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VertexOne Celebrates Client Recognized for Digital Engagement Innovation at IUCX Amid Broader CX Transformation Push

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PHOENIX, May 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — VertexOne, a leading provider of cloud software designed to revolutionize the customer experience within the energy and utility industry, is pleased to be wrapping up this year’s 49th annual IUCX (formally CS Week) Conference on a celebratory note after its client, the City of Round Rock, Texas, took home top honors in two categories at this year’s IUCX’s Expanding Excellence Awards.

 

“These awards spotlight what’s possible when utilities have both a strong vision and the right tools to bring it to life” – VertexOne COO Tina Santizo

The city was honored for its leadership in digital engagement and project innovation, including a multi-phase customer portal initiative that helps residents gain greater control over their water usage and avoid high-bill surprises. The recognition capped off a high-visibility week for VertexOne, which launched its new customer engagement engine, VXconnect, on the first day of the conference.

Built on the foundation of proven value and functionality, VXconnect, was reimagined from the ground up as a single, unified SaaS system designed to help energy and utility providers evolve engagement, drive efficiency, and scale for what’s next.

A panel of IUCX judges selected winners in six categories – including four company, and two individual awards – with two of the four company categories featuring two winners based on company size: Level I for utilities grossing more than $1 billion in revenue, and Level II for those with an annual gross below $1 billion.

Innovation in Digital Engagement – Winner, City of Round Rock, Texas

The City of Round Rock, Texas taking home IUCX’s Innovation in Digital Engagement award, which salutes utilities that showcase technologically complex projects that improved services in the meter-to-cash CX lifecycle through digital engagement.

Round Rock awarded for their two-phased customer payment portal project which they undertook to empower customers with real-time usage information and customizable alerts for leaks and consumption thresholds to make informed decisions and avoid high bills.

IUCX Rising Star Award – Winner, Debbie Seman, City of Round Rock, Texas

Additionally, the City of Round Rock’s Utility Billing & Revenue Supervisor, Debbie Seman, was individually bestowed one of two distinguished 2025 Rising Star Awards for spearheading the utility’s consumption portal project, where she collaborated with IT, various departments and vendors as its project manager.

Seman, heralded specifically for her, “remarkable talent for implementing creative problem-solving techniques, approaching challenges collaboratively and refining processes with an unwavering can-do attitude,” according to her nominator. Adding that her excellence in “streamlining processes, introducing innovations, and fostering a positive work environment” as other accolades typical of Seman’s work ethic.

“Watching Round Rock succeed on this stage is incredibly meaningful,” said Keith Ahonen, SVP of Partners and Channels at VertexOne and former COO of Accelerated Innovations, acquired by VertexOne in December 2024.

“It’s gratifying to see the evolution – not just of the technology, but of the outcomes,” Ahonen added. “This kind of recognition shows how collaboration and innovation can come together to create real results.”

“These awards spotlight what’s possible when utilities have both a strong vision and the right tools to bring it to life,” said VertexOne Chief Operating Officer Tina Santizo. “Round Rock’s success reflects exactly why we built VXconnect; to empower forward-thinking teams with a unified, modern solution that moves beyond engagement into impact.”

Earlier in the week VertexOne leaders contributed to three high-impact IUCX sessions addressing key customer experience challenges and future-facing strategies: 

Reaching vulnerable customers through proactive, personalized engagementAdvancing water conservation with data-driven personalizationTransforming passive customers into active participants through behavior-based incentives.

IUCX is the premier educational and networking conference serving electric, gas and water/wastewater utility professionals across North America and around the world. It provides learning and connection opportunities in support of the utility CX lifecycle: Billing & Payments, Contact Center, Credit & Collections, Digital Engagement, Disruptors, Field Services, and Strategies & Analytics.

Click here for more information and a full list of this year’s slate of IUCX’s 2025 Expanding Excellence Award (EEA) winners and finalists.

About VertexOne
VertexOne is the leading provider of cloud-based SaaS solutions, powering the next generation of customer experience for utilities, energy retailers and energy transition providers. With more than 30 years of experience and 400 customers in the cloud, we capitalize on our deep expertise to provide a wide range of innovative solutions for digital transformation, revenue optimization and data-driven efficiency operations surrounding the customer. We empower our clients to deliver a compelling customer experience, reduce costs to serve, increase operational efficiency and improve customer satisfaction. For more information on how VertexOne allows you to enhance the digital customer experience, improve revenue management and leverage data analytics, visit vertexone.ai

MEDIA
Lynn Steinberg
VertexOne
lynn.steinberg@vertexone.net

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SOURCE VertexOne

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2026 Beijing International Week for Science Literacy Launched in Beijing

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BEIJING, Sept. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The 2026 Beijing International Week for Science Literacy opened at the Beijing Science Center, running from September 22 to 26. Representatives of international organizations, universities, science museums and centers, and science communication institutions from 11 countries gathered in Beijing. Focusing on science communication and science education, they exchanged views on issues of shared interest, strengthened platforms for international cooperation, promoted exchanges and mutual learning in science and culture between China and other countries, and advanced the sharing of high-quality science education resources and practical collaboration.

At the opening ceremony, Li Xin, Executive Vice President of the Beijing Association for Science and Technology (BAST), delivered welcome remarks on behalf of the organizer. Shahbaz Khan, Director of the UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia; Guo Zhe, Executive Vice President of the Chinese Association of Natural Science Museums and Director of the China Science and Technology Museum; and other guests attended and delivered remarks. Su Guomin, Vice President of BAST and Secretary-General of the Beijing Global Network of Science Festivals, presented certificates to new members of the Network. The Beijing Science Center also signed letters of intent for cooperation with the National Science Museum, Thailand(NSM) and the Kotsanas Museum of Ancient Greek Technology (Greece), respectively, taking international cooperation beyond exchanges and mutual visits toward the joint development of science education, exhibitions, and other programs.

During the week, the Science Education Exhibition Area showcased distinctive science education resources and science-and-technology-themed cultural and creative products from several countries, supported by interactive educational activities. A Capacity Building Workshop focused on science communication and human connections in the age of AI, using thematic presentations and practice-based exchange to strengthen the professional capabilities of science communication practitioners.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/2026-beijing-international-week-for-science-literacy-launched-in-beijing-302890820.html

SOURCE Beijing Science Center (BJSC)

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MEDIMPACT DATA BREACH: Edelson Lechtzin LLP Launches Investigation Into Exposure of Social Security Numbers and Health Information

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National class action firm Edelson Lechtzin LLP is offering free case evaluations to individuals affected by the MedImpact Healthcare Systems data breach, which may have exposed names, Social Security numbers, and sensitive health information.

SAN DIEGO, Sept. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Edelson Lechtzin LLP, a national class action law firm, is investigating data privacy claims arising from the MedImpact Healthcare Systems, Inc. data breach. MedImpact is a privately held pharmacy benefit manager serving millions of members nationwide. The breach exposed sensitive personal and health information of current and former members of pharmacy benefit plans administered by MedImpact and/or Elixir Solutions.

Key Facts at a Glance

Company: MedImpact Healthcare Systems, Inc. is one of the largest independent pharmacy benefit managers in the United States.When it happened: MedImpact identified unauthorized activity in its systems on October 18, 2025. It finalized its investigation on July 17, 2026.When disclosed: MedImpact notified affected clients on August 13, 2026, and began mailing notices to affected individuals on September 23, 2026.People affected: Not publicly disclosed. Impacted members include adults and minor dependents covered under affected benefit plans, including the Leggett & Platt, Inc. Employee Benefits Plan.Information exposed: Varied by individual and may include names, Social Security numbers, and sensitive health information (see below).

What Happened

MedImpact identified unauthorized activity within certain systems on October 18, 2025, secured the affected systems, and engaged cybersecurity experts to investigate. The Qilin ransomware group claimed responsibility on October 27, 2025, adding MedImpact to its dark web leak site and claiming it had stolen data, which it threatened to publish unless a ransom was paid.

What Information Was Exposed

The compromised data varied by individual and may include names, addresses, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, subscriber and insurance identification numbers, and health-related information such as prescriptions, treatment, dates of service, service locations, and provider names. Because Social Security numbers and protected health information are highly sensitive, affected individuals face a lasting risk of identity theft, medical fraud, insurance fraud, and targeted phishing.

Your Legal Options

Edelson Lechtzin LLP is investigating a potential class action to pursue legal remedies for individuals whose sensitive personal and health data may have been compromised. The firm is examining whether MedImpact implemented reasonable cybersecurity safeguards and whether additional measures could have prevented or reduced the breach’s impact. The firm will evaluate your rights and potential claims at no cost.

Recommended Protective Steps

Preserve your breach notification letter and enroll in any complimentary credit monitoring offered to you.Monitor your account statements, credit reports, and explanation-of-benefits statements for unauthorized activity.Consider placing a fraud alert or security freeze with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.Be cautious of phishing calls, texts, and emails referencing the breach.

Contact Us for a Free Case Evaluation

Speak confidentially with a data privacy attorney today: Marc Edelson, Esq., Edelson Lechtzin LLP, 411 S. State Street, Suite N-300, Newtown, PA 18940; Phone: 844-696-7492; Email: medelson@edelson-law.com; or click HERE to request a free consultation.

About Edelson Lechtzin LLP

Edelson Lechtzin LLP is a national class action law firm with offices in Pennsylvania and California. In addition to data breach litigation, the firm handles class and collective actions involving securities and investment fraud, federal antitrust violations, ERISA employee benefit plans, wage theft, and consumer fraud.

Legal Notice: This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions.

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SOURCE Edelson Lechtzin LLP

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RackNerd Launches ctrl, a Proprietary Platform Built for the AI Era

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RackNerd has launched ctrl, its proprietary VPS management platform, combining server administration, an optional network firewall, and one-click deployment of AI agents, automation tools, and self-hosted applications.

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif., Sept. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — RackNerd LLC, a rapidly growing leader in the Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) industry, today announced the launch of ctrl, its proprietary VPS management platform designed to modernize how customers deploy and manage virtual server infrastructure.

“We are building the software layer that connects RackNerd’s infrastructure with the next generation of workloads our customers are deploying.” – Dustin B. Cisneros, CEO of RackNerd

Developed specifically for RackNerd’s VPS ecosystem, ctrl gives customers one unified interface with instant access to the tools they need to manage their virtual servers. Customers can perform power operations, access an HTML5 console, reinstall or change operating systems, reset root passwords, reconfigure networking, monitor resource usage and bandwidth, and manage multiple RackNerd VPS instances from one platform. Whether customers are deploying their first VPS or managing an established production environment, ctrl puts these capabilities within easy reach, helping them build, learn, troubleshoot, and grow at every stage of their journey.

ctrl also introduces a growing catalog of One-Click Apps designed to help customers rapidly deploy AI agents, automation platforms, web hosting control panels, containerized applications, and self-hosted technology stacks. Available applications include AdminBolt, OpenClaw, Hermes Agent, n8n, AnythingLLM, Ollama, LibreChat, Coolify, Portainer, WireGuard, Webmin, CyberPanel, and CloudPanel, with additional integrations planned as the platform continues to evolve.

“ctrl represents an important step forward for RackNerd and for the experience we provide our VPS customers,” said Dustin B. Cisneros, CEO of RackNerd. “We are building the software layer that connects RackNerd’s infrastructure with the next generation of workloads our customers are deploying. Because ctrl is our own platform, we have the flexibility to continuously improve it, introduce new capabilities, and respond more quickly as customer requirements evolve.”

More than a redesigned customer interface, ctrl gives RackNerd greater control over its VPS product roadmap and creates a scalable foundation for future services. As RackNerd continues expanding its infrastructure and customer base, the platform will help streamline common server-management operations while delivering a consistent experience across its VPS offerings. The upgrade is included with existing RackNerd VPS services at no additional cost and does not require customers to migrate or rebuild their virtual servers.

The launch also positions RackNerd to accommodate growing infrastructure demand surrounding artificial intelligence. While large-scale model training typically requires specialized GPU infrastructure, a much broader ecosystem is developing around AI agents, workflow automation, application backends, databases, internal tools, and self-hosted services. Many of these workloads require persistent, always-on infrastructure rather than dedicated AI training clusters.

RackNerd is addressing this segment by pairing accessible KVM virtual servers with a modern deployment experience designed for AI-connected applications, automation, and self-hosting.

“The AI future will not be limited to a small number of hyperscale companies training massive models,” Cisneros added. “An entire ecosystem is being built around AI — agents, automations, integrations, internal tools, and new applications. These workloads still need reliable infrastructure, and RackNerd is positioned to provide both the underlying compute resources and a streamlined path to deployment.”

Customers can order a RackNerd VPS and use ctrl to select a supported application and initiate deployment directly from the control panel. Once an installation is complete, the necessary server or application credentials are displayed within ctrl, reducing the time required to move from a newly provisioned server to a working application.

RackNerd VPS customers also retain full root access and can connect through SSH to deploy, configure, and operate virtually any compatible software stack. This gives customers one-click convenience when desired without sacrificing the flexibility and control expected from an unmanaged KVM VPS.

In addition to application deployment, ctrl streamlines routine VPS administration. Customers can review server specifications and operating-system information, control server power, access rescue functionality, launch a browser-based console, monitor resource consumption, reset credentials, and manage network configuration without opening a support ticket for common administrative tasks.

ctrl also introduces an optional network firewall that filters inbound traffic on RackNerd’s network before it reaches the VPS. This frequently requested feature provides an additional layer of protection, can be enabled or disabled at any time, and complements rather than replaces the firewall running within the operating system.

The launch arrives as RackNerd continues investing in infrastructure, software development, network capacity, and its global datacenter footprint. RackNerd is an Inc. 5000 company recognized multiple years in a row on both the national Inc. 5000 list and Inc. Regionals: Pacific, reflecting the company’s sustained growth and continued expansion within the Infrastructure-as-a-Service market.

With ctrl, RackNerd is extending its infrastructure offerings with a proprietary management and deployment platform built around how developers, businesses, and self-hosters are using virtual servers today — and how those workloads are expected to evolve in the years ahead.

ctrl is available exclusively with RackNerd VPS services. Customers can explore an interactive preview of the platform, review RackNerd’s AI-ready VPS offerings, and select from available configurations based on the resource requirements of their intended applications.

Explore RackNerd ctrl: https://www.racknerd.com/ctrl-control-panel

Learn more about RackNerd AI VPS: https://www.racknerd.com/ai-vps

About RackNerd

RackNerd LLC introduces infrastructure stability and provides Dedicated Servers, Private Cloud solutions, DRaaS (Disaster-Recovery-as-a-Service), flexible Colocation, Virtual Private Servers and advanced DDoS Mitigation services — maintained by a team with decades of experience in managed services, datacenter operations, and Infrastructure-as-a-Service. With an intrinsic focus on client success and growth, RackNerd has grown steadily while continuing to provide high-quality hosting services at competitive rates. For more information please visit RackNerd at: https://www.racknerd.com/.

Media Contact

Dustin Cisneros, RackNerd, 1 8888816373, dustin@racknerd.com, https://www.racknerd.com/

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SOURCE RackNerd

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