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‘GREAT AMERICAN CHRISTMAS 2024,’ WITH HIGH-QUALITY, ORIGINAL HOLIDAY FILMS FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY, RETURNS TO GREAT AMERICAN FAMILY AND STREAMING ON PURE FLIX BEGINNING, OCTOBER 17

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MOST ORIGINAL PREMIERES IN GREAT AMERICAN MEDIA HISTORY

NEW YORK, Aug. 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Great American Media, the leader in high-quality faith and family productions, announced the return of beloved holiday franchise, GREAT AMERICAN CHRISTMAS, for its fourth year on Great American Family. The festive season kicks off on October 17 and will also be available on the company’s owned streaming service, Pure Flix. Great American Family offers an unbeatable lineup of new Christmas movies starring some of the genre’s most cherished stars, including Mario Lopez, Candace Cameron Bure, Danica McKellar, and many more—talent who have delivered the highest ratings in the history of the genre. Pure Flix, the top streaming home for faith-based content, will feature high-quality Original Christmas premieres alongside subscriber favorites from previous years. Together, the two platforms will present more Original faith and family Christmas content than any other media company.

GREAT AMERICAN CHRISTMAS on Great American Family is a 24/7 Christmas movie event running throughout October, November, and December. The programming features cherished holiday traditions and new, surprise-and-delight moments, culminating with the 138th Tournament of Roses Parade, broadcast live from Pasadena, California, on January 1, 2025. Whether watched on Linear TV or in streaming, Great American Family and Pure Flix are the go-to destinations for authentic, high-quality, Original Christmas content.

“Great American Christmas has quickly become a highly valued holiday tradition” said Bill Abbott, President & CEO of Great American Media. “Our early success is owed to our incredible family of talent and a commitment to storytelling that embodies the true spirit of Christmas—the holiday as it’s meant to be celebrated. Stories about love, faith, hope, and joy set us apart from others simply making movies in holiday settings. The extraordinary number of high-quality, original faith and family premieres this holiday season elevates Great American Christmas to a leadership position in the holiday space,” Abbott concluded.

BELOW ARE A FEW NEW, ORIGINAL HOLIDAY PREMIERES, DATES RELEASE SOON:

A CHRISTMAS CASTLE PROPOSAL, starring Rhiannon Fish and Mitchell Bourke. Olivia, a commoner, travels with Prince Alexander to his family’s magical palace, Torovia so their families can spend a first Christmas together. The couple’s plans for an enchanted Christmas are threatened by comedic mishaps caused by cultural differences between the families.

CHRISTMAS IN SCOTLAND, starring Jill Winternitz and Dominic Watters. A New York installation designer helps a small Scottish community create a dazzling light display to win “Best Christmas Village” festival. The designer is forced to work with a wealthy heir who doesn’t like Christmas, though feelings may change if the pair succeeds in creating joy for the community.

A VINTAGE CHRISTMAS, starring Merritt Patterson and Christopher Russell. A dedicated preservationist battles a developer’s ambitions to tear down a historic Post Office with ties to her family. The choice of old versus new threatens to divide the small town unless there is a solution for the greater good of all concerned.

THE FABRIC OF CHRISTMAS, starring Ferelith Young and Harmon Walsh. Firefighter Liam and quilting teacher, Amy, come together to make the perfect quilt for Liam’s sister’s Christmas wedding. Two headstrong people discover the importance of putting personal differences aside to create what is most important at Christmas.

A ROYAL CHRISTMAS BALLET, starring Brittany Underwood and Jonathan Stoddard. A retired ballerina is pressed into service working with a visiting team of royal ambassadors to put on the season’s performance of “The Nutcracker” and finds herself center stage in an unexpected Christmas romance.

A CHRISTMAS LESS TRAVELED, starring Candace Cameron Bure and Eric Johnson. A local business owner finds an audio cassette in the player of her recently departed dad’s classic red truck. The message instructs Desi to go on a holiday road trip down memory lane where she meets a man who needs her help and who offers help in return.

A LITTLE WOMEN’S CHRISTMAS, starring Trevor Donovan, Jen Lilley, Jillian Murray, Laura Osnes, Julia Reilly, Jesse Hutch, and the great, Gladys Knight. A modern retelling of Louisa May Alcott’s classic novel.

GET HIM BACK FOR CHRISTMAS, starring Alexa PenaVega and Carlos PenaVega. Special appearance by the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, Mario Lopez, Victoria Jackson, and Natasha Bure. Bella made it big in music. Jack stayed behind in his hometown working at The Salvation Army to help his family after his dad passes. Bella returns home after a heartbreaking split with her chart-topping singing partner and asks Jack to write the perfect song to get her boyfriend back. Carlos PenaVega wrote and performs an original song, “Get Him Back for Christmas” performed for the film at AT&T Stadium.

A CINDERELLA CHRISTMAS BALL, starring Danica McKellar and Oliver Rice. Choreographed by Gleb Savchenko. With only the Internet, a plane ticket and a lifelong determination to find her birth family Chelsea travels to royal hamlet, Havenshire, at Christmas. Along the way, Chelsea sneaks into a castle, teaches a stubborn Prince how to dance, and looks to be in the perfect place when the bells toll Christmas Eve.

WREATHMAKER CHRISTMAS, starring Kristin Wollett and Casey Elliott. A wreathmaker slips on ice and injures her arm which puts her holiday wreath deliveries in jeopardy until a selfless neighbor steps up to keep her business afloat.

HOME SWEET CHRISTMAS, starring Candace Cameron Bure and Cameron Mathison. Two former childhood friends reunite after a beloved family member passes, leaving the future of his magical maple sugar farm in their hands.

ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS WISH, starring Mario Lopez and Courtney Lopez. A local mayor discovers his childhood Christmas wishes are coming true. With his childhood friend, the pair can inspire residents to showcase the town’s warmth and values while pushing back a major developer’s desire to take the community in a different direction.

SLEIGH BELLS AND SUGAR PLUMS, starring Jill Wagner and Jesse Hutch. A historian seeks inspiration for her next project in her family’s hometown of Aurora, which is famous for experiencing the Northern Lights. While there, she bonds with a local tour guide who shows her the town’s Christmas traditions and witnesses a harbinger of miracles to come.

A SHELTER AND SEASON’S GREETINGS, starring Ash Tsai and Eric Guillmette. Caleb is injured in the Army and recovers through help from shelter therapy dogs. As a sign of thanks, Caleb returns home to help Amber run the local shelter and, in the process, discovers his feelings for Amber go beyond gratitude.

CHRISTMAS BY CANDLELIGHT, starring Erin Agostino and Harmon Walsh. Juliet pitches Christmas candles to her boss to earn a promotion and enlists the help of a candle store owner (Tom) who refuses at first but reluctantly agrees when he realizes the money will help make his daughter’s Christmas wish come true.

COUPLED UP FOR CHRISTMAS, starring Sara Canning and Marcus Rosner. Two heartbroken strangers pretend to be dating others to win the affection of their true soulmates.

*SPECIAL PRESENTATION WORLD PREMIERE TBA – ONE NIGHT ONLY – Thanksgiving Night, November 28

PURE FLIX CHRISTMAS 2024 STREAMING PREMIERES, DATES RELEASE SOON:

A PARIS CHRISTMAS WALTZ, starring Jen Lilley and Matthew Morrison. A novice dancer, Emma encounters professional dancer Leo whose love for competitive dance is diminishing until a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity presents itself for the dancer and his beloved choreographer to take Emma’s dancing to next level.

A HOT COCOA CHRISTMAS, starring Susie Abromeit and Torrance Coombs. The modern-day reimagining of William Shakespeare’s beloved classic “Much Ado About Nothing” set at Christmas.

*THE BELOVED MOVIE FRANCHISE THAT STARTED IT ALL, TBA OCTOBER 14: A WORLDWIDE STREAMING EXCLUSIVE

12 GAMES OF CHRISTMAS, starring Felisha Cooper and Johnny Ramey. A group of friends are magically transported inside a Christmas-themed board game during a holiday party. They must play through all levels to return home just in time for Christmas.

CHRISTMAS TIME IS HERE, starring Rukiya Bernard and Dewshane Williams. Nia hopes to save her father’s beloved inn and is initially excited to meet Julian who she believes will help her only to discover Julian’s first thought was to change the legacy property.

A KINDHEARTED CHRISTMAS, starring Jennie Garth and Cameron Mathison. A small business owner gets inspired to donate to the town anonymously which has everyone in the community following suit all while a local reporter tries to find out who the secret Santa is.

CHRISTMAS IN MAPLE HILLS, starring Emily Alatalo, Bukola Ayoka, Ayinde Blake. A charismatic veterinarian needs to track down the enigmatic owner of her family’s land to preserve its legacy.

ANGEL FALLS CHRISTMAS, starring Chad Michael Murray and Jessica Lowndes. A devoted doctor with little time for Christmas works a miracle for her patient and finds acceptance and love in the unlikeliest of places.

ROYALLY WRAPPED FOR CHRISTMAS, starring Jen Lilley and Brendan Fehr. The director of an international charity is called to the Kingdom of Valdonia by its royal family where she grows ever closer to a prince.

CATERING CHRISTMAS, starring Merritt Patterson and Daniel Lissing. A struggling catering business lands the Christmas event of the year but will have to cater to the whims of the town’s top socialite.

CHRISTMAS AT THE DRIVE-IN, starring Danica McKellar and Neal Bledsoe. A property lawyer works to prove her local drive-in is an institution and cannot be closed and then meets the proposed seller, who happens to be the heir to the property.

CHRISTMAS BY CANDLELIGHT, starring Erin Agostino and Harmon Walsh. Juliet pitches Christmas candles to her boss to earn a promotion and enlists the help of a candle store owner who refuses at first but reluctantly agrees when he realizes the money will help make his daughter’s Christmas wish come true.

A CHRISTMAS LESS TRAVELED, starring Candace Cameron Bure and Eric Johnson. A local business owner finds an audio cassette in the player of her recently departed dad’s classic red truck. The message instructs Desi to go on a holiday road trip down memory lane where she meets a man who needs her help and who offers help in return.

THE FABRIC OF CHRISTMAS, starring Ferelith Young and Harmon Walsh. Firefighter Liam and quilting teacher, Amy, come together to make the perfect quilt for Liam’s sister’s Christmas wedding. Two headstrong people discover the importance of putting personal differences aside to create what is most important at Christmas.

A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE FOR DAISY, starring Jill Wagner and Nick Bateman. An interior designer scores a landmark property remodel before discovering the new owner is someone special from her past life who is now parent to an adopted daughter.

CHRISTMAS IN SCOTLAND, starring Jill Winternitz and Dominic Watters. A New York installation designer helps a small Scottish community create a dazzling light display to win “Best Christmas Village” festival. The designer is forced to work with a wealthy heir who doesn’t like Christmas, though feelings may change if the pair succeeds in creating joy for the community.

A CHRISTMAS STAR, starring Sara Canning and Daniel Lissing. An astronomer predicts a new meteor shower will appear above a town and needs to convince locals not to light an annual tree to see the phenomenon.

COUPLED UP FOR CHRISTMAS, starring Sara Canning and Marcus Rosner. Two heartbroken strangers pretend to be dating others to win the affection of their true soulmates.

I’M GLAD ITS CHRISTMAS, starring Jessica Lowndes, Paul Green, and Gladys Knight. A salesclerk dreaming of an opportunity on Broadway encounters a jingle writer also in need of a professional miracle. Little do the pair realize, an angel of a business owner has divine plans for everyone this Christmas.

*ONE OF THE BEST FAITH MOVIES OF 2024, TBA OCTOBER 21 – A WORLDWIDE STREAMING EXCLUSIVE

PHOTOS: Courtesy of Great American Media 2024 https://icnk.io/u/vm7npQotWXmr/

ABOUT GREAT AMERICAN FAMILY
As the flagship linear TV network of Great American Media, Great American Family is America’s premiere destination for quality family-friendly programming, featuring original Christmas movies, rom-coms and classic series that celebrate faith, family and country. Founded in 2021, Great American Family is home to year-round seasonal celebrations the whole family can enjoy together, including Great American Christmas, the network’s signature franchise featuring holiday themed movies and specials. Great American Family is available in 50 million households via cable and satellite providers; visit https://www.greatamericanfamily.com/channel-finder/ or text FAMILY to 877-999-1225 to find your local channel.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Pam Slay
Network Program Publicity & Talent Relations
818.415.3784
pamslay@gacmedia.com

Thomas Graham or Aurora Silva
Crosswind Media & Public Relations
512.537.1414
media@crosswindpr.com

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Legrand Launches Starline T5 DoubleBar, the Highest Ampacity Open-Channel Track Busway with Most Pluggable Space

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WEST HARTFORD, Conn., Oct. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Legrand, the global specialist in electrical and digital building infrastructures, today launched the Starline T5 DoubleBar track busway. Engineered specifically for high-density environments, the T5 DoubleBar offers the highest ampacity open-channel busway available on the market with the most pluggable space, addressing the exponential power demands of artificial intelligence and high-performance computing.

By featuring a configuration with two T5 bars in parallel, the system delivers up to 2000A, enabling robust power distribution for high-density environments. This hybrid busway design successfully combines open-channel flexibility with busduct-level ampacity for maximum adaptability.

“As AI workloads push rack densities past 100kW, data center operators have been forced into a clear trade-off: install heavy, rigid busducts to get high amperage, or use track busways to maintain operational flexibility,” said Mark Swift, Vice President of Engineering for Starline, a brand of Legrand. “With the T5 DoubleBar, we’ve completely eliminated that compromise. By delivering 2000A in a continuous open-channel architecture, we give operators the raw power density of a traditional busduct without forcing them to clutter their white space with redundant  busway runs or sacrifice the agility to reconfigure on the fly.”

Key Features and Benefits of the Starline T5 DoubleBar

The T5 DoubleBar eliminates spacing constraints common in traditional busduct systems and minimizes the whitespace footprint in dense data center layouts.

Unmatched AI & HPC Support: The system handles rack loads up to 150kW, meeting next-gen data center demands. It is also compatible with LVDC installations to 1000VDC.Increased Pluggable Space: The high-density double-bar architecture utilizes parallel conductors to increase amperage and pluggable space without increasing the system’s footprint.Zero-Downtime Reconfiguration: Hot-pluggable tap-off capability allows for the safe, live installation and removal of tap-off units without a system shutdown, maximizing operational continuity.True Modularity and Scalability: The modular design supports multiple ratings without system redesign. Furthermore, it is designed for future expansion up to 5000A, protecting long-term capital investments.Complete T5 Ecosystem Compatibility: The system maintains open-channel plug-in access and full compatibility with all existing T5 plug-in units.

Launching Alongside High-Capacity Plug-in Unit (HCP)

To complete this end-to-end high-density power distribution system, Legrand is simultaneously launching a new High-Capacity Plug-in Unit (HCP) designed for seamless integration directly on T5 infrastructure, including the new DoubleBar.

These new plug-in units offer up to 250A capacity and multiple enclosure formats, delivering more power through a single unit. By powering high-density AI and HPC racks directly, the HCP reduces the need for multiple lower-amperage plug-ins, simplifying the overall power delivery architecture.

For more information on the Starline T5 DoubleBar and High-Capacity Plug-in Units, visit the Starline website.

About Legrand:

Legrand is the global specialist in electrical and digital building infrastructures. Its comprehensive offering of solutions for residential, commercial, and datacenter markets makes it a benchmark for customers worldwide. The Group harnesses technological and societal trends with lasting impacts on buildings with the purpose of improving life by transforming the spaces where people live, work and meet with electrical, digital infrastructures and connected solutions that are simple, innovative and sustainable. Drawing on an approach that involves all teams and stakeholders, Legrand is pursuing a strategy of profitable and responsible growth driven by acquisitions and innovation, with a steady flow of new offerings that include products with enhanced value in use. Legrand reported sales of €9.5 billion in 2025. The company is listed on Euronext Paris and is a component stock of the CAC 40, CAC 40 ESG and CAC Transition Climat indexes (code ISIN FR0010307819). www.legrand.us

Media Contact:

Jaymie Scotto & Associates
+1 866.695.3629 ext. 19
jsa_legrand@jsa.net

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SOURCE Legrand DPC LLC

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Trinity Acquires Verix, Adding AI-Powered Next-Best-Action and Omnichannel Orchestration to the TrinityEDGE Platform

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Verix’s patented Tovana™ platform and its full team join Trinity, extending TrinityEDGE™ from what commercial teams know into what they do next

WALTHAM, Mass., Oct. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Trinity, the leader in integrating human and artificial intelligence for life sciences commercialization, today announced it has acquired Verix, the pharma-native commercial intelligence company behind the patented, AI-powered Tovana™ platform. Tovana is live today in global pharma, biotech, and specialty pharma commercial organizations, where it turns prescription, claims, clinical, and engagement data into continuous next-best-action, dynamic targeting, and omnichannel orchestration for brand, field, and digital teams. The acquisition brings Verix’s entire team into Trinity and adds an AI execution layer to TrinityEDGE. Terms were not disclosed.

Why now

Pharma has already bought AI but has not yet realized the pay off. Trinity’s 2025 Commercial and Medical IT benchmark found that 100 percent of surveyed organizations had adopted generative AI in some capacity, yet innovation confidence averaged just 3 out of 5, and every respondent described their organization as only somewhat prepared to respond rapidly to industry change. A separate Trinity benchmark of new product planning and commercial strategy leaders found only 10 percent had a clear AI strategy they were scaling across workflows. Adoption is universal yet impact is not.

The reason is rarely the model. It is the distance between an insight and the moment someone acts on it. Targeting lists go stale between planning cycles. Omnichannel plans degrade. Next-best-action tools get ignored because reps cannot see why they should trust them. Brands pay twice, once for insight and again for a separate execution vendor, and still struggle to show impact. Closing that insight-to-action loop is the problem TrinityEDGE with Tovana will solve.

The acquisition also advances Trinity’s growth strategy. Over the past three years Trinity has augmented its advisory and insights services with the TrinityEDGE productized commercialization platform, adding software, data, and AI alongside 1,500 professionals in 14 offices on five continents. Verix deepens Trinity’s presence with the brand, field, and digital buyers who sit beyond its traditional strategy and insights relationships, and establishes a dedicated AI and product development center to build and ship commercial AI at scale.

Proof, not promise

Tovana is not a new build. It has been developed and validated in live pharmaceutical and biotech deployments since 2007, across large global pharma, mid-size biotech, and specialty and rare disease organizations.

Deployed at scale in oncology and specialty markets. Tovana supports commercial teams at global pharmaceutical companies and emerging biotechs, including publicly referenced work and support for the U.S. launch of a targeted oncology immunotherapy in a market its sponsor estimates at more than $400 million.

Measured commercial lift. One of the largest pharmaceutical oncology divisions in the United States increased leading KPIs, including new prescriptions, by 15 to 25 percent with Tovana. A rare oncology therapy team improved field-facing NPS by 12x.. A medical device commercial team improved sales outcomes within three months of implementation.

Time to value measured in weeks. Tovana’s pharma-specific data foundation, automated data pipelines, and pre-built model toolkit mean clients adopt targeting and engagement models already proven in live deployments, with rapid configuration and deployment inside a single planning cycle.

What clients get

A plan that holds up between quarters. Targeting, segmentation, and channel mix update against what the market is actually doing, so the engagement plan approved in January is still the plan operating in June.

Guidance the field will actually use. Recommendations arrive sourced and explainable, grounded in Trinity’s therapeutic, launch, and benchmarking depth, and delivered inside the field workflow through FieldAdvisor. That is the difference between a next-best-action a rep follows and one a rep ignores.

One partner instead of two. Existing Trinity clients get a path from insight they already own to execution, without standing up another vendor or rebuilding integrations. Existing Verix clients keep the product, roadmap, and support they rely on, and gain Trinity’s launch, market access, and competitive benchmarking context.

Tovana capabilities will be progressively integrated into the TrinityEDGE single sign-on environment over the coming months, strengthening CustomerEDGE™ execution, with the first joint offerings expected to reach clients in 1H 2027. Verix CEO Doron Aspitz joins Trinity’s leadership team and will continue to guide the Tovana roadmap.

Leadership perspective

“Every commercial leader I meet is asking how to put AI to work where it actually changes a call, a channel mix, or a forecast,” said Scott Evangelista, Chief Executive Officer of Trinity. “Insight has outpaced execution. Teams are rich in disparate analysis and thin in decisive action in front of a customer. Verix closes that gap. Next-best-action, dynamic targeting, and omnichannel orchestration now sit inside TrinityEDGE, proven in live pharma deployments and backed by 30 years of therapeutic and commercial judgment. That is what it means to lead in integrating human and artificial intelligence for life sciences commercialization.”

“We built Verix on one conviction: commercial teams deserve intelligence that is timely, explainable, and usable in the flow of work,” said Doron Aspitz, Chief Executive Officer of Verix. “Joining Trinity is the natural next step. Clients keep the product they rely on and gain the launch, access, and competitive context that tells them whether performance is genuinely competitive. I am proud of what our teams have built and energized by what we can now build together.”

About Verix

Verix is a leading provider of advanced commercial optimization solutions for the life sciences industry. Its flagship product, Tovana™, is a patented, AI-powered SaaS platform that enables life sciences companies to optimize commercial strategy and execution. Tovana integrates advanced machine learning, agentic workflows, and deep domain expertise into a single, intuitive platform, supporting dynamic targeting and segmentation, next best action, omnichannel orchestration, patient discovery, therapeutic landscape analysis, opportunity assessment, and bottom-up forecasting. Founded in 2007, Verix serves pharmaceutical, biotech, and specialty pharma commercial organizations from offices in the United States and Israel.

About Trinity

Trinity is a life sciences commercialization company that combines deep therapeutic, functional, and commercial expertise with AI-powered platforms. For more than 30 years, pharmaceutical, biotech, and medtech companies have relied on Trinity to connect strategy, data, and execution—supporting better decisions, more confident launches, and sustained commercial performance. Trinity helps clients turn insight into action and bring innovations to market with greater speed and confidence. Learn more at trinitylifesciences.com.

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Baker Hill Launches $10,000 Battle of OKC Pitch Competition for Veteran Entrepreneurs

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New competition brings Baker Hill, The Verge OKC, IVMF, Gradient, and Oklahoma SBDC together to support Oklahoma veterans as they build and grow businesses

OKLAHOMA CITY, Oct. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Oklahoma veteran entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to compete for $10,000, showcase their businesses and connect with resources to help them grow through Battle of OKC, a new business pitch competition culminating live on Veterans Day in Oklahoma City.

Baker Hill today announced the competition in collaboration with The Verge OKC and the Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF), Gradient and Oklahoma SBDC. Battle of OKC will bring veteran entrepreneurs together with business leaders, mentors and community resources while giving them a platform to put their ideas and businesses in the spotlight.

“Veterans know how to lead, adapt and find a way forward when the path isn’t obvious — the same qualities it takes to build a business,” said Andy Ivankovich, chairman and CEO of Baker Hill. “Battle of OKC is about putting opportunity behind that potential. We want to give veteran entrepreneurs a platform to tell their stories, connect with people and resources that can help them grow and compete for capital that can make a meaningful difference in what comes next.”

Battle of OKC is open Veteran entrepreneurs whose business is majority veteran-owned, has operated for at least one year, and is registered in Oklahoma. Applicants will begin by submitting a three-minute video introducing their business, the opportunity they see and why they are ready to take the next step. A panel will select 10 entrepreneurs to advance to finals.

Ten finalists will then advance to the live Battle of OKC on Veterans Day, Wednesday, Nov. 11, at the Verge in Oklahoma City, where they will pitch before a panel of judges and compete for a $10,000 grand prize.

The Verge OKC, a nonprofit community that helps turn ideas into impactful businesses, will help recruit and coach participating entrepreneurs throughout the competition.

“The Verge is all about connecting entrepreneurs with the people, resources, and opportunities they need to turn their ideas into thriving businesses”, said Kristin Garcia, Executive Director. “We’re excited to be part of Battle of OKC and to purposefully create space for our military community to engage with Oklahoma’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Veterans bring valuable skills, leadership, and unique perspectives to business ownership, and they deserve to know there’s a community here ready to support them as they build and grow their businesses.”

The D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF), will provide support outreach and recruitment/connect participating veterans with entrepreneurship resources/provide expertise.

“Just last month, we brought together veteran entrepreneurs, business leaders, and community partners in Oklahoma City for the Military Entrepreneurship Forum. Battle of OKC is a great example of how that momentum continues, with the community coming together to recognize, celebrate, and invest in Oklahoma’s veteran-owned businesses, said Barbara E. Carson, Managing Director, Programs and Policy. D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families. “At the D’Aniello IVMF, we know that when veteran entrepreneurs have access to the right networks, resources, and opportunities, they can build thriving businesses that strengthen their communities.”

Oklahoma SBDC will also provide recruitment and pitch coaching for the finalists the week of the event. “This collaboration brings together partners with complementary expertise to support Oklahoma’s veteran business owners,” said Dr. Michele Hockersmith, state director of the Oklahoma SBDC. “Our role is to help entrepreneurs connect their pitch to a sound business strategy, with clear financials and realistic growth plans. That preparation has value for the competition and beyond.”

Battle of OKC is designed to provide more than a stage and a prize. By bringing together veteran entrepreneurs, business leaders and organizations committed to supporting entrepreneurship, the competition creates connections and access to expertise that can continue well beyond the final pitch.

Veteran entrepreneurs interested in competing can learn more about eligibility and submit their three-minute video pitch at www.bakerhill.com/okc. Applications close October 29. Ten finalists will be selected to compete live in Oklahoma City on Veterans Day.

About Baker Hill
Baker Hill is the leading provider of commercial lending technology for banks and credit unions across the United States. Each month, financial institutions use Baker Hill’s platform to process more than $7 billion in lending originations — helping them Lend Better, Lend Faster, and Lend More™ in their communities. Backed by Flexpoint Ford, a private equity firm, Baker Hill delivers the scale, security and innovation required to meet the demands of modern banking. The company is headquartered in Carmel, Indiana, with operations in Santa Barbara, California. For more information, visit www.bakerhill.com.

About The Verge OKC
The Verge OKC, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community that helps turn ideas into impactful businesses, will help recruit and coach participating entrepreneurs throughout the competition. Learn more: https://www.vergeokc.com 

About the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families
The IVMF at Syracuse University is higher education’s first interdisciplinary academic institute, singularly focused on advancing the post-service lives of the nation’s military veterans and their families to serve those who have served. Learn more: https://ivmf.syracuse.edu 

About Oklahoma SBDC
The Oklahoma Small Business Development Center (Oklahoma SBDC) provides confidential, no-cost business advising, training and market research to help entrepreneurs start and grow businesses statewide. Hosted by Southeastern Oklahoma State University, the state-wide network helps business owners strengthen financial plans, prepare for financing and pursue growth opportunities. Learn more at www.oksbdc.org.

About Gradient
Gradient represents the blending of diverse ideas, people, and perspectives, adding texture and depth to our community. As one of the nation’s largest innovation hubs, Gradient fosters meaningful connections, nurtures bold ideas, and provides concierge introductions to entrepreneurial resources. Learn more at www.joingradient.com

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SOURCE Baker Hill

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