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Connect Prepares for New Era of Leadership and Growth

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Rick Valencia, Seasoned Entrepreneur and Connect Board Vice Chair, Steps into Interim-CEO position

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Connect, the premier non-profit organization in the San Diego innovation ecosystem established 40 years ago to cultivate life science and tech innovation communities, today announced Mike Krenn, Chief Executive Officer, and Christie Marcella, Chief Operating Officer, have accepted leadership roles at other San Diego organizations and will be leaving Connect, while remaining as independent members of its Board of Directors.

“Mike and Christie have taken Connect to new heights over their tenure and are leaving the organization in our strongest ever financial and team position and incredibly well positioned to further advance the San Diego innovation ecosystem,” said James Mackay, Connect Board Chair, recently appointed for a second two-year term. “Under their leadership, Connect has been a driving force in San Diego, dramatically changing the trajectory of investment in the region. The organizations’ strategic programs have worked to create a $5 billion dollar ecosystem and there is certainly room to continue to grow with the excellent Connect team that we have in place.”

Connect also announced the appointment of its next three successor Vice Chairs, all of whom are innovation company founders and entrepreneurs. Following Mackay as Chair for the 2027-2028 term is Ashley Van Zeeland; followed by Denise Bevers for the 2029-2030 term; and Rick Valencia for 2031-2032. “Having eight years of such outstanding leaders already elected to chair Connect, is unheard of in the non-profit sector,” added Mackay. “I believe this speaks to the organization’s mission, strong foundation and the unwavering commitment of our board.”

A search is underway for a permanent successor for Krenn. In the interim, Connect has named Rick Valencia as Interim CEO. Valencia has a long career as CEO with technology and life science companies, and along with Mackay, has been a board member of Connect for over 15 years.  Valencia will be working with the Connect team to continue the exciting innovation programming and events over the coming months.

“We will miss working with Mike and Christie but look forward to continuing to work closely with them in their new roles, further deepening Connect’s community networks,” said Valencia. “We are fortunate to have a strong, high-quality, dedicated Connect team and Board of Directors with unparalleled reach across all sectors of San Diego. We are all genuinely committed to our mission and to building a better San Diego.” 

Krenn added: “In my new role, which is expected to be announced soon, I will be leading investments in innovative San Diego technology and life sciences companies. It is very additive to the mission of Connect and I look forward to remaining actively involved with the organization and supporting its mission.”

Marcella is joining the City of San Diego as Deputy Director, Community & Business Engagement in the Economic Development Department, underscoring the innovation economy’s importance to the city’s growth as an innovation hub and in bringing innovation access to all corners of the city. 

Continuing a History of Innovation

Founded in 1985 by a group of San Diego tech and life science entrepreneurs the Connect organization has been driving San Diego’s innovation economic growth for 40 years. The breadth of Connect’s programs and the quality of a highly curated community is the reason behind its incredible impact on the region. Premier Connect programs include:

The organization’s Cool Companies program has been central to the region’s progression. The program annually attracts hundreds of venture capitalists to the region, showing off our best startups to the investment community. Since 2015, the Connect Cool Companies have raised over $900 million in just Series A institutional capital.In 2022, the organization led the launch of Innovation Day. The event has become the largest gathering of CEOs and Investors in the region and celebrates the region’s top tech, life science, defense, and consumer companies.In 2022, Connect also launched its innovative XEO program – a leadership program designed for mid-level diverse employees from the innovation sector. It’s been dubbed as one of the most influential and impactful leadership programs in the country. With over 100 alumni, the program continues to grow the next generation of San Diego leaders.

“It’s been a great responsibility to lead Connect and I couldn’t be prouder of what the team and the organization have accomplished,” added Krenn. “I am excited to welcome the next CEO and to continue to partner with this great organization and team. The foundation is strong, the team is excellent and the opportunity for San Diego’s future is limited only by our collective vision.”

Press Contacts:
Mike Krenn
Connect CEO
1-858-449-0345
mkrenn@connect.org

James Mackay
Connect Chair of Board of Directors
1-267-481-2234
jamesmackay@kateranconsulting.com

 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/connect-prepares-for-new-era-of-leadership-and-growth-302373429.html

SOURCE Connect

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Eddid Financial Honored with “Professional Services Award in RWA” by HKCT Highlighting its Leading Edge in Web3 and Digital Assets

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HONG KONG, May 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Eddid Financial (the “Group”) has won the “Professional Services Award in RWA” at the HKCT Business Awards, hosted by the Hong Kong Commercial Times. The award recognizes the Group’s exceptional professional service capabilities and innovative achievements in the Real-World Assets Tokenisation (“RWA”) sector. This prestigious honor serves as a strong industry endorsement of the Group’s dedicated efforts in the RWA space, affirming its leadership in bridging traditional and digital finance while injecting significant momentum into Hong Kong’s digital asset market.

The HKCT Business Awards evaluates candidates based on four core criteria: corporate achievements, market competitiveness, brand philosophy, and professional standing. As one of the most credible and influential business awards in Hong Kong, it aims to recognize outstanding enterprises across various sectors for their performance over the past year, encouraging companies to continuously enhance their core competitiveness and pioneer innovative economic directions. During this year’s selection process, the judging panel conducted a comprehensive assessment of Eddid Financial’s compliance infrastructure, innovative services, and industry contributions within the RWA sector, highly commending the Group’s professional strength and forward-looking vision in asset tokenisation.

Compliance-Driven: Building a Full-Chain Service Ecosystem

As a licensed pioneer in Hong Kong’s RWA landscape, Eddid Financial has consistently relied on compliance as its foundation and innovation as its driving force. Having deeply cultivated the digital asset space for years, the Group has established a full-chain professional service ecosystem that encompasses asset screening, product design, compliance auditing, and distribution operations. Eddid Securities and Futures, a subsidiary of the Group, became one of the first brokerages in Hong Kong to upgrade its licenses in September 2023. It subsequently secured further upgrades for its Type 1 and Type 9 regulated activity licenses, making it one of the few institutions authorized to distribute tokenised securities and RWA products. This regulatory milestone has laid a solid, compliant foundation for the Group’s RWA business operations.

Successful Launch of Landmark Precious Metal RWA Projects

In terms of practical application, Eddid Financial has actively spearheaded the launch of several landmark RWA projects, setting a new benchmark for the industry. Notably, the Group partnered with Timeless Resources Holdings Limited (8028.HK) and HashKey Chain to introduce Hong Kong’s first silver RWA project. By leveraging blockchain technology to tokenise physical silver assets, each digital coin is backed 1:1 by one ounce of physical silver, strictly held by an independent trustee. This initiative not only lowers the barrier to entry for precious metal investments but also enhances asset liquidity. The project’s product design and issuance framework received a “no further comment” reply from the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), demonstrating the highest standard of compliance.

Concurrently, the Group has collaborated with CAC Fintech to advance China’s first agricultural RWA project. By converting agricultural products, land management rights, and future agricultural revenue rights into on-chain digital certificates, this project addresses critical pain points such as poor liquidity and low financing efficiency in agricultural assets. Furthermore, it supports the national rural revitalization strategy and explores novel pathways for the innovative integration of agricultural assets with financial markets.

Leading the Upgrade of the Regional RWA Industry

Beyond launching landmark projects, Eddid Financial continues to drive the ecosystem construction and market development of the RWA sector. The Group’s research department published the “Core Guide to RWA: From Basic Theory to Global Practice,” sharing its leading experience in asset tokenisation to help establish industry standards. Simultaneously, the Group has built a tripartite development model encompassing “Technology + Compliance + Ecosystem”. Internally, it has assembled a dedicated fintech team to advance underlying technologies; externally, it connects core stakeholders, including asset holders, investors, and licensed exchanges, to form a comprehensive RWA service ecosystem that provides clients with all-encompassing, one-stop professional services.

Looking ahead, Eddid Financial will continue to leverage its comprehensive licensing advantages, expert service teams, and robust technical support to drive the digital transformation of a diverse range of real-world assets. The Group is committed to delivering highly flexible, efficient, and compliant RWA services to its clients while actively supporting the standardized and international development of Hong Kong’s digital asset market, thereby cementing Hong Kong’s status as a premier global digital finance hub.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/eddid-financial-honored-with-professional-services-award-in-rwa-by-hkct-highlighting-its-leading-edge-in-web3-and-digital-assets-302760892.html

SOURCE Eddid Financial

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Elevate Appoints Wade Clark as Chief Growth Officer

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Industry veteran to lead organic growth strategy across Elevate’s national platform

LOS ANGELES, May 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Elevate, a national operator-led accounting and advisory platform, today announced the appointment of Wade Clark as Chief Growth Officer. Clark brings more than 30 years of experience building and leading sales organizations at top U.S. accounting and consulting firms, including Moss Adams (now Baker Tilly), BKD (now Forvis Mazars), Carr Riggs & Ingram, BDO USA, and Ernst & Young.

In this role, Clark will lead organic growth across Elevate’s partner firms, building a unified, data-driven growth function that complements the platform’s active M&A strategy and deepens advisory relationships firmwide.

Most recently, Clark spent nine years at Moss Adams, where he built and scaled the sales coaching function supporting 1,000+ partners, directors, and senior managers across 45 practices in a $1.3 billion firm. Earlier, as Chief Growth Officer at Carr Riggs & Ingram, he built the firm’s first growth function and helped drive revenue from $70 million to $100 million in three years. At BKD, he played a central role in the firm’s expansion from $190 million to $400 million, primarily through organic growth. He is the author of Meaningful Success in Business as well as Simplifying Complex Sales, reviewed by Accounting Today as one of the best books on selling professional services.

“Wade has built and led growth organizations at scale, and he knows what it takes to drive consistent, measurable results across a distributed partnership,” said Sanjay Agarwal, CEO and Founder of Elevate. “As we continue to execute on both M&A and organic growth, Wade’s ability to bring structure, accountability, and rigor to revenue generation will be a meaningful differentiator for our partner firms and their clients.”

“What attracted me to Elevate is the clarity of vision and the commitment to building a true operating platform — not just a collection of firms,” said Clark. “The opportunity to architect a scalable growth engine across a national footprint, alongside partner firms who are already leaders in their markets, is incredibly compelling.”

Clark is based in Houston, Texas, and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from Texas A&M University.

About Elevate

Elevate is a national accounting and advisory platform built by operators. The firm partners with leading CPA firms to provide the technology, infrastructure, and strategic support needed to drive sustainable growth, enhance client service, and unlock long-term value. Elevate’s operator-led model preserves firm autonomy while delivering the scale, talent, and technology of a unified platform.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/elevate-appoints-wade-clark-as-chief-growth-officer-302759917.html

SOURCE Elevate LLC

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Meiyume (Group) LTD Achieves EcoVadis Gold Rating for 2026, Reinforcing Commitment to Sustainable Beauty

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HONG KONG, May 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Meiyume (Group) LTD has achieved the EcoVadis Gold rating for 2026, with the company being in the 96th percentile globally and among the top-performing companies for sustainability.

EcoVadis evaluates companies across environment, labour and human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement. The Gold rating reflects Meiyume’s strong performance and continued commitment to embedding sustainability across its supply chain.

A supplier’s commitment to sustainability is increasingly important to brands, as they work to meet rising regulatory requirements and evolving consumer expectations for transparency and responsible practices. In this landscape, choosing the right partners is essential. Partners like Meiyume play a key role in enabling more responsible, future-ready solutions while helping to strengthen sustainability standards across the supply chain.

A Holistic Sustainability Strategy: Meiyume’s 5Ps Framework

Meiyume’s sustainability approach is guided by its 5Ps framework: Product, Process, Places, People, and Principle, ensuring a comprehensive integration across the business:

Product – Advancing sustainable innovation in formulations and packaging

Process – Strengthening responsible sourcing and supply chain practices

Places – Enhancing operational efficiency and environmental performance

People – Fostering an inclusive and supportive workplace

Principle – Upholding strong governance and compliance standards

Sustainability as an Ongoing Journey

While the EcoVadis Gold rating marks an important milestone, Meiyume views sustainability as an ongoing journey. The company remains committed to strengthening its sustainability performance and supporting beauty and personal care brands in achieving their sustainability goals.

About Meiyume:

Formerly LF Beauty, Meiyume offers end-to-end beauty solutions—packaging, ODM, OEM —grounded in sustainability and insights. Powered by it’s Beauty Intelligence Platform and a global sourcing network, Meiyume brings visions to life with agility, intelligence, and responsibility.

https://meiyume.com/
2/F HK Spinners Industrial Building, Phases I & II, 800 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong

SOURCE Meiyume

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