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The Institute for Security and Technology Announces the Winners of the Second Annual Cyber Policy Awards™ Presented by Microsoft

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The annual gathering honors and celebrates those who drove significant progress within the cyber policy community

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Second Annual Cyber Policy Awards™ Presented by Microsoft last night awarded seven individuals, groups, and organizations with the prestigious Cyber Policy Award of Merit. The event celebrated excellence in cybersecurity policy and leadership and honored outstanding contributions in categories such as public policy, diplomacy, research, and journalism.

Hosted by the Institute for Security and Technology in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the awards gala brought together 240 cybersecurity community leaders across the public sector, industry, academia, and civil society. Following a community-wide nomination process, an independent panel of eight judges narrowed the pool down to 24 finalists and selected winners in each category. 

“We gathered as a community to mark and celebrate the accomplishments of 2024 while also looking forward to the cybersecurity challenges before us,” said organizing committee chairman and IST Chief Trust Officer Steve Kelly. “The seven award recipients and their work embody the ingredients of our more secure future, from safer technology products to better international security cooperation.”

Congratulations to the following individuals and organizations:

Domestic Policy Impact: Lauren Zabierek, Jack Cable, and Bob Lord for making Secure by Design (SbD) a reality while at CISA, alongside Jim Richberg and Taylor Roberts on behalf of the IT Sector Coordinating Council’s SbD subcommittee for their efforts in advancing the private sector pledge.International Policy Impact: Dr. Adam Segal for influencing the United States’ strategy on international cyberspace and digital policy.International Partnership: The International Counter Ransomware Initiative leadership for shaping the collective international response to ransomware: Jamila Ade (NGA), Amb. Regine Grienberger and Amb. Maria Adebahr (DEU), Patrick Boucher (CAN), Hamish Hansford (AUS), David Koh (SGP), Monika Korolioviene (LTU), Anne Neuberger (USA), and Chloe Squires (GBR).Ecosystem Champion: J. Michael Daniel for his tireless efforts in building bridges to secure the future.Research Impact: NIST’s Cryptographic Technology Group for research leading to post-quantum cryptographic standards: Dr. Dustin Moody, Dr. Angela Robinson, Andrew Regenscheid, Dr. Lily Chen, Ray Perlner, Dr. Daniel Tone-Smith, Dr. David Cooper, Hamilton Silberg, Noah Waller, Dr. Carl Miller, Dr. Yi-Kai Liu, Quynh Dang, and Dr. Gorjan Alagic. Excellence in Journalism: The Wall Street Journal’s Sarah Krouse, Dustin Volz, Aruna Viswanatha, Robert McMillan, and Drew FitzGerald for reporting on the ‘Salt Typhoon’ cyberespionage campaign.Lifetime Achievement: Leonard Bailey for being an indispensable resource for the cyber community; a leader in driving collaboration among law enforcement, cybersecurity, and the intelligence communities; and a source of exceptional knowledge, judgement, selflessness, calm, and humor throughout his three decades of public service at the Justice Department.

“Congratulations to the individuals and organizations honored with Cyber Policy Awards for their exceptional contributions,” said Amy Hogan-Burney, VP of Customer Security and Trust at Microsoft. “Their dedication to tackling complex cyber policy challenges has improved our collective security. We are proud to recognize those who are shaping a safer, more resilient digital future for everyone.”

“It is our privilege to honor this year’s winners, whose critical work comes at a pivotal moment for the global cybersecurity community. As digital connectivity accelerates and threat actors become increasingly sophisticated, advancing smart and risk-based cyber policy is more vital than ever,” said Vincent Voci, vice president of cyber policy and operations, Cyber, Space, and National Security Division, U.S. Chamber of Commerce. “These leaders are proof that policy is an essential safeguard in the collective effort to protect governments, critical infrastructure, and the global economy.”

For additional information on the Cyber Policy Awards or to learn more about this year’s recipients, please go to www.cyberpolicyawards.org.

About The Institute for Security and Technology

The Institute for Security and Technology (IST) is a 501(c)(3) critical action think tank that unites technology and policy leaders to create actionable solutions to emerging security challenges. IST stands at the forefront of convening policymakers, technology experts, and industry leaders to identify and translate discourse into impactful action. We take collaborative action to advance national security and global stability through technology built on trust, guiding businesses and governments with hands-on expertise, in-depth analysis, and a global network. Since its foundation in 2019, IST has launched more than 10 initiatives addressing challenges such as ransomware, the resilience of lifeline critical infrastructure, trust and safety, and more. To learn more, visit https://securityandtechnology.org/

About Microsoft
Microsoft is a global technology leader that empowers individuals and organizations to achieve more through innovation and digital transformation. At Microsoft, we harness the power of technology to drive positive change and create a safer, more inclusive digital world. We collaborate with governments, industries, and communities to develop innovative solutions to emerging security challenges, ensuring that our technology is built on trust. Through extensive research, hands-on expertise, and a commitment to transparency, Microsoft addresses critical issues such as cybersecurity, privacy, and digital safety. Since its inception, Microsoft has launched numerous initiatives and partnerships to enhance the resilience of critical infrastructure, promote digital trust, and foster a secure online ecosystem. To learn more, visit https://microsoft.com.

About the U.S. Chamber of Commerce 
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business organization representing companies of all sizes across every sector of the economy. Our members range from the small businesses and local chambers of commerce that line the Main Streets of America to leading industry associations and large corporations.

They all share one thing: They count on the U.S. Chamber to be their voice in Washington, across the country, and around the world. For more than 100 years, we have advocated for pro-business policies that help businesses create jobs and grow our economy.

Media Contact:
Sophia Mauro
Director for Strategic Communications
sophia@securityandtechnology.org

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SOURCE Institute for Security and Technology

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Emplifi Appoints Omer Sharon as Chief Product & Technology Officer to Advance its Autonomous Customer Experience Platform

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NEW YORK, July 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Emplifi, a leading Autonomous CX platform, today announced the appointment of Omer Sharon as its Chief Product & Technology Officer. Sharon will lead Emplifi’s global Product and Technology organization, overseeing Product Management, Engineering, AI & Data, Architecture, DevOps, Security, and Design as the company accelerates its vision of delivering intelligent, AI-first solutions that transform how brands engage with consumers.

As Chief Product & Technology Officer, Sharon will drive Emplifi’s next chapter of innovation by advancing AI across its autonomous CX platform, engineering organization, and technology strategy. His leadership will help accelerate the development of intelligent, agentic capabilities that empower brands to deliver more personalized customer experiences, improve operational efficiency, and unlock new levels of productivity across marketing, commerce, and customer care.

“Omer joins Emplifi at a pivotal moment, not only for our company, but for the customer engagement industry,” said Ohad Hecht, CEO of Emplifi. “The next generation of customer engagement won’t be powered by disconnected AI tools; it will be driven by intelligent orchestration across the entire customer journey. That’s the vision behind Emplifi Fuel and our Autonomous Customer Experience platform. Omer’s experience building AI-first products and leading global technology organizations will help us accelerate that vision, empowering brands to operate faster, engage customers more intelligently, and achieve better business outcomes.”

Sharon brings more than two decades of experience building and scaling enterprise software products and leading high-performing global product organizations. He spent more than a decade at Emarsys, where he helped shape the company’s product strategy and scale its customer engagement platform through its growth and eventual acquisition by SAP. Most recently, he advised technology companies on AI-first product transformation, helping organizations modernize their operating models, accelerate innovation, and embed AI into their products and product development processes.

“I’m excited to join Emplifi at such a pivotal moment in the evolution of customer experience,” said Omer Sharon, Chief Product & Technology Officer at Emplifi. “AI is allowing us to rethink not only how software is built, but how brands create value for their customers. My focus will be on building products that customers love to use, accelerating innovation through AI, and creating even stronger connections between our product teams and the customers we serve. By combining deep customer insight with intelligent automation, we have an incredible opportunity to help brands deliver more connected, personalized, and impactful experiences at scale.”

Sharon’s appointment underscores Emplifi’s continued investment in advancing Autonomous Customer Experience (A-CX). As the company continues to evolve the Emplifi Fuel platform, Sharon will lead the next phase of product and technology innovation, accelerating the development of AI-powered capabilities that help brands create more intelligent, personalized, and autonomous experiences across marketing, commerce, and customer care.

About Emplifi

Emplifi is the only Autonomous CX platform unifying social marketing, commerce, and customer care for more than 20,000 brands worldwide. Powered by Fuel AI, built on more than 5T of data, and recognized as a leader by leading industry analysts, Emplifi helps enterprise teams orchestrate connected customer journeys and deliver personalized experiences at scale, turning every customer touchpoint into a competitive advantage.

Contact:
Jordan Lukes, Corporate Communications Director, Emplifi
jordan.lukes@emplifi.io

 

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SOURCE Emplifi Inc

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PAXAFE Appoints Mark Talens as Chief Commercial Officer to Accelerate Next Stage of Growth

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Experienced pharmaceutical supply chain and AI strategy executive joins PAXAFE to scale revenue as demand grows for AI-powered decision support in cold chain logistics.

INDIANAPOLIS, July 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — PAXAFE, the company delivering AI-powered decision intelligence for cold chain logistics, today announced the appointment of Mark Talens as Chief Commercial Officer (CCO). In this role, Mark will lead PAXAFE’s global sales, delivery, customer support, and partnerships as the company scales to meet rising demand for AI-powered logistics orchestration and quality compliance software—strengthening customer outcomes and trust across pharmaceutical, life sciences, and end-to-end cold chain networks.

“Mark brings a rare combination of deep pharmaceutical supply chain expertise and proven success scaling AI-powered technology platforms,” said Ilya Preston, co-founder and CEO of PAXAFE. “As more life sciences and cold chain organizations look to move from passive visibility to proactive, AI-driven decision-making, Mark’s experience on both the customer and technology sides of that transformation will be instrumental.”

Mark brings more than 25 years of pharmaceutical and supply chain experience to PAXAFE. He joins from ParkourSC, where he served as Executive Vice President, Chief Strategy & Solutions Officer, driving strategic product innovation and applying AI to reshape supply chain decision-making for customers across pharma, life sciences, and consumer goods. His work earned him recognition as a 2025 Supply Chain “Pros to Know” honoree from Supply & Demand Chain Executive.

Prior to his transition into technology, Mark spent 25 years in the pharmaceutical industry, most recently as Associate Vice President of Global Supply Chain Operations at Organon, where he was a founding member responsible for leading the company’s supply chain spin-off from Merck. Between Merck and Organon, he held a wide variety of roles at market, regional and global level as well as leading the Global SC operations and SCM COE. Mark holds a Master of Science degree in Industrial Engineering & Business Administration from Eindhoven University of Technology.

“Complexity across life sciences and adjacent supply chains keeps rising, along with the regulatory burden that comes with it. Most organizations already have the data — what they lack is the context to turn it into a decision. That blind spot drives bias into service levels, patient outcomes, and cost of quality. PAXAFE closes that gap, giving teams a faster path to a complete, contextual, and unbiased end-to-end correlated view of the network” said Mark Talens, CCO, PAXAFE. “PAXAFE’s approach to AI-powered decision support addresses exactly the kind of exception fatigue and inefficiency I’ve spent my career trying to solve — first as a supply chain practitioner, and more recently as a technology executive. I’m excited to join the team and help the industry and customers realize the full value of their visibility investment and drive trust and speed to decision”

About PAXAFE

PAXAFE is a GxP cold chain decision intelligence & quality compliance platform that eliminates silos, digitizes and automates compliance workflows, and empowers teams with contextual intelligence to protect product, reduce cost, and drive toward zero waste.

To learn more about PAXAFE, please visit www.paxafe.com.

Media Contact
Ivan Castro – Ivan@paxafe.com

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SOURCE PAXAFE, Inc.

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REMADE Announces $4.86M in New Technology Research to Increase Materials Recovery, Remanufacturing & Recycling in U.S. Manufacturing

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Institute Selects 10 Projects in Latest Round of Funding

ROCHESTER, N.Y., July 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The REMADE Institute, a 150-member public-private partnership established in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) with an initial investment of $140 million, today announced $4.86 million in new technology research, selecting 10 new research demonstration, verification and validation (DV&V) projects as part of the Institute’s latest round of funding.

REMADE’s new DV&V projects will demonstrate tools and technologies that are at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6 and will reach TRL 7 by the end of their project. Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) describe the various phases of technology development, with TRLs 4-7 typically referred to as the “Valley of Death” — the critical gap between early-stage research and commercial viability where promising innovations often fail to transition from the laboratory to the marketplace.

These new DV&V projects will not only address the Valley of Death for these technologies but will also increase U.S. manufacturing competitiveness; strengthen the resilience of the domestic supply chain; decrease manufacturing energy consumption; and advance the Circular Economy by increasing the reuse, remanufacturing, recovery, and recycling of critical minerals and rare earth elements, aluminum, textiles, electronics scrap, diesel engine blocks, steel, and paper.

“By focusing REMADE’s investment on these projects, we are getting closer and closer to fully commercializing these novel technology solutions, which once fully implemented are capable of achieving significant positive energy, manufacturing, environmental, and economic impacts for us as a nation,” said REMADE Chief Executive Officer Nabil Nasr.

This latest round of investment, the Institute’s seventh, is cost-shared between REMADE and the funding recipients. Of the 10 new projects, some involve new partners for REMADE. They will join the Institute’s existing partners, including industry innovators and academic researchers with Caterpillar, John Deere, Michelin, Nike, Adidas, MIT, RIT, Honda, Volvo, Yale University and many more.

REMADE Chief Technology Officer Magdi Azer said it’s important for research institutes like REMADE to provide ongoing investment in technologies to ensure they advance through the Valley of Death, noting that REMADE had previously funded six prior Requests for Proposals (RFPs).

“This is exactly why the Manufacturing USA institutes were established in the first place more than a decade ago,” Azer said. “These new DV&V projects will, for example, explore better ways to recover total rare earth oxides from electronic scrap; utilize computer vision and AI to reduce the cost of electronics recycling; recover and recycle aerospace and automotive aluminum; repair diesel engine blocks; use secondary steel to produce new tires; improve paper recycling; expand textile recycling; and increase the circularity of new product designs.”

Since the Institute’s founding in 2017, REMADE has launched or selected 103 technology R&D and workforce development projects, representing a total combined value of $104 million. For a list of the 10 new technology projects and their project team members, see below.

More detailed information on all REMADE R&D projects can be found at www.remadeinstitute.org.

Project Title

Project Team Members

Low-Cost Textile-to-Textile “SolvoGenesis” Recycling Validation at Scale

MacroCycle Technologies

Eastman Kodak

Component-Level Validation of Structural and Improved Non-Structural Secondary Aluminum Die Cast Alloys

Audubon Metals

The Ohio State University

North American Die Cast Association

Project Advisor: Ford

Project Advisor: Phinix

Computer Vision and AI for the E-Cycling Receiving Process

Rochester Institute of Technology

Sunnking Sustainable Solutions

Tire-Test Demonstration of Tire Cord Produced from High-Copper Content Scrap Steel

Missouri University of Science and Technology

Michelin USA

Industrial Validation of Biotechnologies for Recycled Fibers to Regain Fiber Quality and Increase Secondary Feedstock in High Value-Added Paper Grades

Western Michigan University

Graphic Packaging International

Technology Demonstration, Verification and Validation of REEgen’s Biological Critical Metal Recovery Technology

Rochester Institute of Technology

REEgen

Developing Enterprise-Grade CAD Tools to Integrate Circularity in New Product Designs

Rochester Institute of Technology

Trane Technologies

Project Advisor: Caterpillar

Project Advisor: Remanufacturing Industries Council

Recycling Aerospace Aluminum Scrap into High-Performance Wrought Sheet and Near-Net-Shape Squeeze Cast Components

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Loukus Technologies

High-Speed Laser Cladding Repair for Cast Iron Diesel Engine Blocks

Rochester Institute of Technology

Synergy Additive Manufacturing

Demonstration of Advanced Textile Sorting and Dismantling System

Rochester Institute of Technology

Goodwill of the Finger Lakes

About REMADE
Founded in 2017, REMADE is a 150-member public-private partnership established in collaboration with and funded in part by the U.S. Department of Energy. REMADE is the only national institute focused entirely on developing innovative technologies to accelerate the U.S.’s transition to a Circular Economy. In partnership with industry, academia, trade organizations, and national laboratories, REMADE enables applied research and development that will increase the reuse, remanufacturing, recovery and recycling of critical and key materials in U.S. manufacturing. For more information about REMADE, visit www.remadeinstitute.org.

For additional information contact:
Megan Connor Murphy
Director, Marketing and Communications
REMADE Institute
585-339-8379 cell
mconnormurphy@remadeinstitute.org

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SOURCE REMADE Institute

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