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Simplilearn Partners With The University of Oklahoma Outreach to Launch the Professional Certificate Program in Project Management With GenAI

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PLANO, Texas, April 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Simplilearn, a global leader in digital upskilling, has announced the launch of the Professional Certificate Program in Project Management with GenAI in association with The University of Oklahoma Outreach. The program features exclusive learning on the use of Generative AI in project management, covering applications in planning, forecasting, reporting, and decision-making. The curriculum includes an AI-driven hybrid project simulation capstone, hands-on exposure to 15+ industry tools, 25+ live demos, and 10+ guided practice sessions. The modules will be guided by seasoned industry professionals and certified instructors with extensive practical project management experience.

In a clear sign of how AI is transforming the sector, a recent study found that 70% of project professionals reported their organizations are now using AI, up from 36% just two years ago. To address this shift, the program assists learners in executing Agile and hybrid delivery models using frameworks such as Scrum, Kanban, Lean, XP, and SAFe. The learning outcome also includes AI in project management practices through generative AI and predictive analytics for scheduling, risk forecasting, cost control, and reporting, while maintaining strong ethical and data privacy standards.

The program follows a blended learning format, combining online self-learning content with live instructor-led training by industry experts. The curriculum is delivered through live virtual classes, self-paced modules, presentations, hands-on projects, simulations, and case studies. Learners will also complete a capstone project of their choice and apply their skills to real business challenges to build practical expertise. Additionally, the program provides comprehensive digital learning materials, including audio-video content, eBooks, assessments, and a detailed learner’s guide.

Speaking about the program, Mr. Kashyap Dalal, Cofounder and COO of Simplilearn, said, “Project managers today are expected to work with increasingly complex environments where AI and digital tools are becoming integral to planning. Through this program, we aim to train professionals with practical exposure to Generative AI, analytics-driven decision support, and modern tools, enabling them to apply these capabilities competently in their day-to-day project workflows. This association with The University of Oklahoma Outreach supports the upcoming project managers with the skills needed to thrive in this dynamic landscape.”

In addition to the core coursework, the program offers an elective on Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, which covers the DMAIC Methodology to broaden process-improvement capabilities. This module offers structured, data-driven approaches to improve process efficiency, quality, and performance.  Learners are to apply these practices across diverse industries and project environments. It will prepare them by focusing on problem-solving, process optimization, and continuous improvement techniques.

Regarding the partnership with Simplilearn, Belinda Biscoe, Ph.D. Senior Associate Vice President, University Outreach | The University of Oklahoma said, “The course is designed to align with Project Management Institute standards, offering PDUs that support ongoing professional development and certification pathways. We look forward to the combined expertise this collaboration will bring to deliver the program at its best. The curriculum goes beyond traditional approaches by combining PMP® fundamentals with Agile and hybrid delivery models, modern project management tools, and PMO practices, enabling learners to effectively manage real-world business complexity.”

To be eligible for admission to the Professional Certificate Program in Project Management with GenAI, candidates must be at least 18 years old and hold a high school diploma or equivalent. Applicants can come from either a programming or non-programming background, while those intending to sit for the Project Management Professional (PMP®) exam must have 3–5 years of relevant work experience.

Upon successful completion of the Professional Certificate Program in Project Management with GenAI, learners will receive a joint certificate of completion and a digital badge from The University of Oklahoma Outreach and Simplilearn.

Nina R. Barbee, Ph.D, Director of Continuing Education and Workforce Development, University Outreach | The University of Oklahoma is the Program Director.

About the University of Oklahoma Outreach

The University of Oklahoma is the state’s flagship university. The University of Oklahoma is a major, public research university that gives students the feel of a private college atmosphere with more than 170 academic programs.

The University of Oklahoma Outreach is a recognized leader in lifelong learning, offering high-quality educational opportunities beyond the traditional classroom. As the University of Oklahoma’s dedicated outreach and engagement division, we support individuals, organizations, and communities through innovative programs, applied learning solutions, and collaborative initiatives.

Our purpose is to extend the university’s expertise to meet the evolving needs of learners at all stages of life. Through workforce training, continuing education, and community partnerships, The University of Oklahoma Outreach expands access to education, equipping individuals with practical knowledge and skills to navigate today’s challenges.

By bridging academia with practice, we create opportunities that inspire personal growth, workforce development, and contribute to meaningful societal initiatives—reinforcing the university’s commitment to service and lifelong learning.

About Simplilearn

Founded in 2010, Simplilearn, a Blackstone portfolio company, is a global leader in digital upskilling, enabling learners across the globe with access to world-class training for individuals and businesses. Simplilearn offers 1,500+ live classes each month across 150+ countries, impacting over 8 million learners worldwide. Its programs are designed and delivered in collaboration with world-renowned universities, top corporations, and leading industry bodies. From early-career professionals to managers, executives, small businesses, and large enterprises, Simplilearn’s role-based, skill-focused, industry-recognized, and globally relevant training programs provide ideal upskilling solutions for diverse career or business goals.

For more information, please visit www.simplilearn.com  

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HFS Research Launches Data Intelligence Suite, Delivering Proprietary Enterprise Intelligence Across AI, GCCs, Buyer Sentiment, and Pricing

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New suite transforms proprietary datasets on AI, global operations, and enterprise investment into actionable intelligence for business leaders

NEW YORK, April 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — HFS Research, a leading global research and advisory firm, today announced the upcoming launch of its HFS Data Intelligence Suite, a new set of proprietary intelligence assets designed to help enterprise leaders move beyond fragmented insights and make decisions grounded in real-world data. The suite will be formally launched on May 5, 2026.

As enterprises face increasing pressure to make faster, higher-stakes decisions, many continue to rely on incomplete or inconsistent data, often spread across internal sources, vendor narratives, and static research. While access to information has increased, confidence in that information has not kept pace.

The HFS Data Intelligence Suite addresses this gap by bringing together HFS’s proprietary datasets into a unified, accessible platform that reflects what is actually happening across enterprise technology and operations.

The suite includes:

A library of more than 1,800 real-world AI deployments, enabling leaders to identify what is delivering measurable outcomes across industries and functionsIntelligence on over 1,500 Global Capability Centers (GCCs), providing visibility into how enterprises are structuring and evolving their global operationsThe Enterprise Mandate Index, built on more than 500,000 data points, offering a data-driven view of enterprise priorities and investment trendsThe HFS / HEX Benchmark Suite, delivering independent benchmarks for pricing and performance across services and technology engagements

Together, these assets provide enterprise leaders with a clearer, more comprehensive view of market activity, supporting decisions across AI investment, global operating models, sourcing strategy, and commercial performance.

According to Ashish Chaturvedi, Executive Research Leader at HFS Research and lead for the initiative, “Enterprises are not lacking in data, they’re lacking in usable, connected intelligence. With the Data Intelligence Suite, we are bringing together our proprietary datasets in a way that allows leaders to move beyond isolated insights and see the full picture. This is about enabling faster, more confident decision-making based on what is actually happening in the market.”

The launch of the Data Intelligence Suite reflects a broader evolution in the HFS model—from delivering research and analysis to providing structured, interactive intelligence that can be directly applied to enterprise decisions.

“The analyst model is being overtaken by a simple reality: if your insights aren’t grounded in real data, they won’t survive AI scrutiny,” said Phil Fersht, CEO and Chief Analyst at HFS Research. “This is our move to put proprietary intelligence at the core of how HFS delivers value. The future isn’t more reports, it’s decision-grade intelligence leaders can actually act on.”

Saurabh Gupta, President at HFS Research, added, “The traditional analyst business model is under pressure. Seventy to eighty percent of what analysts produce can now be found through AI tools. The Data Intelligence Suite represents the other twenty percent: proprietary, structured, verified data that enterprises cannot get anywhere else.”

The HFS Data Intelligence Suite will formally launch on May 5, 2026, with demonstrations and previews already being offered to select enterprise leaders and early access provided to a subset of clients. The suite will be available to subscribers, with premium tiers and advisory add-ons for deeper engagement.

About HFS Research
HFS Research is a leading global research and advisory firm helping Fortune 500 companies navigate IT and business transformation. With a focus on bold insights and practical strategies, HFS empowers enterprises to make confident decisions through deep research, demand-side data, and direct engagement with industry leaders. For more information, visit www.hfsresearch.com.

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SOURCE HFS Research

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ContractorHUB Announces Strategic Investment from Webrunner Media to Deliver End-to-End Growth Infrastructure for Contractors

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Strategic partnership aligns marketing and operations to help contractors attract, convert, and operate more effectively, supported by strategic investment from Webrunner Media.

NASHVILLE, Tenn., April 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — ContractorHUB, an AI-native operating system built to help contracting businesses scale, announced a strategic partnership with Webrunner Media, a leading full-stack marketing agency for contracting businesses. The partnership will improve access to quality growth solutions for contractors by connecting expertise in customer acquisition to advanced business operations technology.

As part of the partnership, Webrunner Media‘s founding team has also made a strategic investment in ContractorHUB, reinforcing a shared commitment to building long-term infrastructure that supports sustainable growth for contractors.

Together, the companies aim to create a new category of end-to-end growth infrastructure for contractors—an integrated foundation that helps contractors not only generate stronger demand, but effectively convert that demand into revenue while improving profitability.

Delivering a Better Growth Solution for Contractors

Contractors today often rely on disconnected tools and service providers to manage different parts of their business. Marketing platforms generate leads, while operational systems manage execution, creating gaps between demand generation, delivery and attribution.

This fragmentation can lead to inefficiencies, missed opportunities, and the inability to truly measure performance. The partnership between ContractorHUB and Webrunner Media is built to close that gap.

By aligning Webrunner’s performance-driven marketing expertise with ContractorHUB’s intelligent operational platform, contractors gain a more integrated approach to growth.

“Contractors don’t just need more leads, they need a complete system to turn demand into growth,” said Sarah Parks, Co-Founder & CEO of ContractorHUB. “This partnership allows us to better connect marketing and operations for our customers, while also bringing Webrunner’s expertise directly into our product strategy, so we can build smarter, more impactful tools for contractors.”

Setting a New Standard for the Contracting Industry

The collaboration between ContractorHUB and Webrunner Media represents a shift in the home services technology landscape toward more connected, ecosystem-driven solutions.

By combining marketing execution with operational infrastructure, the partnership enables:

improved visibility across the customer lifecyclestreamlined access to customer acquisition solutionsmore efficient conversion of leads into revenuedirect input from a leading contractor marketing firm into ContractorHUB’s product strategy

This integrated approach provides contractors with stronger tools while reducing friction across their workflows.

Matt Parks, ContractorHUB Founder and Chief Product and Innovation Officer said, “Not only does this alignment solve fragmentation problems for customers, but it breeds innovative new solutions as we collaborate with Webrunner to drive product advances, too. It’s rare to have experts in both operational excellence and customer acquisition at the same product development table, and we’re excited to put that expertise to work for our customers.”

Strategic Investment Signals Continued Momentum

Webrunner Media’s investment follows ContractorHUB’s latest round of funding, which included an earlier operator-led investment from contracting business owners actively using the platform, as part of a rolling close.

“We work closely with contractors across North America and see firsthand where technology falls short,” said Marc Levesque, Co-Founder and CEO of Webrunner Media. “What stood out about ContractorHUB was how clearly Matt and Sarah understand those challenges, and how effectively the product is already solving them in the field. That gave us immediate confidence in both the solution and the team, and we’re excited to support what we believe is a meaningful step forward for the industry.”

This combination of operator investment by customers and ecosystem investment from an industry partner reflects a deliberate approach to building alongside the end user and key service providers in contracting.

Building a Foundation for Long-Term Growth

ContractorHUB believes the future of the industry will be defined by platforms that unify how contractors operate their businesses.

The company expects its partnership with Webrunner Media to serve as a foundation for deeper collaboration across marketing, operations, and performance management, while continuing to expand its strategic partnerships across the contracting and home service ecosystem.

About ContractorHUB

ContractorHUB was built from firsthand experience to help small businesses run smarter, more human-centered organizations that give people back their most valuable asset—time. It is an AI-native software platform that enables home service businesses to scale with confidence by centralizing everything they need in one place.

About Webrunner Media

Webrunner Media is a full-service digital marketing agency helping contractors scale with confidence. Specializing in SEO, PPC, Web Design, and Marketing Automation, Webrunner delivers the strategy and execution contractors need to grow — and has become the trusted marketing partner for 100+ contractors pursuing long-term, sustainable growth.

Media Contact:

Sarah Parks
Co-Founder, CEO
sjp@contractorhub.app

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SOURCE ContractorHUB

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Brooklyn Steel Co. Expands into Home Electrics with Launch of All-in-One Espresso Machine

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NEW YORK, Apr. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Responding to the growing demand for elevated, café-quality experiences within the home, Brooklyn Steel Co. is expanding its presence in home electrics with today’s launch of its first at-home espresso machine. This introduction marks a new chapter for the brand, moving beyond cookware and kitchen essentials to offer thoughtfully designed home coffee solutions.

Combines professional-grade features with accessible pricing, alongside the launch of a newly redesigned website

In tandem with the product launch, Brooklyn Steel Co. has also unveiled a newly redesigned website, created to reflect the brand’s expanded focus on at-home coffee and provide a more immersive, streamlined shopping experience. To explore the new espresso machine and complementary accessories, visit www.brooklynsteelco.com.

“This launch marks a new chapter for Brooklyn Steel Co. as we expand into home coffee,” said Allison Picard, Product Development Manager at Core Home. “We designed this machine to deliver consistent, café-style performance at home in a way that is straightforward and easy to use.”

Redefining the At-Home Coffee Experience

The Brooklyn Steel Co. Talos 20 is designed to transform daily coffee rituals, making them more intentional, personal, and accessible. Built for both beginners and aspiring home baristas, the machine combines precision engineering with an intuitive, all-in-one design, eliminating the need for multiple devices.

Positioned to compete with higher-end machines at a more accessible price point, the Talos 20 espresso machine delivers a balance of performance, design, and value, allowing customers to build a complete at-home café experience complemented by a growing collection of accessories.

Precision Engineering for Professional Results

The Talos 20 sets itself apart by integrating professional-grade performance into a streamlined design. 

Key Features at a Glance

Integrated Conical Burr Grinder (27 settings) for precise, fresh grindingProgrammable Grind, Extraction & Temperature to save your preferred settings and deliver consistent espresso automatically with every use20-Bar Italian Pump for rich, café-quality espressoPID Temperature Control + Dual Thermoblock System for consistent heat and faster transitions360° Steam Wand for microfoam milk and latte artReal-Time Pressure Gauge for dialing in espresso extraction

Together, these features create a streamlined system that supports consistent espresso extraction, stable temperature control, and precise milk texturing—all within a single, integrated machine.

Unlike many entry-level options, the Talos 20 includes a commercial-size 58mm portafilter and a full suite of barista tools—including a bean hopper, hopper extender, milk pitcher, dosing ring, tamper, tamping mat, single and double filter baskets, and cleaning tools—providing a complete setup out of the box and bridging the gap between accessibility and professional performance.

The Brooklyn Steel Co. Talos 20 is available for purchase directly through the company’s website and on Amazon, retailing for $499 with free shipping. For more information, visit www.brooklynsteelco.com.

Brooklyn Steel Co. is a New York-based brand known for thoughtfully designed cookware and kitchen essentials. With a focus on elevating everyday rituals, the brand creates products that bring intention and style into daily routines.

With its first espresso machine and newly launched website experience, Brooklyn Steel Co. brings its focus on design and performance into the at-home coffee category, offering customers a more seamless and elevated way to shop and brew.

Brooklyn Steel Co. is part of Core Home, a global housewares company known for developing innovative products across kitchen, hydration, and home categories. Learn more at www.brooklynsteelco.com.

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SOURCE Core Home

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