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Calkin Public Affairs Bolsters Senior Team and Transportation Practice with Veteran Communications Strategist Melissa Figueroa

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SACRAMENTO, Calif., July 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Melissa Figueroa has joined Calkin Public Affairs (Calkin PA) as a Senior Vice President, where she will lead a broad portfolio of clients and head the firm’s transportation practice. Figueroa brings over two decades of media relations, public affairs, crisis communications, and coalition-building experience to the growing team.

“Melissa’s deep experience in media, communications, and transportation policy, combined with her commitment to developing the next generation of talent, makes her an important new member of the team,” said Richard Stapler, Chief Client Officer at Calkin PA. “Having worked with her over the decades, she is both unflappable and highly focused in a crisis and brings steady leadership and vision to public-facing projects and issues.”

Figueroa joins Calkin PA from Shaw Yoder Antwih Schmelzer & Lange, where she supported advocacy, association management, and public affairs work for clients across multiple issue areas over the last two years. Before that, she served consecutively in the Brown and Newsom administrations. Most recently, she was the Chief of Strategic Communications for the California High-Speed Rail Authority, the largest infrastructure project in the country. As the primary advisor on communications and government affairs to the CEO, she was instrumental in securing $3.1 billion in federal grant funding for the project, the largest grant award in its history, and worked to shift public perception of the project both regionally and nationally.

Before that, Figueroa served as the Deputy Secretary for Communications and Planning at the California State Transportation Agency, leading communications and stakeholder engagement strategies for the successful passage of Senate Bill 1 in 2017, providing the first significant, stable, and ongoing increase in state transportation funding in over two decades. Additionally, she oversaw both the opening of the new eastern span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and the demolition of the decommissioned span. At the time, it was one of the largest infrastructure projects in recent California history. She also helped coordinate interagency emergency response to numerous natural disasters.

Earlier in her career, Figueroa worked as a press secretary for a very active State Senator following several years as a television news producer in newsrooms in San Luis Obispo and Sacramento. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.

Calkin PA continues to bolster its expertise and capabilities, with a growing and diverse array of clients. Over the past year, the team has more than doubled in size to meet the growing needs of clients, with more new additions to come.

About Calkin Public Affairs

Calkin Public Affairs is a Sacramento-based public affairs firm that develops strategic campaigns to deliver transformative results for clients across California, drawing on more than 25 years of experience in politics, strategic communications, and public affairs.

Media Contact:

Richard Stapler, richard@calkinpa.com, 916-551-2523

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SOURCE Calkin Public Affairs

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AiRISTA Launches Newest Version of Sofia™, Setting a Standard for Enterprise-Grade Real-Time Location Systems

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Platform modernization delivers unmatched flexibility, enterprise security, and open interoperability — reinforcing AiRISTA’s position as the RTLS platform built to scale with any technology environment

TIMONIUM, Md., July 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — AiRISTA, a leading provider of real-time location systems (RTLS) trusted by more than 300 organizations worldwide, today announced the newest release of its flagship Sofia™ real-time location intelligence platform. Building on the foundation established with the Vision RTLS platform, Sofia represents the next evolution of AiRISTA’s location intelligence platform to meet the evolving needs of enterprise and government customers.

As organizations increasingly rely on location intelligence to improve staff safety, operational efficiency, and workflow automation, Sofia enables them to leverage existing technology investments through an open, technology-agnostic platform rather than a single-vendor ecosystem.

Sy Sajjad, Founder and CEO, AiRISTA: “Sofia reflects what we’ve believed since founding AiRISTA: location intelligence should adapt to how an organization actually operates, not force the organization to adapt to a single vendor’s technology. With this release, we’ve strengthened the security, flexibility, and scalability that enterprise and healthcare customers require — while staying true to the open, technology-agnostic architecture that has always set Sofia apart.”

Key enhancements in the new release include:

A modernized user experience with simplified administration

Enterprise-grade security with Single Sign-On (SSO), Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), TLS 1.3, and enhanced access controls

A centralized Integrations Hub supporting leading wireless infrastructure and enterprise applications, including EHR, MES, nurse call, and other operational systems

Multi-tenant tag roaming for seamless multi-site deployments

Enhanced dashboards, reporting, alert management, and platform performance

Unlike RTLS platforms built around a single positioning technology, Sofia supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth® Low Energy (BLE), Ultra-Wideband (UWB), infrared (IR), GPS, and RFID within a single platform, allowing organizations to select the right technology for each use case without vendor lock-in. 

Jon Collins, Director of Integrated Product Solutions, AiRISTA: “The latest release of Sofia was built around a simple principle: the platform should improve outcomes, not add complexity. Whether that’s enabling a faster staff duress response, integrating location intelligence with electronic health records (EHRs), manufacturing execution systems (MES), nurse call, or other enterprise applications, or scaling seamlessly across multiple sites, this release removes friction at every layer—for administrators, IT teams, and the frontline staff who rely on Sofia every day. “

Organizations shouldn’t have to replace existing systems to unlock the value of location intelligence. Sofia was designed to integrate with the technologies customers already rely on. The latest release extends that flexibility with a new, centralized Integrations Hub supporting HPE Networking solutions (including HPE Aruba Networking and Juniper Mist), Cisco Spaces, Cisco Meraki, Cisco CMX, and other leading infrastructure platform.

Wyatt Meek, Chief Commercial Officer, AiRISTA: “What we hear consistently from customers evaluating RTLS is that they don’t want to choose between capability and flexibility — they want both. Sofia gives organizations enterprise-grade security and a modernized experience without asking them to give up the freedom to choose the right technology for each use case. That combination is difficult to find elsewhere in this market.”

Sofia is available now. Existing customers can work with their AiRISTA account team to plan upgrades. To learn more, visit www.airistaflow.com.

About AiRISTA

AiRISTA is a leading provider of real-time location systems (RTLS) and location intelligence solutions for healthcare, industrial, and government organizations. Trusted by more than 300 organizations worldwide, the Sofia platform delivers real-time visibility into people, assets, and environments while integrating with a broad ecosystem of wireless infrastructure and enterprise systems. AiRISTA is ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 certified.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/airista-launches-newest-version-of-sofia-setting-a-standard-for-enterprise-grade-real-time-location-systems-302830751.html

SOURCE AiRISTA Flow

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GCG Advisory Partners Reports Strong First-Half 2026, Marked by Four Strategic Acquisitions, $1.1 Billion in New Assets, and Completion of Three-Platform Model

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Firm expands AUM, welcomes new advisory teams, and deepens its national footprint following 2025 recapitalization

CHARLOTTE, N.C., July 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — GCG Advisory Partners (“GCG”), a national wealth management aggregator platform, today announced a series of milestones completed in the first half of 2026 that reinforce the firm’s growth trajectory and its position as a partner of choice for independent financial advisors.

Since its August 2025 recapitalization with BharCap Partners, GCG has grown EBITDA by more than 200%, a pace that reflects both a disciplined deal strategy and the caliber of the teams choosing to join. The firm acquires and supports registered investment advisory (RIA) practices nationwide, giving each the infrastructure, capital, and flexibility to keep growing while staying focused on clients.

Completion of the Three-Platform Model

GCG also completed the build-out of its three-platform operating model (independent RIA, broker-dealer/corporate RIA, and hybrid RIA), so advisors can choose the affiliation that best fits their practice and clients. Every prospective partner now has a clear route in, whatever structure they prefer.

Four Acquisitions, Four New Chapters

Gunderson Capital Management. Closed April 3, 2026, this deal added roughly $578 million in AUM, custodied at Charles Schwab, and established GCG’s independent RIA channel. The Mount Pleasant, S.C. firm is led by nationally recognized market commentator Bill Gunderson.

Gateway Capital Advisors. Also effective that day, this $300 million-plus practice joined through an asset purchase, recognized for its entrepreneurial, organically driven growth and deep client-planning work.

Head Investment Partners. In June, this $180 million Knoxville practice joined GCG, led by 30-year advisor Daniel Head and known for its options and risk-management expertise, giving GCG its first footprint in Tennessee.

BlueChip Financial Advisors. A hybrid RIA custodying through Fidelity Institutional Wealth Services, it opened GCG’s first presence in the Northeast and rounded out the firm’s affiliation options, giving incoming teams the full range of ways to join.

Each brings specialized capabilities to GCG’s expanding roster of practices.

Leadership Perspective

“The first half of 2026 has been about disciplined execution: completing our platform, welcoming exceptional advisory teams, and building a firm that advisors and institutional partners alike can trust. We’re proud of what our team has accomplished, and we remain focused on sustainable, high-quality growth, driven by both organic momentum and disciplined acquisitions, through the back half of the year and into 2027.”

— Joel Burris, CEO & Managing Partner, GCG Advisory Partners

Looking Ahead

GCG continues to evaluate new opportunities and remains committed to supporting advisors and clients across all three affiliation models. The firm expects to share further updates later in 2026.

For entrepreneurial advisors looking to build lasting equity in their practice, GCG offers the capital, infrastructure, and partnership to make it happen. To start a confidential conversation, contact our team.

About GCG Advisory Partners

GCG Advisory Partners is a national wealth management aggregator that acquires and supports registered investment advisory practices nationwide. Through its independent RIA, broker-dealer/corporate RIA, and hybrid RIA channels, the firm gives advisors the infrastructure, resources, and flexibility to grow while staying focused on their clients. GCG is backed by BharCap Partners. For more information, visit www.gcgap.com.

Media Contact:

Nicole Caputo
Contact@gcgap.com
704-372-4491

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SOURCE GCG Advisory Partners

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Buzz Health and VetHubRx Partner to Bring Real-Time Prescription Savings to Veterinary Care

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Strategic integration embeds multi-card discount pricing directly into veterinary e-prescribing workflows, expanding affordability and price transparency for pet owners at the pharmacy counter

FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla., July 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Buzz Health™, a healthcare technology company, and VetHubRx, a veterinary e-prescribing platform, today announced a strategic partnership to integrate real-time prescription discount pricing directly into VetHubRx’s e-prescribing and consumer-facing platforms.

Through the collaboration, VetHubRx will embed Buzz Health’s RxCompare® pricing infrastructure into its prescribing workflow, enabling veterinary providers and pet owners to access and apply the lowest available discount price at the point of prescribing and fulfillment. The integration supports automated best-price routing via Buzz Health’s SmartBIN® across a configurable multi-card discount network, delivering real-time price visibility within the digital prescribing experience and seamless claims adjudication through RxCompare’s pharmacy network and infrastructure.

The partnership marks Buzz Health’s first integration with a veterinary e-prescribing platform, extending the company’s prescription affordability technology into a market where most medication purchases are paid entirely out of pocket, given that only 4 to 5% of pets in the U.S. are insured, according to the North American Pet Health Insurance Association.

Unlike human healthcare, pet insurance rarely covers prescription drugs at the point of sale, leaving pet owners fully exposed to retail pricing with limited visibility into available savings. Many pet owners are unaware that the same prescription discount programs available for human medications can also be applied to their pet’s prescriptions, a gap this partnership addresses by embedding savings directly into the prescribing workflow.

“Veterinary prescribing is undergoing a digital transformation, and this partnership positions Buzz Health at the forefront of that shift,” said Lathe Bigler, Senior Vice President, Business Strategy at Buzz Health. “By embedding real-time pricing and multi-card savings directly into the prescribing workflow, we are helping veterinary providers deliver price transparency to pet owners before they arrive at the pharmacy, reducing surprises at the counter and improving prescription fulfillment rates.”

VetHubRx is a standalone e-prescribing application designed for veterinary clinics and animal hospitals, enabling providers to generate and transmit prescriptions electronically to retail pharmacies nationwide. Animal hospitals typically do not dispense medications on-site, meaning prescriptions are mostly routed to retail pharmacies, making real-time pricing visibility at the pharmacy counter particularly valuable. The platform also includes a consumer-facing app that engages pet owners on refills and prescription management.

“Our providers want to give pet owners every advantage when it comes to affording the medications their animals need,” said MJ Hamilton, CEO and Founder of VetHubRx. “Integrating real-time discount pricing into our workflow means pet owners can see the most affordable option at the pharmacy closest to them, all within the same digital experience their veterinarian uses to prescribe. It removes friction from the process and helps ensure prescriptions are filled.”

The partnership focuses on prescriptions for human-equivalent medications commonly prescribed for pets, which are filled at retail pharmacies across the country. The integration applies SmartBIN technology to automatically route each prescription to the discount card offering the lowest available price using a single set of processing codes, ensuring pet owners receive optimal savings with no additional steps required by the prescriber or pharmacist.

Buzz Health currently supports prescription access across thousands of pharmacies nationwide and continues expanding its platform to serve e-prescribing applications, EMR/EHR integrations, and additional enterprise partners.

About Buzz Health

Buzz Health is a healthcare technology company delivering intelligent, customizable prescription solutions through its integrated platforms, including BuzzRx, RxCompare, and RxAffect. Designed for scale and flexibility, Buzz Health’s technology helps streamline pharmacy operations, optimize claims in real time, and improve access and affordability across the prescription ecosystem. By serving as the intelligence layer behind prescription savings and benefit navigation, Buzz Health enables measurable cost reductions, improved adherence, and better health outcomes. Learn more at www.buzzhealth.com.

About VetHubRx

VetHubRx is the first and only e-prescribing platform built exclusively for veterinarians, empowering clinics to electronically prescribe to virtually any participating pharmacy nationwide. By eliminating phone calls, faxes, and unnecessary administrative work, VetHubRx streamlines the prescribing process for veterinary teams while giving pet owners the freedom to fill prescriptions at the pharmacy that best meets their needs. Faster prescribing, greater convenience, and improved access to medications help create a better experience for both clinics and pet owners. Learn more at vethubrx.com.

Media Contact
buzzhealthPR@supremecomms.ai

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/buzz-health-and-vethubrx-partner-to-bring-real-time-prescription-savings-to-veterinary-care-302828773.html

SOURCE Buzz Health

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