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BloomBoard and Mercy University Partner to Create Accessible Teaching Pathways to Address New York’s Teacher Shortage

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Mercy University to offer on-the-job bachelor’s degree in teaching students with disabilities with Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES signing on as the first to bring the program to districts

DOBBS FERRY, N.Y., Aug. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Mercy University and BloomBoard, a leading talent development provider for K–12 school districts, today announced an innovative new partnership to help address the teacher shortage in New York. Together, they’ll support New York school districts in providing an on-the-job delivery pathway for Mercy’s Bachelor of Science in Teaching Students with Disabilities, B-12 program, to bring more highly qualified special education teachers into New York classrooms. The program removes traditional barriers to earning a bachelor’s degree in teaching, creating a more accessible pathway for aspiring teachers. This is the first in a plan to deliver several on-the-job programs to develop and advance New York teachers.

“We are excited to partner with Mercy University to provide a high quality, accessible education for aspiring teachers while also helping New York school districts solve a critical staffing challenge.” Sanford Kenyon, CEO of BloomBoard

“By partnering with BloomBoard, Mercy University can create innovative pathways for future educators and tackle the teacher shortage,” said Eric Martone, dean of the School of Education at Mercy University. “This new learning model for aspiring special education teachers provides on-the-job accessibility so participants can earn their degree while they’re working in an actual classroom.”

In New York, as in the rest of the country, special education teaching candidates are in high demand. According to a 2022 NCES study, 40% of U.S. public schools struggled to fill open special education teaching positions. And in 2023, NYC Public Schools reported that the district faced a critical shortage of special education teachers. This innovative new bachelor’s degree program offered by Mercy University aims to help school districts sustainably grow a pool of highly-qualified educators for these hard-to-fill positions.

“We are excited to partner with Mercy University to provide a high quality, accessible education for aspiring teachers while also helping New York school districts solve a critical staffing challenge,” said Sanford Kenyon, CEO of BloomBoard. “This new partnership supports our mission to revolutionize educator preparation and advancement pathways.”

Candidates who have an associate degree and are currently working in a school can enroll in the program as part of a cohort sponsored by a school district. Candidates earning this bachelor’s degree and passing all required certification assessments are eligible for New York’s Students with Disabilities (All Grades) certificate.

BloomBoard will support New York school districts and BOCES in implementing Mercy University’s program within their own school systems. The company will help identify funding sources and build program support for effective delivery and student success. New York’s Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES (E2CCB) has signed on as the first BOCES to bring this innovative program to its school districts.

“This program can go a long way towards solving an unmet need in the state of New York,” according to Laurie LiPuma, Executive Director of Human Resources at E2CCB. “School districts are looking for teachers, and often the best candidates are already working there in support roles. This program enables teaching assistants, aides, and other qualified support staff who have faced barriers to advancement to become great special ed teachers while they’re working alongside students and getting paid.”

School districts interested in participating in this program in the fall or beyond can learn more by contacting Michelle Licata of BloomBoard (michelle.licata@bloomboard.com). Click here for more information.

About Mercy University

Mercy University is an independent, coeducational institution serving more than 9,000 students each year across campuses in Westchester, the Bronx, Manhattan, as well as online. It is a federally designated minority-serving institution and the largest private Hispanic Serving Institution in the state of New York. Mercy offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate degree programs and certificate programs within six schools: Business, Education, Health and Natural Sciences, Liberal Arts, Nursing and Social and Behavioral Sciences. The institution also provides non-credit courses and certificates for adult learners looking to acquire new skills through CERTiFi by Mercy University. Mercy was founded in 1950 by the Sisters of Mercy whose mission of transformative education remains strong. For more information, visit http://www.mercy.edu.

About BloomBoard

BloomBoard is a talent development provider that enables K-12 school districts to grow, advance and retain educators by making professional education a benefit of employment. The company offers turn-key programs for school districts to move educators forward at all points of their professional journey. Their platform connects districts to higher education institutions that offer certification and degree programs using a unique, on-the-job instructional model. Visit http://www.bloomboard.com to learn more.

Media Contact

BloomBoard, BloomBoard, 708-203-8727, joshua.lahey@finnpartners.com, https://bloomboard.com/

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prweb.com/releases/bloomboard-and-mercy-university-partner-to-create-accessible-teaching-pathways-to-address-new-yorks-teacher-shortage-302214783.html

SOURCE BloomBoard

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Gravity Game Unite (GGU) Successfully Concludes European User Meetup for PC MMORPG ‘Ragnarok Zero: Global’!

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KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, July 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Gravity Game Unite (GGU), the Malaysian subsidiary of global gaming company Gravity, successfully concluded the “Ragnarok Zero: Global European User Meetup” held in Germany.

Gravity Game Unite (GGU) hosted its first offline event for European users in Frankfurt, Germany, on July 18. The event was organized to demonstrate the company’s commitment to directly serving the European market and to build long-term relationships with the local community.

The event was attended by key Gravity Game Unite (GGU) executives, including CEO Yoshinori Kitamura, as well as members of the Ragnarok Zero: Global development team. Local users, influencers, and media representatives were also present, reflecting strong anticipation for the game. Europe was one of the regions where Ragnarok Zero: Global received particularly positive feedback during its OBT. CEO Yoshinori Kitamura’s attendance underscored the importance of the event and Gravity Game Unite (GGU)’s commitment to providing dedicated service to the European community.

The event began with welcoming remarks from the CEO of Gravity Game Unite (GGU), followed by an introduction to the title from the development team, a presentation on the service direction and roadmap for Europe, a developer talk featuring behind-the-scenes insights, a user Q&A session, and networking among users, developers, media representatives, and influencers. Attendees also received exclusive merchandise and enjoyed a variety of activities designed to create lasting memories.

Gravity Game Unite (GGU) stated that it plans to strengthen communication with users through the direct service of Ragnarok Zero: Global. During the event, the development team listened to user feedback and exchanged a wide range of views, while reaffirming its commitment to the game’s post-launch service direction and the growth of its community in Europe.

Harry Choi, President of Gravity Game Unite (GGU), said, “This event marked a significant milestone and laid a strong foundation for Gravity Game Unite (GGU)’s entry into the European market. We are making thorough preparations to repay the tremendous support and enthusiasm users showed during the OBT. We will continue to create opportunities to engage and communicate with our local community.”

Stay Connected

Players can follow the official Ragnarok Zero: Global channels for the latest news and updates.

Join OBT: https://roz.mygnjoy.com/en/event/obt
Pre-Register: https://roz.mygnjoy.com/event/prereservation?media=pr9
Discord: https://discord.gg/bFg77WjcHT
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ragnarokzeroglobal/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ragnarokzeroglobal/
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@RagnarokZeroGlobal
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ragnarokzeroglobal

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/gravity-game-unite-ggu-successfully-concludes-european-user-meetup-for-pc-mmorpg-ragnarok-zero-global-302830963.html

SOURCE Gravity Game Unite SDN. BHD.

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The 18th Annual Globee® Awards for Innovation Invite Local, Regional, and Global Workplace and Business Achievement Nominations Worldwide

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Recognizing achievements across innovation, leadership, organizational advancement, products, services, and workplace excellence with worldwide participation

SAN FRANCISCO, July 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Globee® Awards, organizers of merit-based, data-driven business awards programs with worldwide participation that recognize achievements across industries, announced that entries are currently being accepted for the 18th Annual Globee® Awards for Innovation (Golden Bridge Awards®), inviting organizations, professionals, business owners, teams, and departments worldwide to nominate their local, regional, and global workplace and business achievements for consideration.

Apply now: https://globeeawards.com/innovation/

Originally established as the Golden Bridge Awards®, the program is now in its 18th year and continues its tradition of recognizing achievements across innovation, leadership, business transformation, organizational advancement, products, services, and measurable impact across industries and markets worldwide.

The awards recognize achievements that improve how organizations operate, serve customers, develop products and services, strengthen workplaces, advance technologies, enhance communications, and create measurable value for businesses, communities, and industries.

The program welcomes nominations representing achievements in innovation, operational excellence, customer experience, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, healthcare, financial services, manufacturing, sustainability, workforce initiatives, brand, communications, creative, and other business and workplace environments.

Organizations of all sizes are invited to participate, including startups, small and medium businesses, large enterprises, public and private companies, government entities, educational institutions, research organizations, and non-profit organizations worldwide.

The Globee® Awards for Innovation recognize achievements across category groups including products and services, company and organization, individual and team, and brand, communication and creative. These recognitions are part of 10 awards programs that collectively reflect achievements across business and technology domains.

Nominations are welcomed for local, regional, and global achievements, recognizing that meaningful innovation and organizational progress can originate at every level and in every workplace.

Entries are evaluated through a merit-based, data-driven process involving participation from experienced professionals across multiple industries worldwide. Evaluations are conducted through a structured, consistent, and transparent framework based on defined scoring criteria.

Entries are open to organizations and professionals worldwide.

About the Globee® Awards

The Globee® Awards are organizers of merit-based, data-driven business awards programs with worldwide participation. Through 10 awards programs, the Globee® Awards recognize achievements across multiple industries and sectors. The programs use a structured evaluation approach involving participation from professionals across various industries.

Follow: @globeeawards

Hashtags: #GlobeeAwards #InnovationAwards #GoldenBridgeAwards #WorkplaceAchievements #BusinessAchievements #Innovation #Leadership #BusinessTransformation #GlobalRecognition #OrganizationalImpact

All trademarks belong to their respective owners.

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SOURCE Globee Awards

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Finatical Software: The Next Decade of Finance Will Be Built on a Structured Financial Data Layer

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As AI transforms finance, trusted and structured financial data—not better prompts—will determine which organizations realize its full value.

DURHAM, N.C., July 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Finatical Software, creator of Flash Reports for QuickBooks Online, today announced its vision for what it believes will become the next essential layer of the modern finance technology stack: the Structured Financial Data Layer.

For decades, finance technology has evolved in response to changing business needs.

1995–2015

Finance needed better reporting.

2015–2025

Finance needed real-time reporting, dashboards, and automated KPIs.

2025–2035

Finance needs trusted data for AI-powered decisions.

While organizations are investing heavily in artificial intelligence, many finance teams are discovering that AI is only as effective as the financial data and business logic it receives. Without a single source of truth built on reconciled, complete, and accurate financial information, AI can produce inconsistent analyses, conflicting recommendations, and outputs that are difficult to validate or trust.

“Much of the conversation around AI has focused on choosing the right model or writing better prompts,” said Shaun Pendrigh, Chief Technical Officer of Finatical Software. “We believe the real competitive advantage will come from building trusted, structured financial workflows that AI can consistently understand. Before finance teams can trust AI’s recommendations, they first need confidence in the data, calculations, and business logic behind them.”

Finatical believes finance organizations need more than access to AI—they need a governed foundation that organizes financial information into consistent, reusable, and auditable structures before AI enters the workflow.

That foundation is what Finatical describes as the Structured Financial Data Layer.

Unlike disconnected spreadsheets or opaque AI workflows, the Structured Financial Data Layer creates a trusted financial foundation where data, calculations, reporting logic, and business rules are transparent, reusable, and reviewable. Finance professionals can trace recommendations back to their source, understand how conclusions were reached, and maintain confidence in the decisions supported by AI.

Rather than replacing finance professionals, the Structured Financial Data Layer enables them to work more effectively with AI by combining trusted financial data with human judgment. AI can accelerate analysis, identify patterns, and generate recommendations, while finance professionals retain the ability to review assumptions, validate results, and understand the reasoning behind important business decisions.

“Finance professionals should remain in control of financial judgment,” Pendrigh added. “AI should amplify that expertise—not replace it. But that only happens when AI operates within a trusted financial workflow where both the data and the underlying logic can be reviewed.”

Finatical’s Flash Reports platform is designed around this philosophy by connecting live QuickBooks Online data with Microsoft Excel to create governed, refreshable financial models that become a trusted source of truth for reporting, forecasting, analysis, and AI-assisted decision support. By preserving financial logic within structured Excel workflows, finance teams gain the flexibility of Excel while maintaining the governance and transparency required for trustworthy AI.

“Finance has always required trust,” Pendrigh said. “AI doesn’t change that—it raises the standard. Organizations won’t gain a competitive advantage simply by adopting AI. They’ll gain it by building financial data foundations that make AI trustworthy, explainable, and repeatable.”

“Reporting was the last generation of finance technology,” Pendrigh concluded. “Decision support will define the next. The organizations that build a trusted Structured Financial Data Layer today will be best positioned to unlock the full potential of AI tomorrow.”

About Finatical Software

Finatical Software helps finance professionals transform live QuickBooks Online data into structured, trusted financial information and workflows for reporting, analysis, and AI-assisted decision support. Its flagship solution, Flash Reports, connects Microsoft Excel directly to QuickBooks Online, enabling finance teams to build refreshable, governed financial models while preserving the flexibility of Excel. Finatical’s vision is to become the trusted Structured Financial Data Layer for finance professionals working in Excel with QuickBooks Online.

Media Contact:

melissa.neal@finaticalsoftware.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/finatical-software-the-next-decade-of-finance-will-be-built-on-a-structured-financial-data-layer-302830512.html

SOURCE Finatical Software

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