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Celebree School Invests in Scalable Development Infrastructure to Accelerate Franchise Growth

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Enhanced Support Model Helps Franchise Owners Navigate Development Process with Greater Confidence and Efficiency

BALTIMORE, July 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Celebree School, a franchise leader in early childhood education with roots dating back to 1994, announces a significant expansion of its franchise development infrastructure designed to support continued growth across key markets nationwide.

Celebree’s enhanced support model helps franchisees navigate development process with confidence and efficiency

As demand for high-quality early childhood education continues to outpace supply in many communities, Celebree School is strengthening the systems, resources, and expertise available to franchise owners throughout the development journey – from market selection and site evaluation to construction, opening, and ongoing operations.

Building a More Efficient Path to School Openings – Expanded Development Platform Includes:

Dedicated leadership focused exclusively on real estate and construction.Internal site underwriting and evaluation before opportunities are presented to franchise candidates.A growing network of pre-approved architects, contractors, and specialized vendors.Enhanced relationships with lenders and development partners.Structured milestone-based support throughout site selection, construction, and school opening.

“Opening a childcare center is one of the most complex projects in franchising,” said Mark Lubin, Chief Development Officer of Celebree School. “Success requires the right real estate strategy, construction expertise, and development support. That’s why we’ve invested in scalable infrastructure that helps franchisees navigate the process with greater confidence and helps position them for long-term success.”

The initiative comes as childcare operators across the industry face rising construction costs, longer development timelines, and increasing competition for high-quality real estate. In response, Celebree School has focused on creating more efficient and scalable development processes that help franchisees navigate today’s evolving market conditions.

Adaptive Reuse Creates New Growth Opportunities

As commercial real estate continues to evolve, more second-generation spaces are becoming viable opportunities for childcare centers.

“Brands that can effectively evaluate and retrofit existing properties will have a meaningful advantage when it comes to speed to market,” added Lubin. “We’re building systems that allow franchisees to assess opportunities quickly and make informed development decisions.”

Unlike many emerging franchisors, Celebree School continues to operate company-owned locations, providing real-time operational insights – such as adaptive reuse opportunities – that help inform site selection, facility design, and development best practices.

Supporting Growth in High-Demand Markets

The company’s growth strategy focuses on expanding within both major metropolitan areas and high-potential emerging markets where demand for early childhood education remains strong. Current target growth markets include Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Denver, Indianapolis, and Phoenix.

“Childcare is becoming recognized as essential community infrastructure,” added Lubin. “Developers, municipalities, and landlords increasingly understand the value that quality early childhood education brings to families and neighborhoods. We’re committed to providing franchisees with the tools and support they need to capitalize on that opportunity.”

Strong Economics Continue to Drive Interest

For entrepreneurs seeking a purpose-driven franchise opportunity in the growing early childhood education sector, Celebree School’s enhanced development support platform represents another step in the company’s commitment to franchisee performance and sustainable long-term growth.

Prospects are taking note of the business opportunity, as Celebree School’s Franchise Disclosure Document reports $2.26M AUV for company-operated schools open and operating throughout 2025**. Recently, Celebree introduced a 0% royalty incentive for new franchise owners*.

For more information about Celebree School franchise opportunities, please visit https://franchise.celebree.com/.

About Celebree School
Founded in 1994, Celebree School is a leader in early childhood education that provides infant and toddler care, preschool, and summer camp programs. With a mission to Grow People Big and Small™, Celebree School believes success in early childhood development is equal parts curriculum and connection. Each school employs a customized program that addresses the physical, social, emotional, and academic needs of children and follows applicable state guidelines. In 2019, Celebree School launched its franchise offering. In 2024, Celebree School’s founder, Richard Huffman, launched a new parent company called Huffman Family Brands, merging Celebree affiliated concepts under one multi-brand company structure. Learn more about how we grow confident children who are prepared for school and life at Celebree.com. Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

*This is not an offer to sell a franchise. An offer can be made only by means of a Franchise Disclosure Document that has been registered and approved by the appropriate agency in your state, if your state requires such registration.

**Based on annual financial performance results for the 26 Company-Operated Schools across Maryland and Delaware that were considered “mature” and that were operated by our affiliates that were open and operating throughout 2025. A mature school is defined as a School that has been open for at least 24 months. This information is presented in Item 19 of our April 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document along with additional financial performance data related to the performance of our outlets. If you purchase a franchise, your results may differ from the represented performance. We can’t guarantee the success of any franchise and you must accept the risk of not doing as well. 

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SOURCE Celebree School

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Micross to Acquire AEMtec, Significantly Expanding European Footprint in Advanced Packaging and Optoelectronics

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Acquisition Broadens Micross’ Advanced Packaging, Photonics and Test Capabilities and Expands Its Reach into the European Market

MELVILLE, N.Y., July 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Micross Components, Inc. (“Micross” or the “Company”), a leading provider of high-reliability microelectronic product and service solutions for aerospace, defense, space, medical and industrial applications and a portfolio company of Behrman Capital, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire AEMtec GmbH (“AEMtec”). AEMtec is a leading provider of complex micro- and optoelectronic modules, advanced packaging, test and assembly services for high-reliability applications, headquartered in Berlin, Germany and a portfolio company of Capiton.

The acquisition significantly enhances Micross’ presence in continental Europe and further broadens Micross’ portfolio of high-reliability microelectronic services and products. AEMtec specializes in delivering end-to-end solutions across the entire packaging and integration value chain—from design, prototyping and industrialization through qualification, series production and lifecycle support. AEMtec’s technology portfolio spans wafer back-end services and wafer testing, chip-on-board, flip chip, 3D integration and opto packaging, all performed in cleanroom facilities in Berlin and Dresden, Germany, and Boston, Massachusetts. Its deep expertise in miniaturization and high-precision assembly enables highly reliable solutions for the most demanding customer requirements.

Serving demanding customers across the semiconductor, medical and biotechnology, industrial automation, communications, and aerospace & defense sectors, AEMtec offers customized solutions for complex, mission-critical requirements. The company’s reputation for engineering excellence and reliability has made it a trusted, single-source development and manufacturing partner to blue-chip customers bringing innovative, high-performance products to market. AEMtec’s management team, led by CEO Robert Giertz, will join Micross as part of the transaction.

Micross’ acquisition – the eleventh under Behrman Capital’s ownership and seventh since consummating a continuation fund transaction in February of 2022 – continues to build on the strategic priorities for the Company, namely broadening Micross’ advanced packaging, photonics and test capabilities. The acquisition also materially expands Micross’ manufacturing and engineering footprint in Europe, positions the Company closer to leading European customers, and better positions the Company for future growth opportunities. The acquisition of AEMtec enhances Micross’s ability to serve existing customers with advanced optoelectronic packaging capabilities, while expanding its European manufacturing footprint to further support the European defense industrial base.

Jim Cannon, CEO of Micross, said, “We are excited to welcome AEMtec to the Micross family, as their world-class expertise in advanced packaging, photonics and optoelectronics will augment our capabilities and accelerate our ability to deliver cutting-edge solutions to our customers. AEMtec establishes our first scaled foothold in continental Europe, augmenting our existing European facilities in the United Kingdom and Denmark, and positions Micross as a leading supplier of high-reliability microelectronic products and services. Together, we look forward to pursuing new business opportunities and expanding our reach in high-growth markets across Europe and beyond.”

Robert Giertz, CEO of AEMtec, said, “We are delighted to join Micross and together capitalize on the significant growth capabilities of both AEMtec and Micross. Our broad technological expertise and end-market exposure strategically align with Micross’ capabilities and provide our customers and employees a promising future.”

Simon Lonergan, Managing Partner of Behrman Capital, said, “Micross’ acquisition of AEMtec enhances the combined company’s strategic position in the high-reliability microelectronics market. This acquisition underscores the Company’s commitment to a truly global offering of high-reliability products and services, allowing us to access the high potential European market. We look forward to supporting Jim and the management to drive growth at Micross.”

Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Completion of the transaction is expected in the second half of 2026, subject to customary regulatory approvals. Harris Williams acted as exclusive financial advisor and Goodwin Procter LLP acted as legal counsel for Micross in connection with the transaction.

About Micross
Micross is a provider of advanced, high-reliability microelectronic products and services. With broad authorized access to die & wafer suppliers, an extensive portfolio of hi-rel power, RF, optoelectronics, memory, data bus, logic, and SMD/5962 qualified products, and comprehensive advanced packaging, assembly, modification, upscreening, and test capabilities, Micross is uniquely positioned to provide differentiated high-reliability solutions, from bare die, to fully packaged devices including hermetic ICs/MCMs, PEMs, ASICs, FPGAs, and PCBs, to complete program lifecycle sustainment. For more than 45 years, Micross has been a trusted source for the aerospace, defense, space, medical, energy, communications, and industrial markets. For more information about Micross, please visit www.micross.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

About Behrman Capital
Based in New York City, Behrman Capital was founded in 1991 by Grant G. and Darryl G. Behrman. The firm invests in management buyouts, leveraged buildups and recapitalizations of established growth businesses. The company’s investments are focused in three industries: Defense & Aerospace, Healthcare, and Specialty Industrials. The firm has raised nine private equity funds with combined capital of $4.7 billion and is currently managing active partnerships capitalized at $1.6 billion cumulatively. For more information, please visit www.behrmancap.com.

About AEMtec
AEMtec GmbH is a leading European provider of engineering and electronic manufacturing services specializing in complex micro- and optoelectronic modules and systems. Founded in 2000, AEMtec offers a broad technology portfolio spanning wafer back-end services, chip-on-board, flip chip, 3D integration and opto packaging, serving blue-chip customers across the semiconductor, medical, industrial automation, communications, and aerospace and defense sectors. Headquartered at the Berlin-Adlershof science and technology hub, the company operates cleanroom facilities in Berlin and Dresden, Germany, and Boston, Massachusetts. www.aemtec.com 

Contacts

For Micross
Thomas J. Dinges, CFA
Sr. VP of Finance
225 Broadhollow Road, Suite 305 | Melville, NY 11747
P: +1 (631) 542-5019
Thomas.Dinges@micross.com

For Behrman Capital
Ross Lovern / Nathaniel Shahan
Kekst CNC
ross.lovern@kekstcnc.com / nathaniel.shahan@kekstcnc.com 

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SOURCE Behrman Capital

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Neste supports the Tara Ocean Foundation’s first-ever 18-month drift expedition to the Central Arctic Ocean

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ESPOO, Finland, July 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Tara Ocean Foundation, a French foundation dedicated to ocean conservation, will embark on the Tara Polaris 1 scientific expedition to the Arctic to continue its work of monitoring climate change and researching its impact on the ocean. The Tara Polar Station, the foundation’s drifting laboratory and observatory station, will be at sea for its first 18-month expedition during 2026-2027, starting a 20-year-long program in partnership with 30 renowned research institutes.

Neste supports the Tara Ocean Foundation’s important work by supplying Neste MY Renewable Diesel™ to help reduce the expedition’s climate impact*, e.g. by replacing fossil fuel use in the polar station’s energy systems in extreme arctic weather conditions. Around 90% of Neste’s renewable diesel will be used to power generators and for heating, alongside wind and solar energy, and the remainder will be used for propulsion. 

“We have designed the vessel energy systems to operate on renewable diesel since the very beginning for both its efficient combustion and its low carbon footprint. Neste is one of the leading producers of renewable diesel and I am very glad that they decided to become a partner of this fantastic and important scientific endeavor to the Arctic Ocean,” says Romain Troublé, Managing Director of the Tara Ocean Foundation.

Monitoring the impacts of climate change on the central Arctic Ocean

The ocean is a vital buffer against the impacts of climate change. According to the United Nations, the ocean absorbs 30% of all carbon dioxide emissions and captures 90% of the excess heat generated by these emissions. The Central Arctic Ocean is critical for global climate regulation – acting as a planetary cooling system – but it is also one of the most iconic casualties of the delayed and insufficient efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions globally: the Arctic Ocean is warming three to four times faster than the rest of the planet**.

The Tara Polar Station, equipped with six laboratories and a full range of scientific equipment, embarks on an expedition to conduct scientific research in the Central Arctic Ocean, assessing the state of the Arctic Ocean and its unique biodiversity. This work is essential to understanding, tracking, and documenting the changes and dynamics in the ocean and biodiversity across seasons and from year to year, as well as informing decision-makers through scientific evidence about the impact of climate change. 

A mission-critical fuel

The Tara Polar Station will drift across the Central Arctic Ocean and will be locked in sea ice 90% of the time. With no possibility to refuel and in very cold temperatures, the reliability of the fuel is critical for the expedition. 

“Neste has a long history of helping organizations which wish to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels and related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions with renewable fuels, but this is the first time our fuel is contributing to a scientific expedition to the Arctic Ocean. We are proud to collaborate with the Tara Ocean Foundation and to support its important scientific work by supplying our renewable diesel that delivers reliable performance even in the harshest conditions in the Arctic,” says Carl Nyberg, Senior Vice President Commercial, Renewable Products business at Neste.

Fueling the Tara Polar Station with renewable diesel

The Tara Polar Station started its journey towards the Arctic from its home port of Lorient in France on 19 July. It stopped in Dordrecht, the Netherlands, on 23 July for fueling with Neste MY Renewable Diesel™. Moored at a marine bunker fuel station of OK (Catom), one of Neste’s renewable diesel distributors in the Netherlands, the station took onboard nearly 90,000 liters of renewable diesel. After the fueling, Tara Polar Station continues its journey to Norway before heading into the Arctic to start the expedition in mid-August.

Neste MY Renewable Diesel is a lower greenhouse gas emission alternative to conventional fossil diesel*. Thanks to their similar chemical compositions, Neste’s renewable diesel can be used as a direct replacement for fossil diesel in existing diesel engines and fueling infrastructure and works at temperatures down to -32°C.

*) Neste MY Renewable Diesel sold in the EU is an HVO fuel verified against EU RED sustainability criteria, including the requirement to provide a minimum 50% reduction in GHG emissions over its life cycle compared to fossil diesel. 

**) https://www.arcticwwf.org/threats/climate-change

Further information: Please contact Neste’s media service, tel. +358 800 94025 / media@neste.com (weekdays from 8.30 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. EET). Please subscribe to Neste’s releases at https://www.neste.com/media/subscribe.

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/neste/r/neste-supports-the-tara-ocean-foundation-s-first-ever-18-month-drift-expedition-to-the-central-arcti,c4378041

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Cognizant launches EMEA AI Unit to help enterprises scale agentic AI adoption

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Unit will provide fit-for-purpose teams that can help clients build the bridge from AI pilots to scalable outcomes

LONDON, July 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Cognizant (NASDAQ: CTSH) today announced the launch of its EMEA AI Unit, a dedicated organization created to help enterprises across Europe, the Middle East and Africa move from AI ambition to enterprise value. Aligned to Cognizant’s AI Builder strategy, the unit brings together advisory, engineering and delivery capabilities to help clients build, deploy and run agentic AI solutions grounded in their business context, designed to support measurable outcomes and independent of any single platform, model or cloud.

At the center of the launch is Cognizant’s Frontier Deployed Engineering offering, a delivery model designed to help clients close the gap between experimentation and scaled business impact. It includes three service models — Foundation, Accelerate and Transform — that support organizations from AI strategy and governance through to production deployment and end-to-end business reinvention.

Foundation helps organizations establish the strategy, governance, technology choices and early prototypes needed to begin their agentic AI journey. Accelerate focuses on rapidly identifying, building and deploying high-value use cases into production. Transform supports broader reinvention through multi-agent delivery squads that help redesign and automate workflows end to end, supporting accountability for operational performance.

The unit is already supporting clients at different stages of maturity. Cognizant is helping one of Europe’s leading online fashion retailers move proven AI use cases into production through an AI factory model that can compress development cycles from months to days, while advancing agentic workflows across supply chain, inventory, returns, customer experience and margin protection. It is also working with a global pharmaceutical leader to reimagine R&D operations through multi-agent systems spanning drug discovery, clinical trial design and regulatory preparation.

The EMEA AI Unit reflects Cognizant’s AI Builder approach by combining people, platforms and business context to build AI systems that do real work inside the enterprise. As a neutral AI Builder, Cognizant works across cloud platforms, AI models and technology ecosystems, helping clients choose and scale the solutions that best fit their unique operating needs rather than asking them to commit to a single stack or vendor. Its fit-for-purpose teams help clients move from pilots to scalable outcomes while supporting client efforts to address regional requirements such as data sovereignty, regulatory expectations and sector-specific operating needs.

“Across EMEA, many organizations are enthusiastic about AI but are still working out how to turn that momentum into real business value,” said Manoj Mehta, President EMEA at Cognizant. “The EMEA AI Unit reflects Cognizant’s AI Builder strategy by bringing together the people, platforms and engineering expertise needed to move clients from pilots to payoff. Our approach is neutral by design: we work across clouds, models and ecosystems so clients can build agentic AI solutions that fit their business, integrate into operations and support accountability for outcomes.”

About Cognizant

Cognizant (NASDAQ: CTSH) is an AI builder and technology services provider, building the bridge between AI investment and enterprise value by building full-stack AI solutions for our clients. Our deep industry, process and engineering expertise enables us to build an organization’s unique context into technology systems that amplify human potential, realize tangible returns and keep global enterprises ahead in a fast-changing world. See how at www.cognizant.ai or @cognizant.

For more information, contact:

U.S.

Name Katrina Cheung

Email katrina.cheung@cognizant.com

Europe / APAC

Name Sarah Douglas

Email sarah.douglas@cognizant.com 

India

Name Vipin Nair

Email Vipin.nair@cognizant.com 

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SOURCE Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation

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