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New Workforce Development Initiative Aims to Help Underserved Populations in South Florida Upskill for Careers in Financial Services

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2 years ago

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With support from Truist Foundation, Build Better Careers program will create pathways to high-growth jobs in banking and financial services for South Florida residents without a college degree

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., July 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL)—a national nonprofit organization dedicated to helping adult learners navigate the pathways between education and employment—today announced the expansion of an ambitious initiative designed to help South Florida residents without a college degree access high-growth jobs in the banking and financial services sector. With funding from the Truist Foundation’s Where it Starts Initiative, the Build Better Careers program aims to expand opportunities for South Florida residents by connecting area job seekers to higher-wage jobs and long-term career opportunities in the industry and recruiting financial services organizations to hire more adult learners.

“Too many South Floridians are currently locked out of economic mobility and high-paying roles either because of insufficient access to education or systemic barriers, such as food insecurity, inadequate child care and a lack of affordable housing,” said Earl Buford, president of CAEL. “This is about mobilizing educators, talent developers, and employers to create pathways to careers in financial services for high-potential individuals within our communities who can take their existing skills to the next level. It’s about creating career ladders and lattices to long-term economic opportunity.”

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in finance-related occupations is projected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2032, with an average of 911,400 openings projected each year. However, many roles beyond the entry level that pay above the median wage require some level of education and training beyond a high school diploma, if not a bachelor’s degree. More than 1.8 million Floridians, or approximately 18% of the state’s adult population, have some college credit, but no degree or credential.

To help broaden access to careers in banking and finance, the Build Better Careers initiative aims to identify, recruit and upskill high-potential working adults and help them translate their existing knowledge and skills to prepare for roles in financial services. Using a peer-to-peer capacity-building model, CAEL will mobilize and train a coalition of workforce training providers, community-based organizations, and institutions of higher education with an initial set of local partners that includes CareerSource South Florida and OIC of South Florida.

“By creating tailored pathways to high-growth careers in financial services, we are addressing a critical need in our community and providing residents with the tools they need to achieve economic stability and success,” said Newton Sanon, President and CEO of OIC of South Florida. “This initiative will not only empower individuals but also strengthen our local economy by ensuring a diverse and skilled workforce.”

Over the next three years, CAEL and its national and regional Build Better Careers partners will collaborate with a diverse set of stakeholders in South Florida communities, including educators, trainers, and employers, working to help connect traditionally underserved populations with career paths in financial services, insurance, and adjacent industries. In addition to providing hands-on training and education, the program will also engage community-based organizations who will help address barriers—such as food and housing insecurity and a lack of affordable child care— that have historically prevented high-potential and qualified individuals from accessing high-growth careers.

Launched in 2022, Build Better Careers is made possible by a generous $15.7 million grant from the Truist Foundation, which will help more than 6,000 adult learners connect with rewarding education-employment pathways over its six-year operational period. The six-year multi-city initiative is designed to create upward mobility for individuals from underserved communities by building career paths in professions and industries historically unavailable to them, such as financial services.

CAEL taps into more than 40 years of experience collaborating with employers, workforce boards and colleges and universities—with a deep subject matter expertise in building education and training programs to meet the needs of adult learners. To design and scale the program in South Florida and four other markets, CAEL has assembled a diverse coalition of national partners, including CareerWork$ (BankWork$ program), adult learner recruitment solution CollegeAPP, labor market analytics firm Lightcast, career planning platform PAIRIN, and experiential learning provider Riipen.

Local community-based organizations, institutions of higher education, and workforce organizations are invited to participate and can find additional information on the initiative at cael.org/truist.

About CAEL: Recognizing that adult learners are the backbone of the U.S. economy, CAEL helps forge a clear, viable connection between education and career success, providing solutions that promote sustainable and equitable economic growth. CAEL opens doors to opportunity in collaboration with workforce and economic developers, postsecondary educators, employers and industry groups, and foundations and other mission-aligned organizations. By engaging with these stakeholders, we foster a culture of innovative, lifelong learning that helps individuals, and their communities thrive. A national membership organization established in 1974, CAEL is a part of Strada Collaborative, a mission-driven nonprofit. Learn more at cael.org and stradacollaborative.org.

About Truist Foundation: The Truist Foundation is committed to Truist Financial Corporation’s (NYSE: TFC) purpose to inspire and build better lives and communities. Established in 2020, the foundation makes strategic investments in nonprofit organizations to help ensure the communities it serves have more opportunities for a better quality of life. The Truist Foundation’s grants and activities focus on building career pathways to economic mobility and strengthening small businesses. Learn more at Truist.com/Purpose/Truist-Foundation.

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SOURCE Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL)

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Alogent Receives Federal Reserve Authorization to Directly Exchange X9 Check Image Files for Banks and Credit Unions, Expanding its Role as a Payments Infrastructure Provider

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43 minutes ago

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April 21, 2026

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PEACHTREE CORNERS, Ga., April 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Alogent (@AlogentCorp), a global software leader in the banking and financial services market, announced it has been authorized by the Federal Reserve to send and receive X9 check image exchange files on behalf of its financial institution clients, enabling end-to-end check presentment and returns without the need for intermediary processors.

This direct connectivity allows banks and credit unions to consolidate capture, processing, clearing, settlement, and returns within a single, integrated Alogent platform, delivering faster processing, simpler integrations, fewer vendors, and greater operational control.

“Becoming authorized by the Federal Reserve to directly exchange X9 files for both outbound presentment and inbound returns marks a fundamental shift in Alogent’s role in the payments ecosystem,” said Dede Wakefield, CEO of Alogent. “By removing third‑party intermediaries, we’re repositioning Alogent as a core infrastructure provider, giving banks and credit unions a more direct path to the Fed, and a strong foundation as payments continue to modernize toward consolidation and real‑time settlement.”

Key Benefits for Banks and Credit Unions Include:

Direct exchange of X9 check presentment and return files with the Federal Reserve, without intermediary processorsFaster clearing and settlement times for check image exchangeEnd-to-end visibility across forward presentment and returns workflowsSimplified technology integrations and reduced vendor sprawlGreater operational control and transparency across payment workflowsA future‑ready foundation for real‑time and next‑generation Fed services

“This authorization translates our product strategy into tangible operational benefits for banks and credit unions,” said Ashish Bhatia, VP of Product Management at Alogent. “By consolidating critical payment workflows within a single platform, institutions gain simpler operations, stronger oversight, and sustained control.”

As adoption of faster payments and modern settlement models accelerates, Alogent’s direct Federal Reserve connectivity positions both the company and its clients at the center of the evolving U.S. payments infrastructure, while establishing a foundation for potential direct connectivity to additional Federal Reserve services, including FedNow® real‑time payments, Fedwire®, FedACH®, and FedLine®. This authorization places Alogent among a limited group of technology providers trusted to directly exchange check image files with the Federal Reserve on behalf of financial institutions.

About Alogent

Alogent provides proven, end-to-end check payment processing, and enterprise content, information, and loan management platforms, to financial institutions of all sizes, including credit unions, community banks, and some of the largest national and international institutions. Our unique approach spans the entire transaction ecosystem — capturing and digitizing transaction data, exception tracking, and automating entire transaction and loan management workflows so that information is available across the enterprise. Alogent’s solution suites leverage the latest in machine learning and predictive analytics, including enterprise-wide data intelligence and reporting solutions that enable financial institutions to deliver products and services that boost engagement through personalization and data-backed decisions. Learn more about Alogent at www.alogent.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/alogent-receives-federal-reserve-authorization-to-directly-exchange-x9-check-image-files-for-banks-and-credit-unions-expanding-its-role-as-a-payments-infrastructure-provider-302746616.html

SOURCE Alogent

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yieldWerx and Enlight Technology Extend Design-to-Test Data Continuity Across Taiwan’s Semiconductor Ecosystem

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43 minutes ago

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April 21, 2026

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HSINCHU, Taiwan, April 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — yieldWerx is expanding its presence in Taiwan through a collaboration with Enlight Technology Co., Ltd., bringing advanced test data aggregation and analysis capabilities to one of the world’s most concentrated semiconductor markets.

The collaboration combines Enlight Technology’s established role across Taiwan’s semiconductor design, manufacturing, and research landscape with yieldWerx’s expertise in data aggregation and statistical analysis. Together, the companies aim to address the increasing demand for data-driven yield optimization as device complexity grows across advanced packaging, silicon photonics, and heterogeneous integration.

Enlight Technology is the authorized representative of Siemens EDA in Taiwan and provides a portfolio of electronic design automation (EDA), manufacturing execution systems (MES), and engineering solutions spanning IC, silicon photonics, MEMS, PCB, and system-level applications. The company supports semiconductor and electronics customers, including fabless design houses, foundries, OSATs, and system companies, with engagement across more than 100 semiconductor organizations and 300 system companies in the region.

As part of the partnership, the companies will work together to:

Provide localized technical engagement and support aligned with Taiwan’s semiconductor workflows and language requirements.Support improved yield learning cycles and more efficient production ramp across the region.Extend yield analytics capabilities into an ecosystem spanning design, verification, and manufacturing execution.

“We are excited to partner with Enlight Technology as we expand into Taiwan and the broader Asian market. Their deep domain expertise and strong ecosystem presence significantly enhance our ability to deliver scalable, data-driven yield solutions to customers operating at the forefront of semiconductor innovation.” — Aftkhar Aslam, CEO, yieldWerx

“As advanced packaging and silicon photonics drive exponential test data growth, our partnership with yieldWerx equips Taiwan’s ecosystem with powerful statistical analysis. We empower customers to turn complex data into actionable insights, accelerating yield learning and time-to-market” — Su Cheng Yu, General Manager, Enlight Technology

About yieldWerx
yieldWerx is a leading data and yield analytics platform for semiconductor manufacturing, advanced packaging, and photonics I/O. The platform provides end-to-end visibility across wafer probe, optical and electrical wafer acceptance, module assembly, and system-level test. By analyzing this data, yieldWerx helps organizations understand yield performance, variability, and production trends, enabling optimized quality and faster time-to-market.

About Enlight Technology Co., Ltd.
Enlight Technology Co., Ltd. is a Taiwan-based provider of electronic design automation and engineering solutions and serves as the authorized representative of Siemens EDA in Taiwan. The company delivers solutions spanning IC, silicon photonics, MEMS, PCB, DFM, and manufacturing execution systems, supporting customers from IC-level design to system-level integration. With over three decades of experience, Enlight Technology provides customized solutions and technical services to the electronics industry.

For further information, please visit https://www.yieldWerx.com or https://www.enlight-tec.com/.

Company contacts:

yieldWerx
Tina Shimizu
Chief Marketing Director
412529@email4pr.com
+1 888-929-4022

Enlight Technology Co., Ltd.
Jamie Su
Marketing Director
412529@email4pr.com 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/yieldwerx-and-enlight-technology-extend-design-to-test-data-continuity-across-taiwans-semiconductor-ecosystem-302748158.html

SOURCE yieldWerx

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Former UK SAS Sargeant Joins Delta Three Oscar to Drive Awareness of Next-Generation Military Protection

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43 minutes ago

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April 21, 2026

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BLACKSBURG, Va., April 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Delta Three Oscar, the military and ballistic protection division of D3O, today announces former UK Special Forces veteran and expedition leader Jay Morton as its first-ever brand ambassador.

 

Morton will bring his military expertise to Delta Three Oscar and will be endorsing the company’s latest impact protection and shock absorbing footwear whilst providing experience backed insights to the team as part of the company’s ongoing innovation into protective equipment.

The partnership is a strategic move for the protection brand to increase awareness and the benefits of its impact and shock absorbing personal protection systems amongst end users. Delta Three Oscar engineers the most advanced ballistic helmet liners, impact protection body armour, and shock absorbing midsoles used in helmets, uniforms, chest plates and footwear worn by U.S. military, NATO forces and law enforcement departments worldwide. The body armour is lightweight, flexible and designed to reduce fatigue by ensuring a comfortable fit with unrivalled impact protection, tough enough to be used in the harshest environments.

Morton served 14 years in the British Armed Forces, including four years in the Parachute Regiment and ten years with the Special Air Service, touring the Afghanistan and Iraq on multiple occasions. His frontline experience and expertise in high-risk environments give him huge credibility to endorse Delta Three Oscar’s next-generation protection designed for elite performance, enhanced comfort, and impact reduction.

Now as an elite expedition leader, Morton has highlighted the importance of trust, comfort, and reliability in protective gear.

“Trust in your protective equipment is absolutely essential,” he said. “When you’re operating in high-risk environments, comfort and reliability are paramount and you can’t afford distractions. Delta Three Oscar’s body and limb protectors deliver exceptional impact and ballistic performance while remaining incredibly comfortable. It’s ‘fit and forget’ protection that allows operators to focus entirely on the mission.”

Delta Three Oscar engineers advanced protection technologies including:

Ballistic body armour protection materials to mitigate back face deformationHALO® helmet suspension systems available in 3, 7 and 9 pad configurationsImpact protection flexible moulded armour for knees and elbows including tough outer shellsUnderfoot shock-absorbing protection used in midsoles

These products and materials are engineered to reduce fatigue, improve comfort, and enhance operational effectiveness in demanding environments.

“Jay brings a huge amount of credibility and real operational insight into what frontline personnel require from their protective equipment,” said Mostyn Thomas, Chief Marketing Officer at Delta Three Oscar. “His experience at the highest level of military performance makes him an ideal partner as we continue advancing protection technology and supporting those who serve, giving them a subconscious advantage by knowing they have the best protection available”

As Delta Three Oscar’s first ambassador, Morton will feature in the company’s latest brand campaign highlighting the benefits of Delta Three Oscar’s unique military protection innovation and performance.

Media Contact:
Serena Thynne
09178533121
412519@email4pr.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/former-uk-sas-sargeant-joins-delta-three-oscar-to-drive-awareness-of-next-generation-military-protection-302748124.html

SOURCE D3O

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