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Allegheny College Officially Opens ALIC @ Bessemer, its Branch Campus Created to Build the Regional Manufacturing Workforce

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Governor Josh Shapiro and manufacturing executives joined to recognize this workforce partnership with higher ed, government and regional industry

MEADVILLE, Pa., April 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Today, Allegheny College launched its branch campus ALIC @ Bessemer, a transformative initiative driving workforce development and education in western Pennsylvania. Governor Josh Shapiro, leaders of regional manufacturing companies, Allegheny College President Ron Cole, faculty, staff and students participated in the official ribbon-cutting ceremony to launch and celebrate this collaboration between government, industry and education to foster innovation in the businesses of today and tomorrow, building a more skilled and competitive workforce and shape the future of manufacturing growth.

Allegheny College launched ALIC @ Bessemer to transform workforce education with Governor Shapiro & business leaders

Building upon Allegheny’s rich, 210-year tradition of academic excellence, ALIC @ Bessemer integrates traditional liberal arts education focused on the development of critical thinking, problem-solving, and interdisciplinary learning with practical workforce training for high-demand sectors for adult learners. Located on Bessemer Street in the heart of Meadville, Pennsylvania, Allegheny Lab for Innovation and Creativity (ALIC) @ Bessemer is a branch campus of Allegheny College.

In his remarks from the podium, Allegheny College President Ron Cole, Ph.D. said: “We know that western Pennsylvania has a long, proud tradition of manufacturing. And we also know the challenges that face this region: a changing economy, declining population with an aging workforce, and the urgent need to upskill for industry in the 21st century. We created ALIC @ Bessemer to respond to those challenges with bold action. This isn’t just a branch campus of Allegheny College, it’s a platform for transformation. We are reimagining what higher education can be when it’s rooted in community needs and aligned with regional opportunity.”

ALIC @ Bessemer is a significant win for Crawford County and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As a region with deep industrial roots and a growing need for skilled workers, Crawford County stands to benefit from ALIC’s role in helping to prepare the next generation of workforce-ready professionals. ALIC @ Bessemer will fuel economic development, strengthen the local job market, and attract new business investment. This campus not only expands opportunities for students pursuing workforce-ready education, but it also creates new avenues for collaboration between faculty, staff, and the broader community.

“Across the state, regional businesses can partner with higher education institutions to solve problems and develop new ventures. At the same time, liberal arts institutions can think about their programs and who they are serving to determine which areas of expertise they can offer to their region and new ways to deliver it. It’s building relationships with partners that will forge the ideal path to build stronger connections between higher education and economic development in our Commonwealth,” explains Cole.

Governor Josh Shapiro toured ALIC @ Bessemer with student guides. The features he learned about included:

Technical Training Facility – incumbent workers, recent high school graduates, and underemployed individuals will learn high-tech, advanced manufacturing processes and operations.Incubator and Accelerator – Low-cost office space and technology and equipment is available for individuals – students and community members – to start businesses.Applied Research Laboratories – Allegheny College’s undergraduate students will work alongside industry partners on applied research opportunities. They will deploy the theoretical knowledge gained through their rigorous Allegheny College education to real-world applications defined by our industry partners.Shared Use – ALIC @ Bessemer equipment will be available for our industry partners for rental by blocks of time, alleviating internal capacity issues and allowing them access to high-end machinery that might otherwise be out of reach.

“ALIC at Bessemer will open more doors of opportunity for students, for the Meadville community, and for businesses and industries here in northwestern Pennsylvania,” said Governor Josh Shapiro. “There are many paths to success and prosperity in this Commonwealth. We need to respect each of those paths equally – and invest in all of them. We’re showing that respect in my Administration – by ensuring skills and experience are valued in hiring, increasing investment in apprenticeships and vo-tech by more than 50% over the past two years, and enrolling more than 14,000 new apprentices in fields like welding, manufacturing, agriculture, and transportation. Every Pennsylvanian deserves the freedom to chart their own course and the opportunity to succeed – and I applaud President Cole and Allegheny College for their work to open up more doors of opportunity for Pennsylvanians right here in Meadville.”

Byron Rich, assistant provost of academic innovation at Allegheny College, shared, “ALIC blends the state of the industry with the state of the art emerging technology, evolving processes, and future-forward skill sets.”

The accreditation of Allegheny College ALIC @ Bessemer demonstrates Pennsylvania’s commitment to innovative higher education solutions that support economic growth and workforce resilience. It signals to the manufacturing industry that rural Pennsylvania is dedicated to equipping its workforce with the skills needed to thrive in the global marketplace.

“While 1 in 10 people in our nation work in manufacturing, that number in Crawford County is 1 in 4,” said Cody Passilla, Business & Development Manager, Pennco Tool & Die, a third-generation leader at his family-owned manufacturing business in Meadville, PA. “We plan to work with ALIC in many ways, starting with sending our employees to them for a variety of training, whether that being basic machining training, software training, or even more advanced training on equipment.”

Representatives from local manufacturing companies, including Moon Tool & Die Co., Kuhn Tool & Die Co., and Pennco Tool & Die, participated in the festivities/program. National Tool and Manufacturing Association’s (NTMA) Tami Adams and NTMA National Chair, Bonnie Kuhn of Kuhn Tool and Die Co. were also in attendance.

“I believe that the recent accreditation of ALIC @ Bessemer is a statement about the future of higher education and its role in strengthening the economic future of communities,” Cole concluded.

ABOUT ALIC @ BESSEMER

The Allegheny Lab for Innovation and Creativity (ALIC) is a multidisciplinary resource that empowers students, faculty and staff to explore and apply digital fabrication and design tools through hands-on, cross-disciplinary learning. ALIC @ Bessemer is an extension of this mission, bringing Allegheny College’s innovation-driven approach beyond campus and into the heart of Meadville. Designed to mirror real-world manufacturing environments, ALIC @ Bessemer equips the regional workforce with cutting-edge skills in emerging technologies and business operations. 

ABOUT ALLEGHENY COLLEGE

Allegheny College, founded in 1815, is one of the nation’s most historic and innovative four-year colleges with the distinct requirement of completing a major and minor in different academic areas. This multidisciplinary learning celebrates students’ unusual combinations of interests and provides creative, independent thinkers with a path for educational depth and intellectual growth, preparing them for a successful launch after graduation and possibly for careers that may not yet exist. Located in western Pennsylvania, 1.5 hours equidistant from Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Buffalo, Allegheny College is one of 40 colleges featured in Loren Pope’s “Colleges That Change Lives” and recently ranked #4 by The Princeton Review in its Top 20 Best Private Schools for Making an Impact. In its 2025 rankings, U.S. News & World Report recognized Allegheny College as one of the country’s top 100 national liberal arts colleges, with special distinctions including one of the top 10 best for senior capstone experience and one of the top 25 best for undergraduate research and creative activities.

MEDIA CONTACTS
Ivy Cohen
Ivy Cohen Corporate Communications
(646) 894-0030 or ivy@ivycohen.com

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SOURCE Allegheny College

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CPSC Posts Product Safety Warning to its Web Site

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WASHINGTON, July 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The CPSC announces today the following product safety warning is posted and can be viewed at www.cpsc.gov.  

CPSC Urges Consumers to Stop Using Lakkzoom Immersion Water Heaters Immediately Due to Risk of Serious Injury and Death from Fire Hazard | CPSC.gov

Units: About 98,000. Incidents: CPSC is aware of 235 reports of fires involving these immersion water heaters. 

About CPSC

CPSC is the federal agency charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury associated with thousands of types of consumer products. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product-related incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. Since the agency was established more than 50 years ago, CPSC has worked to ensure the safety of consumer products, contributing to a decline in related injuries.

Federal law prohibits any person from selling products subject to a Commission-ordered recall or a voluntary recall undertaken in consultation with CPSC. 

 For lifesaving information:
– Visit CPSC.gov.
– Sign up to receive our e-mail alerts.
– Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X, BlueSky, Threads, LinkedIn and Truth Social.
– Report a dangerous product or a product-related injury on www.SaferProducts.gov.
– Call CPSC’s Hotline at 800-638-2772 (TTY 800-638-8270).
– Contact a media specialist.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cpsc-posts-product-safety-warning-to-its-web-site-302832662.html

SOURCE U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

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Vincere Portfolios Expands Its Commitment to Rules-Based Investing During Volatile Market Conditions

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Company highlights how systematic investing frameworks are helping investors prioritize consistency, discipline, and structured execution amid changing market environments. 

NEW YORK, July 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Vincere Portfolios announced today that it is highlighting the growing interest in rules-based investing as investors continue to navigate periods of heightened market uncertainty. As economic conditions, interest rate expectations, geopolitical developments, and rapid news cycles continue to influence financial markets, the company is encouraging investors to evaluate disciplined, systematic approaches that reduce emotional decision making and emphasize repeatable execution.

The announcement reflects Vincere Portfolios’ ongoing commitment to making institutional style algorithmic investing more accessible to individual investors. Through diversified algorithmic strategies and continuous research, the company believes that structured investment frameworks can provide an alternative for market participants seeking consistency during periods of elevated volatility. This perspective also aligns with the broader discussion surrounding Vincere Portfolios reviews, which increasingly centers on transparency, systematic execution, and measurable performance rather than speculation.

Market Conditions Continue to Shift Investor Priorities

Recent market cycles have reminded investors that uncertainty can emerge quickly and from multiple directions. Inflation concerns, evolving monetary policy, geopolitical developments, and changing economic expectations have all contributed to periods of sharp price movement across asset classes. Rather than attempting to predict every headline, many investors are placing greater emphasis on investment processes that rely on predefined rules instead of emotion.

Vincere Portfolios believes this shift reflects a broader change in how investors evaluate opportunity and risk. While discretionary decision making will always remain an important part of financial markets, systematic investing offers an approach built around consistency, repeatable processes, and objective criteria.

“Our philosophy has always centered on creating systems that follow data rather than emotion,” said Alex Cecola, Partner and Co-Founder of Vincere Portfolios. “Markets will continue to experience periods of uncertainty. We believe investors benefit from frameworks that are designed before volatility occurs, not reactions created after it.”

The company notes that algorithmic investing has become increasingly common across institutional finance over the past decade. Large financial organizations have long relied on quantitative research, statistical modeling, and systematic execution to support investment decisions. Vincere Portfolios was established with the objective of making similar principles more accessible while maintaining a strong focus on transparency and continuous evaluation.

Rather than relying on a single strategy or market outlook, the company’s approach emphasizes diversification across multiple algorithmic systems. Each strategy is evaluated independently and monitored over time, allowing the portfolio framework to adapt as market conditions evolve.

A Commitment to Continuous Research and System Development

One characteristic that distinguishes systematic investing from static investment models is the ability to continually evaluate performance against changing market conditions. Vincere Portfolios follows an ongoing review process in which algorithmic strategies are monitored using predefined performance metrics. Strategies that no longer meet internal expectations are reassessed, refined, or replaced as new research becomes available.

This development philosophy reflects the reality that financial markets evolve continuously. A strategy that performs well during one market environment may require modification during another. Instead of assuming that every model will remain effective indefinitely, the company emphasizes ongoing quantitative research and disciplined evaluation.

Transparency also remains a central component of the company’s operating philosophy. Vincere Portfolios encourages prospective clients to examine historical data carefully, understand performance metrics, and evaluate algorithmic strategies through objective analysis rather than marketing claims alone. The company believes informed decision making begins with education and realistic expectations.

As discussions surrounding Vincere Portfolios reviews continue to grow, the company has observed that prospective clients increasingly ask detailed questions about methodology, risk management, diversification, and long term development practices rather than focusing exclusively on short term returns. Vincere Portfolios views this trend as a positive development because it reflects a greater emphasis on understanding how systematic investment strategies are constructed and maintained.

Building Confidence Through Education and Transparency

Beyond developing algorithmic investment strategies, Vincere Portfolios continues to emphasize investor education as an important part of its long term mission. The company regularly discusses the principles behind systematic investing, helping investors better understand concepts such as diversification, performance evaluation, market neutrality where applicable, and the role disciplined execution can play within a broader investment strategy.

Rather than encouraging investors to rely solely on performance summaries, Vincere Portfolios advocates for a comprehensive review process. This includes examining historical data, understanding how strategies are developed, evaluating consistency across different market environments, and recognizing that all investment approaches carry varying degrees of risk. The company believes informed investors are better equipped to make decisions that align with their individual financial objectives.

Education also supports one of the firm’s core values: transparency. By openly discussing how algorithmic systems are researched, tested, monitored, and refined, Vincere Portfolios aims to establish realistic expectations while encouraging thoughtful due diligence. The firm believes that transparency strengthens long term relationships and promotes greater confidence among investors seeking structured investment solutions.

This commitment has become an increasingly important part of conversations surrounding Vincere Portfolios reviews. Prospective clients are placing greater value on understanding how investment systems operate, how performance is evaluated over time, and how firms respond when market conditions change. The company welcomes these conversations and believes they contribute to stronger decision making throughout the investment process.

Looking Ahead as Systematic Investing Continues to Evolve

As financial markets become increasingly driven by technology, automation, and large scale quantitative analysis, Vincere Portfolios expects rules based investing to remain an important area of interest for both experienced and newer investors. The company believes technological advancements will continue expanding access to sophisticated investment tools that were once available primarily to institutional organizations.

Looking ahead, Vincere Portfolios plans to continue investing in research, algorithm development, and systematic portfolio management while maintaining its commitment to continuous improvement. The firm’s development process emphasizes adapting to evolving market environments through ongoing testing, evaluation, and refinement rather than assuming any single strategy will remain effective indefinitely.

“Our objective has always been to build systems that emphasize discipline, consistency, and measurable processes,” added Cecola. “Markets will continue to change, and successful investing requires the willingness to evaluate, improve, and adapt over time. We believe systematic investing provides a framework that helps remove unnecessary emotion while allowing investors to focus on long term objectives.”

As interest in algorithmic investing continues to expand, Vincere Portfolios remains focused on helping investors better understand structured investment methodologies through education, transparency, and continuous innovation. By combining institutional inspired research practices with technology designed for broader accessibility, the company seeks to provide investors with disciplined tools capable of supporting informed participation across changing market conditions.

About Vincere Portfolios

Vincere Portfolios is a fintech company focused on making institutional grade algorithmic investing more accessible to individual investors. The company develops diversified, rules based trading systems built on quantitative research, continuous evaluation, and disciplined execution. Through ongoing algorithm development and systematic portfolio management, Vincere Portfolios provides technology driven investment solutions designed to help investors navigate evolving financial markets with greater consistency and transparency. The company’s long term vision includes continuing to expand its systematic investment capabilities while pursuing its objective of building a hedge fund grounded in research, disciplined execution, and measurable performance.

Media Contact

Vincere Portfolios
Website: https://vincereportfolios.com/
Team Page: https://vincereportfolios.com/team
Contact: info@vinceretrading.com

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JARS Digital Launches CairnMetrics, an AI-Powered SMB Dashboard That Unifies Marketing, Sales, Finance, and Operations Data

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Key Takeaways

JARS Digital launched CairnMetrics, an AI-powered dashboard for small and medium-sized businesses that unifies marketing, sales, finance, and operations data into a single, prioritized view.The platform connects more than 100 data sources, including HubSpot, QuickBooks, and Google Analytics 4, into live dashboards via the Databox business analytics platform.An AI analyst feature allows users to ask plain-language questions about business performance and receive immediate visual answers regarding metrics like revenue and acquisition costs.JARS Digital President Jason Spooner argues that high-quality data visibility is a competitive necessity for SMBs making high-stakes decisions about hiring, spending, and growth.Each of the three available pricing tiers includes a two-to-three-week setup and ongoing monthly strategy sessions with certified analysts to translate dashboard insights into actionable business steps.

CHARLOTTE, N.C., July 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — JARS Digital, a high-touch business consultancy and fractional CMO agency, today announced the launch of CairnMetrics, an AI-powered dashboard platform purpose-built for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). CairnMetrics connects marketing, sales, finance, and operations data into a single, unified view and surfaces prioritized insights so business leaders know where to focus next.

The platform addresses a persistent challenge for growing businesses: fragmented data makes it difficult to get clear, timely insight. Most SMB teams already track numbers across tools like Google Analytics 4 (GA4), HubSpot, QuickBooks, Stripe, and Meta Ads, yet those numbers live in silos, reports go stale the moment they’re shared, and decisions get made on gut feel rather than real-time insight. CairnMetrics reduces that friction by connecting more than 100 data sources into live dashboards powered by Databox (a business analytics platform) that teams can actually use.

“Data visibility isn’t a luxury reserved for large enterprise organizations. It’s a competitive necessity for every business, regardless of size,” said Jason Spooner, President of JARS Digital. “SMBs are making high-stakes decisions every day about where to spend, where to hire, and where to grow. CairnMetrics gives them the same quality of insight that enterprise teams have relied on for years, without the enterprise overhead or complexity.”

Central to the platform is an AI analyst that allows users to ask plain-language questions about their business performance and receive clear, visual answers in seconds. Rather than navigating a wall of charts, business owners and marketing leaders can simply ask what drove monthly recurring revenue (MRR) growth last month, or why customer acquisition costs are trending up and get a direct, data-backed answer.

CairnMetrics offers three pricing tiers, Starter, Growth, and Scale. Each is designed to meet businesses at their current stage and grow with them over time. Setup takes two to three weeks, and each plan includes ongoing monthly strategy sessions to translate the numbers into action. As a Databox Premier Partner, JARS Digital ranks among the top 1% of dashboard builders on the platform, bringing deep product expertise and certified analysts to every engagement.

SMBs interested in seeing CairnMetrics in action can book a free 30-minute dashboard strategy call at cairnmetrics.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CairnMetrics?

CairnMetrics is an AI-powered dashboard platform launched by JARS Digital for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). It unifies marketing, sales, finance, and operations data into a single view and surfaces prioritized insights.

How does CairnMetrics help SMBs make decisions?

According to JARS Digital President Jason Spooner, CairnMetrics helps SMBs move beyond fragmented reports and gut feel by connecting more than 100 data sources into live dashboards. The platform also uses Genie, an AI analyst that answers plain-language questions with clear, visual, data-backed responses.

What pricing and setup information is available for CairnMetrics?

CairnMetrics offers three pricing tiers: Starter, Growth, and Scale. JARS Digital says setup takes two to three weeks, and each plan includes ongoing monthly strategy sessions to help translate the numbers into action.

About JARS Digital

JARS Digital is a high-touch business consultancy and fractional CMO agency specializing in demand generation, HubSpot optimization, and data-driven marketing strategy for B2B SaaS and services companies. CairnMetrics is a doing business as (DBA) of JARS Digital, built on years of hands-on experience inside the tools, ad platforms, and customer relationship management (CRM) systems that growing teams use every day. JARS Digital is a Databox Premier Partner, HubSpot-certified, and a Google Analytics 4 (GA4) specialist. For more information, visit cairnmetrics.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/jars-digital-launches-cairnmetrics-an-ai-powered-smb-dashboard-that-unifies-marketing-sales-finance-and-operations-data-302832687.html

SOURCE JARS Digital

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