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AudioEye Reports Record First Quarter 2026 Results

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Forty-First Consecutive Period of Record Revenue

TUCSON, Ariz., May 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — AudioEye, Inc. (Nasdaq: AEYE) (“AudioEye” or the “Company”), an industry-leading digital accessibility company, reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2026.

“We demonstrated strong annual recurring revenue growth in the first quarter with 12% annualized sequential growth reaching $41.2 million of ARR. As ARR grows, we expect sequential quarterly revenue growth to accelerate over the course of the year, and operating leverage should lead to significant operating margin improvement,” said Kelly Georgevich, Chief Executive Officer of AudioEye.

“As I assume the CEO role, I want to recognize David’s leadership in transforming AudioEye’s product and operations, which has led to an almost fourfold revenue increase and significantly improved gross and operating margins during his tenure. I’m excited to continue working with David, the Board of Directors, teammates, and our customers in the future and look forward to increasing the value they receive from our products.”

First Quarter 2026 Financial Results

Total revenue increased 8% to a record $10.6M from $9.7M in the same prior year period.Gross profit increased to $8.3M (78% of total revenue) from $7.7M (80% of total revenue) in the same prior year period. The increase in gross profit was driven by continued revenue growth.Adjusted gross margin, which is defined as gross margin adjusted for non-cash items such as stock-based compensation and depreciation and amortization expenses in cost of revenue, was 84% in the first quarter of 2026 compared to 85% in the same prior year period.Operating expenses were $10.1M, an increase of 17% from the comparable prior year period. The increase was primarily due to higher litigation expenses.Net loss was $2.1M, or $(0.17) per share, compared to a net loss of $1.5M, or $(0.12) per share, in the same prior year period. The change was primarily due to higher litigation expenses of $1.1M, partially offset by a $0.5M increase to gross profit.Adjusted EBITDA in Q1 2026 was $2.4M, and adjusted EPS was $0.18 per share, compared to adjusted EBITDA of $1.9M and adjusted EPS of $0.15 per share in the same prior year period. For Q1 2026, the adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EPS results reflect adjustments primarily for stock-based compensation expense, depreciation and amortization, litigation expense, and interest expense.Annual Recurring Revenue (“ARR”) as of March 31, 2026 increased sequentially to $41.2M from $40.0M as of December 31, 2025.As of March 31, 2026, the Company had $8.6M in cash and cash equivalents, compared to $5.3M as of December 31, 2025. The increase was primarily driven by the drawdown of funds under the Company’s delayed draw term loan, which would have otherwise expired on March 31, 2026.

Other Updates

AudioEye released the 2026 Accessibility Advantage Report on March 12, 2026, based on a survey of more than 400 business leaders. The report found that while accessibility is increasingly recognized as a legal and operational requirement, most organizations lack the infrastructure, expertise, and processes needed to sustain compliance at scale.The Company participated in the 41st Annual CSUN Assistive Technology Conference (March 10-13, 2026), hosting six expert sessions alongside AudioEye Advisory Board member and former U.S. Congresswoman Gabby Giffords and the National Federation of the Blind.AudioEye was named one of G2’s Best Software Products for 2026 and earned a record 11 badges in G2’s Spring 2026 Reports in April 2026. G2 rankings are based on verified customer reviews, customer satisfaction scores, and market presence. AudioEye earned badges across every customer segment, including Most Implementable and Highest User Adoption in the Enterprise Implementation Index.As of March 31, 2026, AudioEye had approximately 127,000 customers, up 8,000 year-over-year from March 31, 2025. The sequential decrease of 4,000 from December 31, 2025, was attributable to one partner’s realignment of their own customers and did not have any material impact on Company revenue. The partner continues to support thousands of AudioEye customers.

Financial Outlook
AudioEye expects revenue of between $10.65M and $10.75M for the second quarter of 2026 and between $43.25M and $44.25M for the full year 2026. The Company expects adjusted EBITDA of between $2.6M and $2.7M for the second quarter of 2026 and at least $12M of Adjusted EBITDA for the full year 2026. The Company expects adjusted EPS of between $0.21 and $0.22 per share for the second quarter of 2026 and at least $0.96 per share for the full year 2026.

Conference Call Information
AudioEye management will hold a conference call today, May 12, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time (1:30 p.m. Pacific time) to discuss these results, followed by a question-and-answer period.

Date: Tuesday, May 12, 2026
Time: 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time (1:30 p.m. Pacific Time)
U.S. dial-in number: 877-407-8289
International number: 201-689-8341
Webcast: Q126 Webcast Link

Please call the conference telephone number 5-10 minutes prior to the start time. If you have any difficulty connecting with the conference call, please contact Gateway Group at 949-574-3860.

The conference call will also be webcast live and available for replay via the investor relations section of the Company’s website. The audio recording will remain available via the investor relations section of the Company’s website for 90 days.

A telephonic replay of the conference call will also be available after 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time on the same day through May 26, 2026 via the following numbers:

Toll-free replay number: 877-660-6853
International replay number: 201-612-7415
Replay passcode: 13760328

Due to rounding, numbers presented throughout this document may not add up precisely to the totals provided and percentages may not precisely reflect the absolute figures.

About AudioEye
AudioEye exists to ensure the digital future we build is accessible. The gold standard for digital accessibility, AudioEye’s comprehensive solution combines industry-leading AI automation technology with expert fixes informed by the disability community. This powerful combination delivers industry-leading protection, ensuring businesses of all sizes – including over 127,000 customers such as Samsung, Lands’ End, and Samsonite – meet and exceed compliance standards. With 26 US patents, AudioEye’s solution includes 24/7 accessibility monitoring, automated WCAG issue testing and fixes, expert testing, developer tools, and legal protection, empowering organizations to confidently create accessible digital experiences for all.

Forward-Looking Statements
All statements in this press release about AudioEye’s expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, prospects, financial condition, assumptions or future events or performance are not historical facts and are “forward-looking statements” as that term is defined under the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, made through the use of words or phrases such as “believe”, “anticipate”, “should”, “confident”, “intend”, “plan”, “will”, “expects”, “estimates”, “projects”, “positioned”, “strategy”, “outlook” and similar words. You should read the statements that contain these types of words carefully. Such forward-looking statements contained herein include, but are not limited to, statements regarding future cash flows of the Company, anticipated contributions from new sales channels, long-term growth prospects, opportunities in the digital accessibility industry, our revenue, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EPS and ARR guidance, and our expectation of investments in marketing and sales. These statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from what is expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements, including the variability of AudioEye’s revenue and financial performance; sales channels and offerings; product development and technological changes; the acceptance of AudioEye’s products in the marketplace; the effectiveness of our integration efforts; competition; inherent uncertainties and costs associated with litigation; and general economic conditions. These and other risks are described more fully in AudioEye’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. There may be events in the future that AudioEye is not able to predict accurately or over which AudioEye has no control. Forward-looking statements reflect management’s view as of the date of this press release, and AudioEye urges you not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. AudioEye does not undertake any obligation to update such forward-looking statements to reflect events or uncertainties after the date hereof.

About Key Operating Metrics
We consider annual recurring revenue (“ARR”) as a key operating metric and a key indicator of our overall business. We also use ARR as one of the primary methods for planning and forecasting overall expectations and for evaluating, on at least a quarterly and annual basis, actual results against such expectations.

We manage customers through two primary channels, Enterprise and Partner and Marketplace. Enterprise channel consists of our larger customers and organizations, including those with non-platform custom websites, who generally engage directly with AudioEye sales personnel for custom pricing and solutions. This channel also includes federal, state and local government agencies. The Partner and Marketplace channel consists of our CMS partners, platform & agency partners, authorized resellers and our marketplace. This channel serves small and medium sized businesses who are on a partner or reseller’s web-hosting platform or who purchase an AudioEye solution from our marketplace.

We define ARR as the sum of (i) for our Enterprise channel, the total of the annualized recurring fee at the date of determination under each active contract, plus (ii) for our Partner and Marketplace channel, the annual or monthly recurring fee for all active customers at the date of determination, in each case, assuming no changes to the subscription, multiplied by 12 if applicable. Recurring fees are defined as revenues expected to be generated from services typically offered as a subscription service or annual service offering such as our automation and platform, periodic auditing, human-assisted technological fixes, legal support and professional service offerings and other services that reoccur on a multi-year contract. This determination includes both annual and monthly contracts for recurring products. Some of our contracts are terminable prior to the expected term, which may impact future ARR. ARR excludes non-recurring fees, which are defined as revenue expected to be generated from services typically not offered as a subscription service or annual service offering such as our PDF remediation services business, one-time mobile application reports, and other miscellaneous services that are offered as non-subscription services or are expected to be one-time in nature.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
From time to time, we review adjusted financial measures that assist us in comparing our operating performance consistently over time, as such measures remove the impact of certain items, as applicable, such as our capital structure (primarily interest charges), certain non-cash items, including stock compensation and depreciation and amortization expense, and other expenses that do not relate to our core operations, including significant transaction and litigation-related expenses and other costs that are expected to be non-recurring. In order to provide investors with greater insight and allow for a more comprehensive understanding of the information used in our financial and operational decision-making, the Company has supplemented the consolidated financial statements presented on a GAAP basis in this press release with the following non-GAAP financial measures: Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, Adjusted earnings (loss) per diluted share (adjusted EPS) and Adjusted gross margin.

These non-GAAP financial measures have limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of Company results as reported under GAAP. The Company compensates for such limitations by relying primarily on our GAAP results and using non-GAAP financial measures only as supplemental data. We also provide a reconciliation of non-GAAP to GAAP measures used. Investors are encouraged to carefully review this reconciliation. In addition, because these non-GAAP measures are not measures of financial performance under GAAP and are susceptible to varying calculations, these measures, as defined by us, may differ from and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies.

Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, and Adjusted Earnings (Loss) per Diluted Share
We define: (i) Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss), plus interest expense, plus depreciation and amortization expense, plus stock-based compensation expense, plus change in fair value of contingent consideration, plus certain litigation expense, plus certain acquisition expense, plus certain severance expense, plus loss on disposal or impairment of long-lived assets, plus loss on extinguishment of debt, and plus lost deposit on alternative financing; (ii) Adjusted EBITDA margin as Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of GAAP revenue; and (iii) Adjusted earnings (loss) per diluted share (EPS) as net income (loss) per diluted common share, plus interest expense, plus depreciation and amortization expense, plus stock-based compensation expense, plus change in fair value of contingent consideration, plus certain litigation expense, plus certain acquisition expense, plus certain severance expense, plus loss on disposal or impairment of long-lived assets, plus loss on extinguishment of debt, and plus lost deposit on alternative financing, each on a per share basis. Adjusted earnings per diluted share includes incremental shares in the share count that are considered anti-dilutive in a GAAP net loss position.

Adjusted Gross Margin
We define Adjusted gross margin as gross profit, plus stock-based compensation expense and depreciation and amortization expense allocated to cost of revenue, expressed as a percentage of total revenue.

Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, Adjusted earnings (loss) per diluted share, and Adjusted gross margin are used to facilitate a comparison of our operating performance on a consistent basis from period to period and provide for a more complete understanding of factors and trends affecting our business than GAAP measures alone. All of the items adjusted in these calculations are either recurring non-cash items or items that management does not consider in assessing our ongoing operating performance. In the case of the non-cash items, such as stock-based compensation expense and valuation adjustments to assets and liabilities, management believes that investors may find it useful to assess our comparative operating performance because the measures without such items are expected to be less susceptible to variances in actual performance resulting from expenses that do not relate to our core operations and are more reflective of other factors that affect operating performance. In the case of items that do not relate to our core operations, management believes that investors may find it useful to assess our operating performance if the measures are presented without these items because their financial impact does not reflect ongoing operating performance.

Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of liquidity under GAAP, or otherwise, and is not an alternative to cash flow from continuing operating activities, despite the advantages regarding the use and analysis of these measures as mentioned above. Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, Adjusted earnings (loss) per diluted share, and Adjusted gross margin, as disclosed in this press release, have limitations as analytical tools, and you should not consider these measures in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP; nor are these measures intended to be measures of liquidity or free cash flow.

To properly and prudently evaluate our business, we encourage readers to review the consolidated GAAP financial statements included in this press release and not rely on any single financial measure to evaluate our business. Reconciliations of Adjusted EBITDA to net loss, the most directly comparable GAAP-based measure, Adjusted earnings (loss) per diluted share to net loss per diluted share, the most directly comparable GAAP-based measure, and Adjusted gross margin to gross margin, the most directly comparable GAAP-based measure are provided in tables later in this press release. We strongly urge readers to review these reconciliations, along with the financial statements included in this press release.

Forward-Looking Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This press release and statements made in our conference call today also include the forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures of adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margin, adjusted EPS and free cash flow guidance for the second quarter and full year 2026. We calculate forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures based on internal forecasts that omit certain amounts that would be included in GAAP financial measures. We have not provided quantitative reconciliations of these forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable forward-looking GAAP financial measures because the excluded items are not available on a prospective basis without unreasonable efforts. In addition, the Company believes such reconciliations would imply a degree of precision and certainty that could be confusing to investors. It is probable that these forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures may be materially different from the corresponding GAAP financial measures.

Investor Contact:
Tom Colton
Gateway Group, Inc.
AEYE@gateway-grp.com
949-574-3860

 

AUDIOEYE, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(unaudited)

Three months ended March 31, 

(in thousands, except per share data)

2026

2025

Revenue

$

10,553

$

9,733

Cost of revenue

2,301

1,995

Gross profit

8,252

7,738

Operating expenses:

Selling and marketing

3,852

3,714

Research and development

1,110

1,153

General and administrative

5,173

3,761

Change in fair value of contingent consideration

—

50

Total operating expenses

10,135

8,678

Operating loss

(1,883)

(940)

Other expense:

Interest expense, net

(231)

(229)

Loss on extinguishment of debt

—

(300)

Total other expense

(231)

(529)

Net loss

$

(2,114)

$

(1,469)

Net loss per common share-basic and diluted

$

(0.17)

$

(0.12)

Weighted average common shares outstanding-basic and diluted

12,460

12,390

 

AUDIOEYE, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(unaudited)

March 31, 

December 31, 

(in thousands, except per share data)

2026

2025

ASSETS

Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents

$

8,563

$

5,288

Accounts receivable, net

6,294

6,557

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

1,019

777

Total current assets

15,876

12,622

Property and equipment, net

137

146

Right of use assets

324

168

Intangible assets, net

12,036

12,515

Goodwill

6,682

6,682

Other

45

97

Total assets

$

35,100

$

32,230

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Current liabilities:

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

$

5,816

$

4,851

Operating lease liabilities

54

218

Deferred revenue

8,491

8,619

Contingent consideration

225

225

Term loan, current

850

503

Total current liabilities

15,436

14,416

Long term liabilities:

Term loan, net

15,756

12,479

Operating lease liabilities

283

—

Deferred revenue

7

5

Contingent consideration, long term

300

300

Other

139

226

Total liabilities

31,921

27,426

Stockholders’ equity:

Preferred stock, $0.00001 par value, 10,000 shares authorized

Common stock, $0.00001 par value, 50,000 shares authorized, 12,430 and 12,383
shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025,
respectively

1

1

Additional paid-in capital

109,165

108,201

Accumulated deficit

(105,987)

(103,398)

Total stockholders’ equity

3,179

4,804

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

$

35,100

$

32,230

 

AUDIOEYE, INC.

RECONCILIATIONS OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

(unaudited)

Three months ended March 31, 

(in thousands, except per share data)

2026

2025

Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation

Net loss (GAAP)

$

(2,114)

$

(1,469)

Change in fair value of contingent consideration

—

50

Interest expense, net

231

229

Stock-based compensation expense

1,346

907

Acquisition expense (1)

52

—

Litigation expense (2)

1,832

722

Severance expense (3)

—

304

Lost deposit on alternative financing

—

50

Depreciation and amortization

1,011

775

Loss on disposal or impairment of long-lived assets

—

40

Loss on extinguishment of debt

—

300

Adjusted EBITDA

$

2,358

$

1,908

Adjusted EBITDA margin (4)

22

%

20

%

Adjusted Earnings per Diluted Share Reconciliation

Net loss per common share (GAAP) — diluted

$

(0.17)

$

(0.12)

Change in fair value of contingent consideration

—

—

Interest expense, net

0.02

0.02

Stock-based compensation expense

0.11

0.07

Acquisition expense (1)

—

—

Litigation expense (2)

0.14

0.06

Severance expense (3)

—

0.02

Lost deposit on alternative financing

—

—

Depreciation and amortization

0.08

0.06

Loss on disposal or impairment of long-lived assets

—

—

Loss on extinguishment of debt

—

0.02

Adjusted earnings per diluted share (5)

$

0.18

$

0.15

Diluted weighted average shares (GAAP)

12,460

12,390

Includable incremental shares (Non-GAAP) (5)

320

233

Adjusted diluted shares (Non-GAAP)

12,780

12,623

(1)

Represents professional fees incurred in connection with acquisitions.

(2)

Represents legal expenses related primarily to non-recurring litigation.

(3)

Represents severance expense for employee from previously acquired ADA Site Compliance.

(4)

Adjusted EBITDA margin represents Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of GAAP revenue.

(5)

Adjusted earnings per adjusted diluted share for our common stock is computed using the treasury stock method.

 

AUDIOEYE, INC.

RECONCILIATIONS OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

(unaudited)

Three months ended March 31, 

(in thousands)

2026

2025

Adjusted Gross Margin Reconciliation

Revenue

$

10,553

$

9,733

Less: Cost of revenue

2,301

1,995

Gross profit (GAAP)

$

8,252

$

7,738

Gross margin (GAAP)

78

%

80

%

Add expenses included in cost of revenue:

Depreciation and amortization

$

508

$

459

Stock-based compensation

90

79

Adjusted gross profit (non-GAAP)

$

8,850

$

8,276

Adjusted gross margin (non-GAAP)

84

%

85

%

 

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SOURCE AudioEye, Inc.

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COLUMBIA DISTRIBUTING COMPLETES ALASKA TRANSACTION WITH RNDC, ESTABLISHING A FOUR-STATE PACIFIC NORTHWEST TOTAL BEVERAGE PLATFORM

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WILSONVILLE, Ore., Oct. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Columbia Distributing today announced it has completed its transaction with Republic National Distributing Company (RNDC) to acquire certain beverage distribution assets in Alaska, marking Columbia’s official entry into the state and completing the final component of the letter of intent announced by the companies in April.

The closing represents a major milestone in a long-term strategy Columbia set out to build: a multi-category, multi-state total beverage platform across the Pacific Northwest. With direct operations now spanning Alaska, Oregon, and Washington, along with its recently completed strategic partnership with Hayden Beverage in Idaho, Columbia has brought that vision to life, creating a connected four-state route to market and a more complete one-stop solution for supplier and retail partners across the region.

“This is a huge moment for Columbia because it represents exactly what we set out to build,” said Chris Steffanci, President and CEO of Columbia Distributing. “Our long-term vision has been to create the strongest total beverage platform in the Pacific Northwest—a multi-category, multi-state strategy that gives our partners a more complete solution across the region. With Alaska, that vision is now coming to life. We can offer suppliers and retailers a connected, capable, and increasingly seamless route to market across Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.”

The Alaska transaction expands Columbia’s direct service territory to more than 835,000 square miles and adds nearly 1,500 customer accounts. It also brings Columbia into a market with an experienced local team, strong customer relationships, and an established beverage distribution network.

Columbia sees significant untapped potential in the Alaska business and plans to bring renewed investment, leadership, resources, and market focus to the state. The company will pair the Alaska team’s local knowledge and relationships with the culture and ways of working that drive Columbia’s performance in its existing markets, empowering people, moving with urgency, holding one another accountable, and maintaining a relentless focus on customers, brands, and execution.

“What has impressed me most is the energy and ambition of the Alaska team,” Steffanci said. “They know the market, they believe in the brands, and they are hungry to grow, compete, and win. They do not need us to teach them Alaska. Our responsibility is to give them the leadership, investment, tools, and support to show what they can do.”

“At Columbia, we trust our people, empower the teams closest to the market, and expect everyone to take ownership of results,” Steffanci continued. “That culture and the way we work across our company will bring new energy and momentum to Alaska. We are not entering the market to maintain the status quo—we are here to build, grow, compete, and raise the standard. This team is ready to be unleashed, and I believe the market is going to feel the difference very quickly.”

The expansion is the latest step in the deliberate strategy Columbia has pursued to build a broader total beverage business across multiple categories and markets. On June 30, the company completed its acquisition of certain RNDC wine and spirits distribution rights in Oregon and Washington. In September, Columbia completed a strategic partnership with Hayden Beverage, creating long-term alignment with Idaho’s leading locally based beverage distributor. The Alaska transaction completes the geographic footprint Columbia envisioned across the four-state Pacific Northwest market.

Together, these transactions create a platform designed around what suppliers and retailers increasingly need: one partner capable of representing multiple beverage categories across multiple states while still maintaining the local knowledge, relationships, and market-level execution required to succeed in each community.

Columbia’s expanded platform spans beer, wine, spirits, cider, non-alcoholic beverages, and emerging beverage categories. For supplier partners, it provides greater regional scale, category expertise, operational capabilities, and a more cohesive route to market. For retailers, it provides access to a broader portfolio backed by strong sales, delivery, merchandising, revenue management, and account execution capabilities.

“This is what total beverage means to us,” Steffanci added. “It is not simply adding categories or adding geography. It is about building a one-stop solution that connects categories, capabilities, people, and markets in a way that creates more value for our partners. We now have the platform we envisioned across the Pacific Northwest, and our focus turns to executing against that opportunity.”

Columbia is working closely with the Alaska team, suppliers, customers, and business partners to support a smooth transition. Columbia will communicate additional information about the operational transition, portfolio, and go-live timing directly to affected stakeholders.

Columbia appreciates RNDC’s partnership and the work of teams across both organizations to complete the transaction. Financial terms were not disclosed.

About Columbia Distributing

Since 1935, Columbia Distributing has helped build some of the best-known brands in the beverage business. Today, Columbia is one of the nation’s leading total beverage distributors, with a portfolio spanning beer, wine, spirits, cider, non-alcoholic beverages, and emerging beverage categories.

Columbia’s more than 3,200 teammates serve approximately 24,000 retail customers and deliver more than 80 million cases annually. With direct operations across Alaska, Oregon, and Washington and a strategic partnership with Hayden Beverage in Idaho, Columbia offers supplier and retail partners a connected four-state, multi-category route to market across the Pacific Northwest.

Columbia’s success is built on its people, its brands, and a deep-rooted commitment to execution, service, and creating sustainable growth for its teammates, customers, suppliers, shareholders, and communities. For more information, visit www.coldist.com.

Contact: Steve Gibbs
Steve.Gibbs@coldist.com | 206-920-6799

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SOURCE Columbia Distributing

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Secretary of the State Thomas Highlights Record Protecting Connecticut Businesses as Scams Grow More Sophisticated

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As early voting enters its final week, Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas highlights her first-term record protecting Connecticut businesses, from fighting human trafficking and business hijacking to lowering fees and moving filings online, and pledges to keep business owners prepared as AI makes scams more sophisticated.

HARTFORD, Conn., Oct. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — As scams targeting Connecticut businesses grow more sophisticated, including recent emails impersonating state offices, Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas is highlighting the protections her team has put in place for the more than half a million businesses registered in Connecticut. She is seeking a second term to build on that work as AI-powered fraud creates new risks for business owners.

“If someone tries to steal your business, you’re not on your own. AI is making scams more sophisticated by the month, and I’ll keep making sure business owners know what to watch for.”

“Before I was Secretary of the State, I ran a small business, so I know how scarce time and money can be,” said Secretary Thomas. “That’s why our team cut fees and red tape, and why I fought for new laws that let my office investigate when fraudsters hijack a Connecticut business. If someone tries to steal your business, you’re not on your own. But the threats keep evolving. AI is making scams more sophisticated by the month, and I’ll keep making sure business owners know what to watch for. I’m not done delivering for Connecticut businesses, and I hope you’ll support me on November 3.”

Protecting Connecticut Businesses

Fighting human trafficking. Through Be a Light, Secretary Thomas made Connecticut the 7th state in the country and the first in the Northeast to help businesses identify, report and prevent human trafficking. Trafficking can reach any business through its customers, employees or supply chains. PreventHumanTraffickingCT.com gives owners practical guidance on what to watch for and what to do.

Stopping business hijacking. Fraudsters have stolen login credentials, changed a business’s listed owner and opened lines of credit in its name. Owners used to have only one remedy: hire a lawyer and go to court. Secretary Thomas brought the problem to the legislature. New laws now give her office the authority to investigate and the funding to build stronger protections, including screening that flags suspicious filings for human review.

Early warnings for owners. Business owners can turn on Follow Business alerts at Business.CT.gov to be notified whenever someone files a document for their business.

Lower costs, less red tape. Apostille fees are lower, and the entire process for authenticating documents for use abroad, used for about 40,000 documents a year, is now online. That makes Connecticut one of the first states to offer it. A new statewide trademark directory lets owners check a name before investing in it.

Help getting started and growing. A free monthly business newsletter gathers grants, funding and training opportunities in one place. A new Business Welcome Packet walks owners through their first steps, from tax IDs to fraud protection.

Early Voting Ends Sunday, Nov. 1

Early voting is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Sunday, Nov. 1, with extended hours from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 27 and Thursday, Oct. 29. There is no early voting on Monday, Nov. 2.

Every town has at least one early voting location. Voters can find theirs at MyVote.CT.gov or by contacting their town’s registrar of voters. Eligible residents who are not yet registered can register and vote the same day during early voting or on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, when polls are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

About Stephanie Thomas

Stephanie Thomas is Connecticut’s 75th Secretary of the State and the first Black person elected to the office. Since taking office in 2023, she has secured $20 million to modernize Connecticut’s election equipment, led the rollout of early in-person voting, expanded civic education through initiatives such as the Power of Civics platform and launched Be a Light, making Connecticut the first state in the Northeast to help businesses identify, report and prevent human trafficking.

Thomas is running for reelection in 2026. She serves on the Executive Board of the National Association of Secretaries of State and testified before Congress in 2025 about balancing voter access with election security.

Before becoming secretary, Thomas represented Norwalk, Wilton and Westport in the state legislature. She also ran a small business and spent nearly 30 years advising nonprofit organizations on strategy and fundraising.

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Natasha Lopoukhine, Savvy Marketing Communications, 1 2039560920, natasha@igotsavvy.com, www.igotsavvy.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prweb.com/releases/secretary-of-the-state-thomas-highlights-record-protecting-connecticut-businesses-as-scams-grow-more-sophisticated-302919955.html

SOURCE Stephanie Thomas

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MNA: Berkshire VNA Nurses and Healthcare Professionals Deliver Petition Calling for a Fair Union Contract to Strengthen Patient Access to Home Care

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While there has been bargaining progress on early-career wages, clinicians are urging BVNA to invest in experienced staff to support safe patient care

PITTSFIELD, Mass., Oct. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Berkshire Visiting Nurse Association (BVNA) nurses and healthcare professionals, represented by the Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA), delivered a petition to BVNA management at 4 p.m. Monday, October 26, calling for a fair contract that supports recruitment, retains experienced clinicians and protects the time needed to care for patients safely at home. The parties next meet for bargaining on October 28.

The petition comes as the bargaining unit has shrunk by approximately half over the past several years amid high turnover and challenges attracting new staff. BVNA clinicians are seeking to reverse that decline to strengthen access to home care, help patients recover in familiar surroundings, and support timely hospital discharges.

“We appreciate that management has made progress toward attracting new staff by moving on wages for nurses and healthcare professionals early in their careers,” said Tamaryn Clowdus, physical therapist, and Co-Chair of the MNA Bargaining Committee at Berkshire VNA. “We also need reasonable cost-of-living increases for the experienced clinicians who have stayed with the VNA through difficult years. Building a stable workforce and supporting our home care patients requires a focus on both recruitment and retention.”

BVNA nurses and healthcare professionals provide care that helps patients manage illness, recover after hospitalization and remain safely at home. Experienced clinicians bring clinical judgment, knowledge of their communities and familiarity with patients’ needs. These are important community assets that are difficult to replace when staff leave.

With Berkshire Medical Center experiencing high patient volume, sufficient levels of home care staffing matters more than just the patients receiving visits. Ready access to home care can help patients who are ready to leave the hospital return home with the support they need, making more hospital beds available for people requiring acute care.

“Berkshire Medical Center nurses stand with our BVNA colleagues in their efforts to secure a fair contract that strengthens home care in Berkshire County,” said Sarah Roberts, RN, MNA Co-Chair at Berkshire Medical Center. “We see every day how much our patients depend on having care available when they return home. Supporting the clinicians who provide that care helps patients leave the hospital safely and keeps beds available for others who need acute care.”

The BVNA petition also calls for reasonable and achievable productivity expectations developed with clinicians and grounded in the realities of home care. A visit involves more than time spent in a patient’s home. Clinicians must also document care, coordinate services, communicate with providers and families, and travel between patients.

MassNurses.org │ Facebook.com/MassNurses │ Twitter.com/MassNurses │ Instagram.com/MassNurses 

Founded in 1903, the Massachusetts Nurses Association is the largest union of registered nurses in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Its 26,000 members advance the nursing profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting the economic and general welfare of nurses in the workplace, projecting a positive and realistic view of nursing, and by lobbying the Legislature and regulatory agencies on health care issues affecting nurses and the public.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mna-berkshire-vna-nurses-and-healthcare-professionals-deliver-petition-calling-for-a-fair-union-contract-to-strengthen-patient-access-to-home-care-302919989.html

SOURCE Massachusetts Nurses Association

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