-webinars-302749129.html

SOURCE Clin Ops Solutions

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Chapters Health System Named 2026 USA TODAY Top Workplaces

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TEMPLE TERRACE, Fla., April 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Chapters Health System, the nation’s leading chronic illness innovator and largest nonprofit hospice provider, proudly announced that it has once again earned the prestigious 2026 USA TODAY Top Workplaces award.

The award honors organizations with 150 or more employees that have created exceptional, people-first cultures. This year, more than 40,500 organizations were invited to participate. The winners are recognized for their commitment to fostering a workplace environment that values employee listening and engagement. USA TODAY showcased the winners online and at the National Awards Summit in Nashville.

“Earning the USA TODAY Top Workplaces once again speaks to the incredible momentum Chapters Health System has gained in driving a people-first culture while sustaining exponential grown through multiple affiliations on the West Coast,” said Andrew Molosky, President and CEO, Chapters Health System. “Thanks to our incredible team, we are proving that quality, growth, and culture can all thrive by leveraging our unique approach to healthcare.”

Winners are determined by authentic employee feedback captured through a confidential survey conducted by Energage, the HR research and technology company behind the Top Workplaces program since 2006. The results are calculated based on employee responses to statements about Workplace Experience Themes, which are proven indicators of high performance.

At Chapters Health, we believe that an engaged, mission-driven culture can transform healthcare,” said Nikki Romence, Chief People Officer, Chapters Health System. “This continued recognition is a testament to our nearly 4,500 team members across the country and their commitment to collaboration, innovation, and accountability. Their focus on our mission of taking care of patients, or taking care of those who do allows us to provide exceptional care to the thousands of families who depend on us each day.”

To learn more about career opportunities at Chapters Health System and the opportunity to change the future of healthcare, click here.

About Chapters Health System
Chapters Health System is boldly innovating the future of chronic illness care through its collective portfolio of more than 30 different companies and programs, including the nation’s largest nonprofit hospice network, PACE, value-based care such as CareNu, managed services organizations, technology solutions, advanced illness offerings, consulting, and more. Established in 1983 as a community-centered, nonprofit entity, Chapters Health has grown exponentially through its radical approach to healthcare that leverages a one-of-a-kind system to support patients, families, and caregivers across the country, while remaining grounded in the mission of taking care of patients, or taking care of those who do®. Chapters Health has been nationally recognized by Great Places to Work, Fortune®, USA Today, and others for being a top place to work. To learn more, visit www.chaptershealth.org, like us on Facebook or follow us on X and LinkedIn.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chapters-health-system-named-2026-usa-today-top-workplaces-302749035.html

SOURCE Chapters Health System

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CC&N Launches Data Center Day 2 Infrastructure Support to Sustain Performance in Live Environments

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Employee-owned company expands services to provide embedded teams that protect uptime, manage continuous change, and support long-term data center performance.

BROOKFIELD, Wis., April 21, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — As demand for data infrastructure continues to accelerate, CC&N is expanding its infrastructure support capabilities into data center environments. The Southeastern Wisconsin-based, 100 percent employee-owned company today announced the availability of its Data Center Day 2 Infrastructure Support services for mission-critical environments.

“Our Day 2 Infrastructure Support teams stay embedded in the environment, helping organizations manage change without compromising performance,” said Dan Witkofski, President of CC&N. “We focus on getting the details right so issues don’t surface later.”

While much of the industry focuses on data center construction and deployment, CC&N is building on its experience in those environments to support and maintain them once live, which includes ongoing operational support. Once infrastructure is installed, environments continue to evolve as systems expand, equipment changes and operational demands increase.

“At CC&N, we understand that the work doesn’t stop once a data center is up and running; we know that it shifts,” said Dan Witkofski, President of CC&N. “Our Day 2 Infrastructure Support teams stay embedded in the environment, helping organizations manage change without compromising performance. We focus on getting the details right so issues don’t surface later.”

CC&N’s Day 2 Infrastructure Support services provide embedded technicians who operate inside live data center environments as an extension of the customer’s team. Working within established workflows, ticketing systems and change management processes, these technicians help ensure consistency, accountability and precision across all infrastructure activities.

The service offering includes:

Support for moves, adds and changes (MAC)Troubleshooting of fiber, copper and rack-level connectivityProactive infrastructure maintenanceDisciplined labeling and documentation practices that preserve clarity and traceability over time

By combining physical infrastructure expertise with operational alignment, CC&N helps organizations reduce risk, improve response times, and maintain long-term system reliability.

“Day 2 support is about maintaining control in environments that are constantly changing,” Witkofski added. “We’ve long supported these types of needs for our customers, and now we’re bringing that same discipline and expertise directly into data center environments. Our teams bring the operational discipline and hands-on expertise needed to keep infrastructure organized, responsive and reliable as demands grow.”

CC&N’s approach is rooted in its employee-owned structure, where technicians take ownership of their work and remain engaged until issues are fully resolved. The company’s teams operate across hyperscale, colocation and enterprise data centers, supporting mission-critical environments where uptime is essential and precision matters.

As organizations continue to scale their data center operations, CC&N’s Day 2 Infrastructure Support services provide a structured, consistent approach to managing ongoing infrastructure needs without expanding internal headcount.

To learn more about CC&N’s Data Center Day 2 Infrastructure Support services, visit cc-n.com or contact the company directly to start a conversation.

About CC&N

Founded in 1985, CC&N is a network infrastructure company specializing in the design, installation, and support of mission critical connectivity systems. The company delivers structured cabling, Wi Fi, DAS, UPS, and data center infrastructure services, helping organizations stay reliably connected without disrupting operations. CC&N has spent decades building an experienced team that delivers customers depth of knowledge, exceptional craftsmanship, reliable on-time delivery and highly responsive customer care. The company has offices in Brookfield, Menasha, Eau Claire and Madison to provide both project and service work to small, mid-size and enterprise companies in a wide range of businesses and industries. CC&N is a 100% employee-owned ESOP and an OwnersEdge operating company.

About OwnersEdge

Based in Waukesha, Wis., OwnersEdge Inc. is a 100% employee-owned ESOP holding company that strives to invest in and build sustainable businesses throughout the Midwest. The operating companies within the OwnersEdge portfolio utilize their industry expertise to drive business growth and create value for stakeholders including customers, communities and the ESOP employee owners. The existing companies in its portfolio – Asche & Spencer, BAYCOM, CC&N, Implecho, QComp Technologies and EmbedTek – provide diverse products and services to a variety of market segments ranging from public safety to construction to manufacturing and music production. For more information, visit OwnersEdge.com.

Media Contact

Andrea Meyers, Stream Creative, 1 414-530-0704, andrea@streamcreative.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prweb.com/releases/ccn-launches-data-center-day-2-infrastructure-support-to-sustain-performance-in-live-environments-302749076.html

SOURCE CC&N

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