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Mancini Duffy Expands Seattle Presence with Appointment of Kara Schmidt-Robben as Studio Director

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SEATTLE, Feb. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Mancini Duffy, a national full-service design firm with a 110-year history of excellence in architecture, interior design, and planning, proudly announces the appointment of Kara Schmidt-Robben, NCIDQ, IIDA, LEED AP ID+C, as the Studio Director of its Seattle regional office in Rainier Square.

“Expanding our presence in Seattle has been an exciting opportunity, blending the energy of a startup with the strength of Mancini’s deep expertise and resources,” says Lauren Maxted, Director of Marketing & BD, Director of the Seattle Office, and Principal. “We are building something new while staying grounded in the innovation and excellence that define our firm. Kara’s wealth of experience is a tremendous asset as we grow, and we are thrilled to have her leadership in shaping a team that will drive our vision forward.”

“The expansion of our Seattle office is an exciting milestone for us,” says Christian Giordano, President and Co-owner. “The Pacific Northwest is a hub of innovation and creativity, which aligns perfectly with how we approach design. With Kara and Lauren leading the way, we are eager to showcase how we deliver exceptional projects and bring thoughtful, tech-forward solutions to clients who share our passion for great design.”

Schmidt-Robben brings a distinguished career in workplace and corporate design, having led high-profile projects in Washington, including Rover’s headquarters in Seattle, Fluke’s headquarters campus in Everett, and Orrick’s offices in Seattle and Portland. Her extensive leadership experience includes serving as President of the International Interior Design Association’s (IIDA) Northern Pacific Chapter, where she championed design excellence and industry advocacy.

“I am delighted to join Mancini in Seattle to provide our region with superior service and design solutions,” says Schmidt-Robben. “Backed by our innovative design capabilities, we are focused on creating unique environments that support our clients, their user groups, and connect to the region around us.”

As part of Mancini’s expansion in the Pacific Northwest, Schmidt-Robben’s leadership will be instrumental in shaping the firm’s regional presence. Her expertise in delivering tailored workplace solutions aligns seamlessly with Mancini’s tech-forward approach to design, leveraging its patented software, The Toolbelt, a platform for real-time project visualization and interactive client collaboration. This tool has been instrumental in enhancing the efficiency of the firm’s 360 Design process.

“Expanding our presence in Seattle has been an exciting opportunity, blending the energy of a startup with the strength of Mancini’s deep expertise and resources,” says Lauren Maxted, Director of Marketing & BD, Director of the Seattle Office, and Principal. “We are building something new while staying grounded in the innovation and excellence that define our firm. Kara’s wealth of experience is a tremendous asset as we grow, and we are thrilled to have her leadership in shaping a team that will drive our vision forward.”

Mancini’s Seattle office plays a key role in the firm’s continued expansion into dynamic, design-centric markets, delivering its legacy of innovation and forward-thinking design solutions. The office is currently engaged in three hospitality projects at the Concourse C expansion within the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac), reinforcing its commitment to excellence in the region.

ABOUT MANCINI:
Mancini is a national design firm with a 100+-year-old history and a tech-forward approach. A full-service design firm specializing in architecture, planning, and interior design, Mancini is headquartered in New York City with regional offices in Millburn and Red Bank, New Jersey, Phoenix, Arizona, Seattle, Washington, and Tampa and West Palm Beach, Florida. The firm complements its century of expertise with a contemporary entrepreneurial spirit and technological skill for clients in the commercial, aviation, healthcare, education, financial and professional services, retail, multifamily residential, restoration, institutional, religious, sports, tech, life sciences, and media sectors. The firm is known for designing iconic projects like TSX Broadway in Times Square, Omnicom Group’s national offices, and major aviation projects. Mancini is dedicated to leveraging technology that enhances the design solutions it delivers for its clients’ toughest challenges with its patented technology, The Toolbelt.

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SOURCE Mancini Duffy

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LEAP Group Relaunches HumanView, a Growth Intelligence System Built to Explain Why Customers Behave the Way They Do

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Reimagined from the ground up, HumanView pairs statistical modeling with expert analysts to turn millions of real-world customer signals into business decisions

LOUISVILLE, Ky., Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — LEAP Group today announced the relaunch of HumanView, its growth intelligence service. The new version has been rebuilt from the ground up and now has a dedicated home at leapgroupnetwork.com/humanview.

HumanView analyzes what customers say and do across social platforms, e-commerce sites, review platforms, search behavior and user-generated content, including signals from Reddit, TikTok, YouTube, Meta, Amazon and Walmart+ that general AI tools cannot always access. Because the data reflects unprompted, real-world behavior, it avoids the response bias built into surveys and focus groups.

The service works in three layers. HumanView captures signals at scale, decodes millions of records through validated statistical models such as regression, correlation and clustering, and then relies on experienced analysts to interpret the patterns. Clients receive clear, human-validated insights instead of another dashboard.

“Machines find the patterns. Humans find the point,” said Alan Gilleo, CEO at LEAP Group. “The first version of HumanView showed us how much customers reveal when nobody is asking them questions. This version is built to explain why they act the way they do, and to put those answers in front of everyone making decisions, from product to service to marketing.”

HumanView focuses on three areas:

Growth Intelligence: customer motivations and how people perceive a brand and its competitors

Market and Category Intelligence: product pain points, service friction, unmet needs and competitive gaps

Audience Intelligence: new segments, positioning opportunities and gaps in the market

Every model is designed and validated by data scientists and benchmarked before it informs a recommendation.

To learn more about HumanView, visit leapgroupnetwork.com/humanview.

About LEAP Group
LEAP Group is a boutique marketing agency holding company with offices in Louisville, Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Chicago. Guided by the belief that brands should “Market Less. Matter More.,” LEAP gives clients access to specialized experts across its entire network. Learn more at leapgroupnetwork.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/leap-group-relaunches-humanview-a-growth-intelligence-system-built-to-explain-why-customers-behave-the-way-they-do-302918557.html

SOURCE LEAP Group

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STEPHEN A. SMITH ADDRESSES WHITE HOUSE DINNER ATTENDANCE, REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO HBCUs AND PROTECTING CORPORATE INVESTMENT IN BLACK EDUCATION

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NEW YORK, Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Stephen A. Smith, media mogul, New York Times bestselling author, and proud 1991 graduate of Winston-Salem State University, is addressing the public discussion surrounding his decision to attend a White House dinner with President Donald Trump, emphasizing his commitment to the long-term financial stability of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

For Smith, the decision was rooted in a commitment to institutions that have educated generations of Black leaders, professionals, entrepreneurs, and public servants.

“I will always advocate for HBCUs and the students whose futures depend on them,” Smith said. “My reason for attending the White House dinner was to discuss the challenges these institutions face in securing long-term funding and to make the case that corporate America must continue to invest in them.”

Smith acknowledged federal support through the FUTURE Act while expressing concern that political tensions surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) could discourage private companies from supporting HBCUs. He maintains that these institutions deserve sustained corporate partnerships, philanthropic contributions, and public investment.

“If we truly believe in free-market capitalism, businesses should be able to support educational institutions and charitable causes without fear of criticism or repercussions,” Smith said. “HBCUs have made extraordinary contributions to this country. They deserve sustained public and private investment.”

Ashley Christopher, Esq., Founder and CEO of the HBCU Week Foundation, recognized Smith’s advocacy and decision to engage with the administration.

“Stephen A. Smith has been a powerful advocate for HBCUs, using his platform and influence to shine a national spotlight on our institutions,” expressed Christopher, “His continued support of HBCU Week helps advance our mission of connecting students with life-changing educational opportunities, and we are proud to have him as our ambassador.”

Since Smith became an HBCU Week Ambassador in 2019, the initiative has facilitated more than 15,000 on-the-spot college acceptances and raised and awarded more than $150 million in scholarships, according to the HBCU Week Foundation.

As public discussion continues, Smith is emphasizing the importance of ensuring HBCUs have the resources and partnerships needed to educate future generations and expand opportunities for students.

CLICK HERE to watch Smith’s full response to his White House visit.

MEDIA CONTACT:

media@mrsasinc.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/stephen-a-smith-addresses-white-house-dinner-attendance-reaffirms-commitment-to-hbcus-and-protecting-corporate-investment-in-black-education-302918547.html

SOURCE Straight Shooter Media

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Advantex Announces Completion of Financing and Extension of Maturity Date of Previously Issued Debentures

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TORONTO, Oct. 23, 2026 /CNW/ — Advantex Marketing International Inc. (CSE: ADX) (“Advantex”), a leader in the merchant cash advance and loyalty marketing products for merchants, today announced the completion of a $250,000 secured debt financing. Advantex issued a $250,000 non-convertible debenture which bears an interest rate at 12% per annum and matures December 15, 2027. The proceeds raised from this issuance of the Debenture will be used for working capital purposes.

Advantex has also extended the maturity of its existing $700,000 in 12% secured debentures from October 10, 2026 to December 15, 2027.

About Advantex Marketing International Inc.

Advantex provides working capital to merchants. Advantex also provides specialized marketing programs that enable members of Aeroplan to earn Aeroplan points at participating merchants.

Advantex shares trade on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol ADX. For more information go to Advantex’s profile on www.sedar.com

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable securities laws relating to the future business and operations of Advantex. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements. The business and operations of Advantex described herein is dependent on a number of factors and is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to differ material include, but are not limited to, changes in Advantex’s economic and competitive conditions including but not limited to the industry sectors in which Advantex operates.

The statements in this news release are made of the date of this release. Forward-looking statements are made based on management’s beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date the statements are made and Advantex undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as required by applicable law.

SOURCE Advantex Marketing International Inc.

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