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Opportunity@Work Names LaFawn Davis to Board of Directors as Skills-First Movement Gains Ground in the AI Economy

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Accomplished STAR executive join the board as the nonprofit expands its STARs Advisory Council – and reports 20% gains in jobs newly opened to STARs

WASHINGTON, July 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Opportunity@Work, the nonprofit social enterprise working to rewire the U.S. labor market for the more than 70 million workers who are Skilled Through Alternative Routes (STARs) – rather than a bachelor’s degree – today announced the appointment of its newest member to its Board of Directors: LaFawn Davis, former Chief People and Sustainability Officer at Indeed. The organization also announced the addition of 12 new members to its STARs Advisory Council, supporting and guiding Opportunity@Work’s strategy and direct partnerships with STARs – including ambassadorship, advocacy, and advisory services.

The appointments come as the skills-first movement is gaining momentum at a pivotal moment for the American workforce. As artificial intelligence reshapes career pathways and opportunities, employers in Opportunity@Work’s networks have taken intentional action that is already producing measurable results for workers. According to the organization’s 2026 State of the Paper Ceiling Report, over the last year employers have increased the number of jobs open to STARs by nearly 20% for a total of almost 600,000 jobs – with 90,000 STARs having experienced upward mobility since 2022.

“Today’s labor market is full of bad design choices and unintended consequences, and this AI labor market transition is a vital opportunity to rewire it – using AI as amplified intention – to create new pathways, solve new problems, and empower more problem solvers,” said Byron Auguste, CEO and co-founder of Opportunity@Work. “LaFawn is exactly the kind of leader we need today. She is a STAR who built a remarkable career on the strength of her skills and experience and she has led talent teams at the highest levels of large, complex organizations. She knows firsthand that when you hire for skills rather than pedigree, you unlock talent that makes your business more competitive, innovative, and resilient. Her lived experience and operator’s instincts will sharpen our work as we help employers turn AI into a tool for amplified opportunity.”

LaFawn Davis is a C-suite enterprise transformation executive known for designing operating models that align people, technology, and strategy at the intersection of human and AI-enabled capability. As former Chief People and Sustainability Officer at Indeed, she led globally scaled teams across talent, learning, DEIB, ESG, and responsible technology. At Indeed she also helped implement skills-first hiring practices, giving her a practical, operator-level understanding of the barriers, incentives, and platform levers involved in moving beyond credential-based hiring. A STAR who entered the workforce navigating the barriers faced by workers without formal credentials, she brings lived experience alongside a systems-level perspective on AI, employment, and the talent platforms shaping the future of work.

“I’ve sat in the seat where decisions get made about who is considered ‘qualified,’ and I know how much talent gets filtered out before anyone ever looks at what a person can actually do,” said Davis. “AI is about to make those decisions at a speed and scale we’ve never seen. We can either bake the old degree bias into these systems or we can build them to recognize skills. That choice is everything, and it’s why joining Opportunity@Work matters. Our work together will make skills, not pedigree, the default signal of who gets a shot.

Expanding the STARs Advisory Council
Opportunity@Work also welcomed 12 new members to its STARs Advisory Council, reflecting the organization’s belief that STARs should be co-creators – not just beneficiaries – of the systems that shape their economic mobility. The Council is chaired by LaShana Lewis, CEO and founder of L.M. Lewis Consulting, and its full roster of 19 members can be found here.

“Every STAR knows what it feels like to be told you’re ‘one in a million’ – when the truth is we’re one of millions, ready to contribute if someone will just open the door,” said Lewis. “The progress we’re celebrating today didn’t happen by accident. It happened because real people made intentional choices to recognize skills over credentials. As we grow this Council and welcome a leader like LaFawn to the board, we’re making sure STARs are co-creators of the solutions — not just the people they’re designed for. The folks closest to the paper ceiling should be in the room helping tear it down, especially now, as AI rewrites the rules of who gets hired.”

Momentum Built on Intentional Action
Today’s announcement builds on the momentum Opportunity@Work generated in 2025, when it released the first State of the Paper Ceiling – a report showing that, after a decade of decline, STARs had stopped losing ground in their share of good-paying jobs.

The story of 2026 is what comes next: how intentional action by employers, governments, and individuals – amplified rather than undermined by AI – can convert that stabilization into real, sustained upward mobility. The nearly 600,000 jobs newly opened to STARs and the 90,000 STARs who have moved up since 2022 are early proof that the movement is not only holding the line, but advancing.

This worker progress is matched by the rapid growth of the movement’s infrastructure. The Tear the Paper Ceiling Coalition has grown to more than 90 members, 33 states have now removed degree requirements for many public-sector roles, and Opportunity@Work’s Transformers in the Public Sector cohort has tripled in size. Together, these milestones show a movement that is not only widening at the top, with more employers and governments committing to skills-first hiring, but deepening on the ground, where those commitments turn into jobs and mobility for STARs.

Opportunity@Work and its partners continue to work toward the goal of enabling 1 million STARs to attain better upward mobility through higher-wage jobs, generating a $20 billion annual earnings boost by 2030.

To learn more about Opportunity@Work, the STARs Advisory Council, and the Tear the Paper Ceiling movement, visit opportunityatwork.org.

About Opportunity@Work
Opportunity@Work is a 501(c)3 nonprofit social enterprise on a mission to rewire the labor market so all Americans can work, learn, and earn to their full potential. Our work advances economic opportunities for the 70+ million U.S. workers who are Skilled Through Alternative Routes (STARs) instead of through a bachelor’s degree. Opportunity@Work engages with corporate, public sector, talent technology, and philanthropic partners through landmark research and labor market data analysis, public awareness and narrative change, STARs-centric software tools, and multi-sector networks. Our goal is to enable upward mobility for 1 million STARs by opening up 10 million jobs, and boost their earnings by 100 billion dollars by 2035. Learn more at opportunityatwork.org

Rena Ramirez | rena@opportunityatwork.org

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SOURCE Opportunity@Work

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With the Launch of Next-Gen Vehicle Reports, Zoooom Breaks the Car History Monopoly and Stops the $40+ Consumer ‘Rip-Off’

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The first platform to pair deep vehicle history with real-time visual AI diagnostics for private-party sales—at a market-disrupting price.

CYPRESS, Calif., July 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Zoooom, the pioneering peer-to-peer automotive technology platform, today announced the launch of Zoooom Car Reports, a direct, unprecedented reckoning for the legacy vehicle history monopoly. By offering the exact same volume of core historical and technical data as major traditional players — but adding real-time AI assessments and localized transactional intelligence — Zoooom is completely transforming the impact of car reports and dismantling its bloated pricing structure.

Zoooom Car Reports breaks the vehicle-history monopoly: same data, AI diagnostics, and a market-disrupting price.

For decades, a single vehicle history report could cost $40+. Because all major players rely on the exact same underlying datasets, Zoooom views this legacy pricing model as an outright consumer rip-off. Zoooom’s new initiative is rooted in its vision of democratizing automotive data and unlocking total transparency for everyday consumers.

Dismantling the Paywall: The Most Aggressive Pricing in Automotive Tech

To accelerate market adoption and empower consumers to gain confidence when transacting in the peer-to-peer marketplace, Zoooom is introducing a highly disruptive pricing structure:

Always Free for Your Own Vehicle: Any car registered in a user’s Zoooom Digital Garage receives full history reports completely free, without conditions. Zoooom is built on the core promise that no one should ever have to pay to access the data they already rightfully own.

The Summer Launch Offer: From now until August 31, 2026, users can run up to three comprehensive vehicle reports completely free of charge (see website for full conditions).

Zoooom Price Advantage: Starting September 1st, Zoooom will transition to a permanent, highly aggressive price positioning. While specific commercial tiers remain under wraps to protect Zoooom’s market edge, the post-summer pricing will permanently slash traditional industry rates, undercutting even basic budget data aggregators while delivering significantly higher technical value.

Zoooom Marketplace Plus Benefit: In a continuous commitment for service excellence, any buyer who runs a paid Zoooom report on a vehicle not saved in a Zoooom Digital Garage will receive a 100% refund on that report if they complete their transaction on the Zoooom marketplace using Stripe.

Zoooom Car Reports Goes Beyond with Advanced Features and a Unique Set of Data

While legacy reports rely entirely on lagging administrative logs, police reports, or DMV registrations, the Zoooom Car Report introduces a suite of modern, highly actionable features guiding potential buyers to make the right decision:

The “AI Walkaround” Integration: Users conduct a 60-second guided visual video scan of the car. Zoooom’s proprietary AI immediately analyzes the footage to capture real-time cosmetic wear (such as body scratches or interior cabin condition) and actively verifies instrument clusters to ensure no warning lights are illuminated, significantly enriching the depth of the historical report.

Actionable “What to Do Next” Framework: Instead of burying critical information in dense walls of text, Zoooom filters vehicle data into an immediate, prioritized checklist, explicitly flagging overdue services or open safety recalls.

NHTSA Owner Complaints Context: Zoooom cross-references the specific vehicle make and model year with broader consumer databases. By flagging recurring, owner-reported mechanical and electrical vulnerabilities, Zoooom arms buyers with critical preventative knowledge before they buy that is simply not mentioned in any other reports.

Localized Transaction & Tax Guidance: Unlike standard reports, Zoooom customizes the output based on the vehicle’s exact jurisdictional location, explicitly calculating estimated state sales taxes and outlining regional title notarization or transfer laws.

Integrated Pricing Guide: Estimated Private Party, Trade-in, and Dealer values are embedded directly into the history timeline, eliminating the need to cross-reference third-party valuation sites.

A Message from Leadership

“Zoooom continues to build unique capabilities that are fundamentally transforming the peer-to-peer car marketplace,” said Sheng Wang, CEO and Co-Founder of Zoooom. “With the launch of Zoooom Car Reports, Zoooom once again establishes itself as an indispensable player in the industry, leveraging data to create advanced, customer-centric AI features. By removing the friction of legacy systems and connecting buyers and sellers the way consumers expect, we are eliminating both the ‘trust deficit’ and the unnecessary middleman markups that have plagued this industry for too many years.”

“Charging consumers exorbitant prices for simple database queries is an outdated practice,” added Christophe G., Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer of Zoooom. “With Zoooom Car Reports, we are delivering a superior level of value for our customers and an unmatched product for a fraction of the cost. The Summer Launch Offer provides a unique opportunity for car sellers and buyers to engage with our brand and discover the most advanced peer-to-peer car marketplace in America. There has never been a better time to join the Zoooom community and benefit from our exclusive ecosystem.”

About Zoooom

Zoooom is an innovative automotive technology platform dedicated to bringing transparency, simplicity, and intelligence to the entire car ownership lifecycle. Leveraging proprietary technology, Zoooom develops user-centric solutions that break down traditional industry friction, creating a streamlined, cost-effective, and enjoyable experience for car owners, buyers, and sellers. Learn more at zoooom.me.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/with-the-launch-of-next-gen-vehicle-reports-zoooom-breaks-the-car-history-monopoly-and-stops-the-40-consumer-rip-off-302828861.html

SOURCE Zoooom, Inc.

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Community Healthcare Trust Announces Second Quarter Earnings Release Date And Conference Call

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FRANKLIN, Tenn., July 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Community Healthcare Trust Incorporated (NYSE: CHCT) today announced that on Tuesday evening, August 4, 2026, after the market closes, it will report results for the second quarter of 2026. 

On August 5, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. Central Time, Community Healthcare Trust will hold a conference call to discuss earnings results, quarterly activities, general operations of the Company and industry trends. Simultaneously, a webcast of the conference call will be available to interested parties via an Internet link at www.chct.reit under the Investor Relations section. A webcast replay will be available following the call at the same Internet site address.

Conference Call Details

Domestic Dial-In Number: 1-888-347-1332

International Dial-In Number: 1-412-902-4278

Canada Toll Free: 1-855-669-9657

Replay Conference Call Details

Domestic & Canada Replay Number: 1-855-669-9658

International Replay Number: 1-412-317-0088

Conference ID: 9422138

About Community Healthcare Trust Incorporated

Community Healthcare Trust Incorporated (the “Company”) is a real estate investment trust that focuses on owning income-producing real estate properties associated primarily with the delivery of outpatient healthcare services in our target sub-markets throughout the United States. As of March 31, 2026, the Company had investments of approximately $1.2 billion in 198 real estate properties (including one property with sales-type leases). The properties are located in 36 states, totaling approximately 4.5 million square feet in the aggregate.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

In addition to the historical information contained within, the matters discussed in this press release may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by use of forward-looking terminology such as “believes”, “expects”, “may”, “will,” “should”, “seeks”, “approximately”, “intends”, “plans”, “estimates”, “anticipates” or other similar words or expressions, including the negative thereof. Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and can include future expectations, future plans and strategies, financial and operating projections or other forward-looking information. Such forward-looking statements reflect management’s current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management. Because forward-looking statements relate to future events, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of the control of Community Healthcare Trust Incorporated (the “Company”). Thus, the Company’s actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in such forward-looking statements. Some factors that might cause such a difference include the following: general volatility of the capital markets and the market price of the Company’s common stock, changes in the Company’s business strategy, availability, terms and deployment of capital, changes in the real estate industry in general, interest rates or the general economy, adverse developments related to the healthcare industry, changes in governmental regulations, the degree and nature of the Company’s competition, the ability to consummate acquisitions under contract, catastrophic or extreme weather and other natural events and the physical effects of climate change, the occurrence of cyber incidents, effects on global and national markets as well as businesses resulting from increased inflation, changes in interest rates, supply chain disruptions, labor conditions, prolonged government shutdown or budgetary reductions or impasses, tariffs and global trade tensions, and/or international conflicts, and the other factors described in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, and the Company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. Readers are therefore cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained herein which speak only as of the date hereof. The Company intends these forward-looking statements to speak only as of the time of this press release and undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments, or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

CONTACT: Bill Monroe, 615-771-3052

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/community-healthcare-trust-announces-second-quarter-earnings-release-date-and-conference-call-302828754.html

SOURCE Community Healthcare Trust Incorporated

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S&P DOW JONES INDICES AND MSCI ANNOUNCE CONSULTATION ON POTENTIAL CHANGES TO THE GLOBAL INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATION STANDARD (GICS®)

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NEW YORK, July 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — S&P Dow Jones Indices (S&P DJI), a leading provider of financial market indices, and MSCI Inc. (MSCI), a leading provider of critical decision support tools and services have decided to consult with members of the investment community on potential changes to the GICS structure.

The review is intended to ensure that the GICS structure is reflective of today’s markets and continues to be an accurate and complete industry framework. 

The consultation begins on July 17, 2026, and ends on October 30, 2026. Any changes to the GICS structure will be announced by November 2026. This consultation may or may not result in any changes to the GICS structure.

Key topics under review*:

Classification of Artificial Intelligence (AI) related business modelsRestructuring the Semiconductors Sub-IndustryDefinition updates for High-Performance Computing As-a-Service (HPCaaS) and AI Data Lifecycle ServicesClassification of Foundation Model DevelopersUpdates to the Application Software Sub-IndustryClassification of Listed Investment Companies

The consultation document with detailed proposals is available on S&P Dow Jones Indices’ Web site at: https://www.spglobal.com/spdji/en/landing/topic/gics/ and MSCI’s Web site at: www.msci.com/gics.

* A select list of companies with a market capitalization exceeding USD 2 billion that may be affected by this proposal is available for clients for illustrative purposes.

MODE OF CONSULTATION

There are two options for participating in this year’s consultation:

Click on the links below to participate in the online surveyS&P: LinkMSCI: Link

       2. Contact one of the following email addresses with your feedback

S&P: index_services@spglobal.comMSCI: clientservice@msci.com Contact your MSCI / S&P DJI Account Manager

For a detailed description of GICS, please refer to S&P Dow Jones Indices’ Web site at https://www.spglobal.com/spdji/en/landing/topic/gics/ or the MSCI’s Web site at www.msci.com/gics.

About S&P Dow Jones Indices

S&P Dow Jones Indices is the largest global resource for essential index-based concepts, data and research, and home to iconic financial market indicators, such as the S&P 500® and the Dow Jones Industrial Average®. More assets are invested in products based on our indices than products based on indices from any other provider in the world. Since Charles Dow invented the first index in 1884, S&P DJI has been innovating and developing indices across the spectrum of asset classes helping to define the way investors measure and trade the markets.

S&P Dow Jones Indices is a division of S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI), which provides essential intelligence for individuals, companies and governments to make decisions with confidence. For more information, visit www.spglobal.com/spdji.

Media Inquiries

spdji.comms@spglobal.com

About MSCI

MSCI (NYSE: MSCI Inc.) strengthens global markets by connecting participants across the financial ecosystem with a common language. Our research-based data, analytics and indexes, supported by advanced technology, set standards for global investors and help our clients understand risks and opportunities so they can make better decisions and unlock innovation. We serve asset managers and owners, private-market sponsors and investors, hedge funds, wealth managers, banks, insurers and corporates. To learn more, please visit www.msci.com

The process for submitting a formal index complaint can be found on the index regulation page of MSCI’s website at: https://www.msci.com/index-regulation

Media Inquiries

PR@msci.com

Melanie Blanco

+1 212 981 1049

Konstantinos Makrygiannis

+44 77 6893 0056

Tina Tan

+852 2844 9320

MSCI Global Client Service:

EMEA Client Service

+ 44 20 7618 2222

Americas Client Service

+1 888 588 4567

Asia Pacific Client Service

+ 852 2844 9333

Disclaimer

This document has been prepared by MSCI and S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and its affiliates (“S&P Dow Jones Indices”) solely for informational purposes. All of the information contained herein, including without limitation all text, data, graphs, charts (collectively, the “Information”) is the property of MSCI, S&P Dow Jones Indices, or their respective affiliates. The Information may not be reproduced or redisseminated in whole or in part without prior written permission from MSCI and S&P Dow Jones Indices.

None of the proposals or alternatives set forth herein has been adopted by MSCI, S&P Dow Jones Indices or Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC (“S&P”), an affiliate of S&P Dow Jones Indices, and there is no assurance that they may be considered or adopted, in whole or in part, by any such party.

The Information may not be used to create derivative works or to verify or correct other data or information. For example (but without limitation), the Information may not be used to create indices, databases, risk models, analytics, software, or in connection with the issuing, offering, sponsoring, managing or marketing of any securities, portfolios, financial products or other investment vehicles utilizing or based on, linked to, tracking or otherwise derived from the Information. 

The user of the Information assumes the entire risk of any use it may make or permit to be made of the Information. NEITHER MSCI, S&P DOW JONES INDICES, S&P, NOR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES MAKES ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES OR REPRESENTATIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE INFORMATION (OR THE RESU LTS TO BE OBTAINED BY THE USE THEREOF). TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, MSCI, S&P DOW JONES INDICES, S&P AND THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATE S EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF ORIGINALITY, ACCURACY, TIMELINESS, NON-INFRINGEMENT, COMPLETENESS, MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE) WITH RESPECT TO ANY OF THE INFORMATION.

Without limiting any of the foregoing and to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, in no event shall MSCI, S&P Dow Jones Indices, S&P or any of their respective affiliates have any liability regarding any of the Information for any direct, indirect, special, punitive, consequential (including lost profits) or any other damages even if notified of the possibility of such damages.

Information containing any historical information, data or analysis should not be taken as an indication or guarantee of any future performance, analysis, forecast or prediction. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

None of the Information constitutes an offer to sell (or a solicitation of an offer to buy), any security, financial product or other investment vehicle.

The Information does not, and is not intended to, recommend, endorse, approve or otherwise expresses any opinion regarding any issuer, security, financial product or trading strategy and none of the Information is intended to constitute investment advice or a recommendation to make (or refrain from making) any kind of investment decision and may not be relied on as such.

The Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS) was developed by and is the exclusive property of MSCI and S&P. “Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS)” is a service mark of MSCI and S&P.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sp-dow-jones-indices-and-msci-announce-consultation-on-potential-changes-to-the-global-industry-classification-standard-gics-302828876.html

SOURCE S&P Dow Jones Indices

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