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Department of Defense’s Bruce Townshend to Deliver Keynote at Employing U.S. Vets Conference

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NEW YORK, Feb. 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Bruce Townshend, chief of employer engagement at the Defense Department’s Employer Support of the Guard & Reserve (ESGR) Office, will deliver the keynote address at the nation’s premier veteran employment event, the Spring 2025 Employing U.S. Vets Conference, VETS Indexes is pleased to announce. Townshend will headline a dynamic group of speakers and panelists on April 10, 2025, in New York City for the conference, now in its 12th season. Tickets are available now, with virtual tickets also available for those who cannot attend in person.

Department of Defense’s Bruce Townshend to Deliver Keynote at Employing U.S. Vets Conference in NYC on April 10

To learn more and reserve tickets (in-person or virtual), visit: https://employingusvets.com/

“We are grateful to Mr. Townshend for sharing his unparalleled expertise at our conference,” said VETS Indexes President George Altman. “Organizations focused on improving their outreach to Guard/Reserve members, veterans, and the military-connected community will learn a lot from Bruce. He is  a phenomenal addition to an already jam-packed agenda!”

More than 1,500 people, representing some 900 different organizations, signed up for the last Employing U.S. Vets Conference in October. The event brings together the most knowledgeable voices in veteran employment to discuss best practices for recruiting, hiring, retaining, developing, and supporting veterans and the military-connected community. VETS Indexes will also announce the 2025 VETS Indexes Employer Awards honorees during the April 10 conference.

In addition to Townshend’s keynote speech, the conference will feature a day full of expert panels, addressing topics expected to include:

5 Star Employer Best Practices to Create a Veteran-Inclusive CultureVERG Roundtable: Veteran Employee Resource Group Leaders Share Advice, Success Stories and Lessons LearnedBuilding Mentorship and Peer Programs to Maximize Veteran Employee Retention and SuccessMetrics and Data-Driven Approaches to Optimizing Veteran Employment Policies, Practices, and OutcomesHow to Find Top Veteran-Owned Vendors and Suppliers

Townshend is responsible for the planning, design and execution of proactive ESGR employer engagement initiatives to customers (Employers) and stakeholders (Guardsmen, Reservists and the Department of Defense). In this capacity he establishes and maintains frequent contact with corporate executives in a broad spectrum of industries, state government executives, mayors of major cities, and high-ranking military and Department of Defense officials to positively influence, motivate and persuade leaders – many of whom are skeptical – on the merits of ESGR programs and services. 

The Spring 2025 Employing U.S. Vets Conference will be held at the historic New York Athletic Club, located across the street from Central Park in New York City on April 10, 2025. Tickets are available for purchase now for the event, and those who cannot attend in person can reserve virtual tickets. In-person and virtual tickets can be reserved at this link: https://employingusvets.com/

“With a robust agenda featuring an exceptional lineup of speakers, we are proud to serve thousands of HR and employment professionals, helping to shape the future of veteran inclusion in the workforce,” said VETS Indexes Chief Marketing Officer Nicholas Antaki.  

Thank you to all of our sponsors, who make this event possible: Silver Sponsors Fiserv and Spectrum; Bronze Sponsors United Rentals, USAA, and ETF Global; Event Friends Benelynk,

TD Bank, and Werner Enterprises; and Education Partner: NYC SHRM.

Sponsorship opportunities are still available, but they are limited and going fast. By sponsoring, organizations demonstrate their support and leadership in the veteran employment space, and they are recognized throughout VETS Indexes’ targeted outreach, which regularly reaches more than 100,000 HR, recruiting, and veterans program professionals. For more information on how your organization can become a sponsor, please download our brochure here (https://employingusvets.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Spring-2025-Employing-U.S.-Vets-Conference-min-1.pdf) or email nantaki@vetsindexes.com.

About VETS Indexes: VETS Indexes is a leading voice on veteran employment issues, overseeing the VETS Indexes Employer Awards, hosting the twice-yearly Employing U.S. Vets Conference, unearthing unique and unprecedented data on veteran employment through the Veteran Employment Benchmarking Service, and developing custom indexes, linked to financial products, that track the performance of the publicly traded companies that have established themselves as the best employers for veterans.

The VETSX and VTRNIX indexes were created on the premise that the companies that make the best use of the highly talented, yet often under-valued, talent pool that veterans represent will ultimately see a benefit to their bottom lines. The performance of the indexes has emphatically confirmed that thesis, outpacing the S&P 500.   

As the world’s first resource for U.S. veteran themed indexes, our mission is to provide innovative solutions that recognize the value created by the mission-critical mindset, unique skills, and specialized training that veterans bring to the workplace. Our mission also includes a commitment to always donate a significant portion (target of 20% and no less than 5%) of our net profits to charitable organizations that support veterans and their families. 

“SERVING THOSE WHO SERVED” – VETS Indexes provides a social and governance impact via those public companies that support the hiring and professional development of our military veterans.  

Learn more about us at VETSIndexes.com and follow us on social media channels via LinkedIn, Facebook, X, and Instagram.

Contact: Nicholas Antaki
(516) 418-3821
nantaki@vetsindexes.com 

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Caylent’s Valerie Henderson and Ann Carpenter Named to CRN’s 2026 Women of the Channel List

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CEO and CMO recognized amongst an elite subset of CRN’s Women of the Channel list

IRVINE, Calif., May 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Caylent, an AI-first Amazon Web Services (AWS) Premier Tier Services Partner, announced that CRN®, a brand of The Channel Company, has recognized Caylent Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Valerie Henderson and Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Ann Carpenter, on the 2026 Women of the Channel Power 80 Solution Provider list, an elite subset of influential solution providers chosen from the CRN® 2026 Women of the Channel list.

The annual Power 80 Solution Provider list honors the most influential women in leadership at some of the country’s most prominent IT integrators, managed service providers, value-added resellers and consultants for their channel advocacy and dedication to helping their customers and technology partners thrive.

Val is known for her relentless focus on customer outcomes and for building high-impact teams that deliver measurable business value. As CEO and the leading visionary behind Caylent’s AI-first services, Val has been a driving force behind the company’s growth, completing key acquisitions of Trek10 and Pronetx, and scaling revenue more than five-fold in her current role and previously as president and CRO.

“This honor reflects the transformational work taking place at Caylent, as well as the undeniable force women are becoming across the channel,” said Val Henderson. “Together, we’re not just participating in the future of technology; we’re building it. I’m proud to be included amongst such an accomplished group of leaders.”

As CMO, Ann strengthens collaboration with AWS while positioning Caylent as a leader in cloud migration, modernization, and AI-first services. Her strategic vision combines revenue-focused marketing with partnership optimization, proving critical to Caylent’s growth trajectory.

“It’s inspiring to be included alongside so many influential women in the channel,” said Ann Carpenter. “This acknowledgment speaks to the strength of our partner community and the measurable impact we are creating for customers every day. At Caylent, that’s not aspirational, it’s what we do.”

This recognition reflects Caylent’s longstanding commitment to advancing women in technology and leadership. Women hold four of seven C-level positions at Caylent.

“It’s a privilege to celebrate the remarkable achievements of these women who are driving meaningful change across the IT channel,” said Jennifer Follett, VP of U.S. Content and Executive Editor, CRN at The Channel Company. “Each honoree has demonstrated exceptional leadership and a commitment to bold, innovative strategies that fuel transformation, growth, and success for their organizations and the broader channel. We’re proud to recognize their impact and look forward to seeing how they continue to shape the future of our industry.”

Read more about Val and Ann’s recognition, as well other Women of the Channel honorees at crn.com/wotc.

About Caylent

Since 2015, Caylent has grown alongside organizations modernizing on AWS. Now, it is the operating partner they trust to build, run, and evolve intelligent systems at scale. As an AWS Premier Tier Services Partner, dedicated Anthropic partner, and AWS Managed Services Provider, with 10 Partner of the Year Awards including GenAI, Migration, and Security Consulting Partner of the Year in 2025, Caylent combines deep AWS expertise, proprietary IP, and an agentic delivery system to move organizations from ideas to impact, faster. www.caylent.com

About The Channel Company

The Channel Company (TCC) is the global leader in channel growth for the world’s top technology brands. We accelerate success across strategic channels for tech vendors, solution providers and end users with premier media brands, integrated marketing and event services, strategic consulting, and exclusive market and audience insights. TCC is a portfolio company of investment funds managed by EagleTree Capital, a New York City-based private equity firm. For more information, visit thechannelco.com.

Follow The Channel Company: LinkedIn and X.

© 2026 The Channel Company, Inc. CRN is a registered trademark of The Channel Company, Inc. All rights reserved.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/caylents-valerie-henderson-and-ann-carpenter-named-to-crns-2026-women-of-the-channel-list-302761430.html

SOURCE Caylent

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Display Week 2026: SunLED’s Near-Infrared Technology Turns Screens into Wellness Devices

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SunLED Life Science’s patented near-infrared technology brings the benefits of natural sunlight indoors and can be integrated into laptops, display monitors and smartphone cases, delivering targeted NIR light during screen time to support energy, mood, eye comfort, and overall well-being

LOS ANGELES and AMSTERDAM, May 4, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — SunLED Life Science, a health-centered technology startup, today announced plans to showcase its near-Infrared (NIR) technology that brings the benefits of natural sunlight indoors at Display Week 2026, from May 5-7, 2026, at the LA Convention Center, Exhibit Hall, Booth #446. SunLED’s patented near-infrared (NIR) technology can be easily integrated into computer and laptop screens, webcams, and other everyday devices, delivering a targeted dose of NIR light – the essential part of sunlight absent in indoor light – to users while they work. NIR light supports mood, energy levels, eye comfort, and overall well-being. SunLED Life Science will demo three new prototypes at Display Week 2026, including a display monitor, a laptop, and a smartphone case, demonstrating how SunLED’s patented NIR technology can be integrated into everyday devices.

“Our technology can be integrated into almost any screen-based product to improve the well-being of its users and fundamentally change indoor screen time for everyone, from children and employees to the elderly,” said Dr. Anne Berends, CEO, CTO and founder, SunLED Life Science.

Dr. Anne Berends will also speak at Display Week on May 7 at 9:10 AM during Session 63.3, Displays as Ambient Light Therapy: Health and Wellness Through Invisible NIR Integration, in room 409AB, and in the panel discussion Health Effects of Emissive Color in Displays (Session 65-3), on Thursday, May 7, from 11:10–11:50 AM.

All indoor lighting and displays lack NIR, an essential part of the solar spectrum that makes up 50% of sunlight. The average person spends 90% of their waking hours indoors and has seven hours of screen time, deprived of NIR light, which can lead to adverse health effects. As windows filter out NIR, even sunlight that passes through them cannot help address the growing global health issues caused by modern indoor lifestyles. Near-infrared light boosts cellular energy production by activating mitochondria, the ‘powerplant’ of the cell. Scientific literature has shown a range of health and well-being benefits of NIR, including improved eye comfort and reduced fatigue. SunLED Life Science’s patented NIR light technology is proven in clinical studies to enhance mood and energy, lower inflammation markers, and promote heart health.

SunLED Life Science Technology Integration.

SunLED Life Science’s patented technology integrates with computer and laptop screens, webcams, and car interiors. At Display Week 2026, SunLED Life Science will demo three prototypes that bring its patented NIR technology directly into everyday devices. The first two prototypes include a laptop and an external monitor with NIR LEDs built into the bezel—mirroring how webcams evolved from clip-ons to standard features. The third prototype is a smartphone case prototype that delivers NIR light to users during normal screen time, tapping into the device people use most. Together, the three prototypes demonstrate how SunLED’s NIR technology makes wellness effortless by integrating into the products people already rely on daily.

“Today’s modern lifestyle hinders people from exposure to the very driver of life on Earth – sunlight. Our ancestors spent centuries outdoors in the sun. We are spending time in the office or at home: working, studying, and enjoying our free time while looking at screens, we barely get the amount of sunlight our bodies need,” said Dr. Anne Berends, CTO and co-founder of SunLED. “Our technology can be integrated into almost any screen-based product to improve the well-being of its users and fundamentally change indoor screen time for everyone, from children and employees to the elderly. We envision a world where everyone has access to the benefits of natural sunlight even while indoors at work, at home, or driving in a vehicle.”

At Display Week, SunLED will also showcase SunBooster, an easy-to-use, USB-C-powered device that attaches to computer monitors and laptops. As the first near-infrared device designed for everyday use, SunBooster brings the wellness-supporting qualities of natural sunlight indoors, enabling users to integrate these benefits effortlessly into their daily routines. SunBooster has launched in the EU and will launch in the US market in May.

Contact sunled@wearemgp.com to set up a meeting at Display Week 2026 between May 5-7 in Los Angeles, access the Display Week Press Kit here, or learn more at https://sunled.health.

About SunLED Life Science

SunLED Life Science researches and develops lighting solutions that bring the health benefits of sunlight indoors. Our patented and scientifically proven Near-Infrared technology promotes health and well-being, and easily integrates into various devices, such as screens, luminaires, car dashboards, and more. We envision a world where everyone can access the benefits of natural sunlight indoors.

Founded in 2024, SunLED Life Science is a privately held company headquartered in Amsterdam. Follow SunLED Life Science on LinkedIn or learn more at https://sunled.health.

Media Contact

Mindy M. Hull, Mercury Global Partners for SunLED Life Science, 1 415 889 9977, sunled@wearemgp.com, https://sunled.health

Michael Held-Hernandez, Mercury Global Partners for SunLED Life Science, 1 480 306 1154, sunled@wearemgp.com, https://sunled.health

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prweb.com/releases/display-week-2026-sunleds-near-infrared-technology-turns-screens-into-wellness-devices-302761482.html

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New CiviClick Whitepaper: How DoorDash, DraftKings, Uber, and Rivian Are Winning Policy Fights by Mobilizing Real Stakeholders

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Two decades of Congressional Management Foundation research show individualized constituent communication outperforms paid advertising and lobbying – and a new whitepaper from CiviClick details how leading companies are closing the gap

WASHINGTON, May. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — CiviClick, a nonpartisan grassroots advocacy software platform, today released a 48-page whitepaper examining how some of America’s most recognizable companies are winning state and federal policy fights by mobilizing employees, customers, and other real stakeholders to tell authentic stories to lawmakers. 

The whitepaper, titled “How Corporations Win Grassroots Advocacy Campaigns by Telling Authentic Stories,” draws on two decades of Congressional Management Foundation (CMF) research showing that individualized constituent communication is the single most influential form of advocacy on an undecided lawmaker — outperforming paid advertising, form emails, and even meetings with professional lobbyists. 

The research also surfaces a persistent gap. Ninety-one percent of congressional staff say district-specific impact information would help them advise their boss; only nine percent report receiving it frequently. Seventy-nine percent say personal constituent stories would help; only eighteen percent report receiving them regularly. 

“There is a massive gap between what lawmakers want to hear and what they actually receive,” said Chazz Clevinger, founder and CEO of CiviClick. “The companies that close that gap are the ones winning their policy fights. The ones that don’t are the ones writing checks to lobbyists and wondering why the bill still moved.” 

Four extended case studies 

The whitepaper details four corporate grassroots programs that have produced measurable legislative wins:

DoorDash’s DashRoots program has united more than 210,000 delivery professionals, merchants, and consumers across all 50 states. Recent wins include defeating a proposed delivery fee in Illinois and passing first-in-the-nation portable benefits legislation through the Wisconsin legislature.

DraftKings’ New York mobile sports betting campaign combined grassroots customer pressure, executive engagement, and direct lobbying to secure Governor Cuomo’s April 2021 inclusion of mobile wagering in the state budget – a multi-year effort the whitepaper presents as a masterclass in coalition design.

Uber’s city-by-city playbook for ridesharing legalization shows how technology companies can build scalable advocacy infrastructure that adapts to local political conditions across hundreds of municipalities.

Rivian’s 2026 Washington State breakthrough overturned a twelve-year dealer monopoly on direct EV sales after Rivian customers wrote personal messages to legislators about why they should be able to buy vehicles directly. Senate Bill 6354 passed 47-2 in the Senate and 84-9 in the House. The thesis “The common thread across all four case studies is that sustained victory requires more than direct lobbying,” Clevinger said. “It requires a standing network of authentic stakeholder advocates who can be activated quickly, speak credibly to lawmakers in their own words, and mobilize again for the next fight.” 

The whitepaper also examines how companies can bridge political divides by mobilizing stakeholders with different political orientations around shared policy goals, how to integrate corporate social responsibility with civic engagement, and how to overcome the most common participation obstacles in corporate grassroots programs. The full whitepaper is available for download at civiclick.com.

CiviClick is a nonpartisan grassroots advocacy software platform headquartered in Washington, D.C., with offices in Los Angeles. The platform helps organizations build campaign pages where real people can contact their elected and regulatory officials with personalized messages. CiviClick serves diverse groups across the partisan spectrum, including corporations, trade associations, nonprofits, and issue advocacy organizations. 

Founded in 2023 by Chazz Clevinger, a 13-year veteran of civic technology who previously worked at the White House Office of Strategic Initiatives, CiviClick has been recognized with multiple AAPC, Pollie, and Reed Awards for advocacy technology.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-civiclick-whitepaper-how-doordash-draftkings-uber-and-rivian-are-winning-policy-fights-by-mobilizing-real-stakeholders-302761590.html

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