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J.S. Held Adds Depth of Forensic Engineering Expertise in Canada with Acquisition of Element Forensic Engineering

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Combination expands technical and financial forensic expertise for insurers and counsel across Canada.

NEW YORK, Aug. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Global consulting firm J.S. Held announces the acquisition of Element Forensic Engineering (Element), a Canadian firm with offices throughout the Toronto area and an additional office in Calgary, recognized for its work with insurers and counsel across structural, fire investigations, code interpretation, environmental, mechanical, electrical, and building science matters. Building upon earlier acquisitions, this transaction further expands J.S. Held’s Canadian Forensic Architecture & Engineering platform and connects Element’s clients to the firm’s global bench of technical and financial experts, with capabilities including property loss evaluation, contents and inventory valuation, business interruption and economic damages, environmental and contamination claims, and causation and liability analysis.

Founded by Jeff Martin and Jeremy Bishop, Element has built a team of 40+ professionals serving insurers and counsel across both insurance claims and disputes, with a primary hub of operations in the Greater Toronto Area and a national footprint extending through its Calgary office. The firm has earned a strong reputation for industry-leading service, innovative solutions, and responsiveness, anchored in a commitment to bringing together the right people with the best solutions to achieve effective results for the insurers and counsel it serves.

Lee Spirer, Chief Executive Officer of J.S. Held, said, “We admire how the Element team works, with a commitment to collaboration and to bringing together the right people to achieve effective results for their clients. That mindset is a strong cultural match for J.S. Held, and the combination meaningfully deepens the technical and financial expertise available to insurers, counsel, and corporate clients across Canada.”

The acquisition adds meaningful capacity to J.S. Held’s Canadian forensic engineering bench and positions the combined team to serve national clients with closer-to-the-loss resources, managing travel costs and expediting timelines that are important to insurance carriers managing files across the country. Jim Stanilious, Insurance Services Division Leader, noted that the synergy extends well beyond efficiencies: “While this combination adds meaningful capacity to serve insurers and counsel across Canada, it also pairs Element’s capabilities in structural, fire, environmental, mechanical, electrical, and building science with the broader J.S. Held platform, including building consulting, contents valuation, environmental health and safety, accident reconstruction, and forensic accounting. For carrier and counsel clients, that means closer-to-the-loss resources from one team able to address the full scope of a complex claim.”

For insurers and counsel, the combination means a single team able to address the full technical and financial dimensions of a claim. Element’s forensic engineering work connects directly to J.S. Held’s Building Consulting practice, the firm’s largest insurance-facing practice in Canada, along with capabilities Element’s clients have frequently needed to source elsewhere, including contents valuation, environmental health and safety, and accident reconstruction for premises liability matters. The result keeps Element’s responsiveness and trusted relationships in place while extending the firm’s reach into the broader building science, mechanical, electrical, and cause and origin work clients increasingly require. Reflecting on what the combination means for Element’s clients, Jeremy Bishop, Managing Partner of Element Forensic Engineering, said, “The greatest value proposition for our clients as we join J.S. Held is scaling our depth of expertise. I think of this like going from a small family medical office to the deep and layered expertise of being treated at a hospital. Our clients keep the relationships and the responsiveness they expect from Element, and they gain access to a global bench of specialists they can call on as their matters grow in complexity.”

For the Element team, joining J.S. Held also brings access to mentorship, training, and technology platforms that support both team development and client service. Jeff Martin, Managing Partner of Element Forensic Engineering, framed the benefit to the firm’s professionals and the clients they serve, observing, “J.S. Held brings to our team members and ultimately our clients a mature and scaled approach to technology-enabled client service. From the implementation of AI to support team members and manage proprietary client information, to more robust training programs and a breadth of industry expertise we can all learn from.”

With the addition of Element Forensic Engineering, J.S. Held strengthens its position as a leading forensic engineering platform in Canada, expanding the firm’s ability to address insurance claims and disputes across the country. The combined team brings together Element’s established forensic engineering practice and J.S. Held’s global technical and financial expertise to deliver a single, multidisciplinary resource for insurers, counsel, and corporate clients.

About J.S. Held

J.S. Held is a global consulting firm that combines technical, scientific, financial, and strategic expertise to advise clients seeking to realize value and mitigate risk. Our professionals serve as trusted advisors to organizations facing high stakes matters demanding urgent attention, staunch integrity, proven experience, clear-cut analysis, and an understanding of both tangible and intangible assets. The firm provides a comprehensive suite of services, products, and data that enable clients to navigate complex, contentious, and often catastrophic situations.

More than 1,500 professionals serve organizations across six continents, including 84% of the Global 200 Law Firms, 75% of the Forbes Top 20 Insurance Companies (90% of the NAIC Top 50 Property & Casualty Insurers), and 71% of Fortune 100 Companies.

J.S. Held, its affiliates and subsidiaries are not certified public accounting firm(s) and do not provide audit, attest, or any other public accounting services. J.S. Held is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice.  Securities offered through PM Securities, LLC, d/b/a Phoenix IB or Ocean Tomo Investments, a part of J.S. Held, member FINRA/SIPC.  All rights reserved.

Contact:

Kristi L. Stathis | Global Public Relations | +1 786 833 4864 | Kristi.Stathis@jsheld.com

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SOURCE J.S. Held

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Connect America Launches CareCompass™, Expanding PERS Support Beyond Emergencies with Real-Time Guidance and Visibility into the Home

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August 13, 2026

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Real-time support and insight help individuals and care teams address health concerns earlier, reducing unnecessary ED visits and enabling care in place

BALA CYNWYD, Pa., Aug. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Connect America, a leader in connected homecare and engagement solutions, today announced the launch of CareCompass™, an extension of its traditional personal emergency response systems (PERS) that adds real-time nurse triage directly into the call flow using the same intuitive, easy-to-use help button that provides independence for millions of at-risk individuals today. By combining two foundational support services into a single access point, Connect America is redefining how users get access to the right help at the right time while avoiding unnecessary emergency department (ED) visits. 

“Historically, the default response to a health concern has often been EMS and ED visits, even when it may not be necessary,” said Janet Dillione, CEO at Connect America. “CareCompass introduces a smarter first step: immediate clinical guidance that helps resolve issues in place whenever appropriate, improving outcomes while reducing unnecessary cost.”

From Emergency Response to Early Intervention

Traditional PERS has long served as a critical safety net, activated after an incident occurs. CareCompass builds on that foundation by moving support earlier in the moment of need, enabling individuals to seek guidance at the first sign that something isn’t right, before symptoms escalate into emergencies. 

Nearly half of PERS interactions involve health-related concerns that may not require an EMS response, yet many individuals wait until symptoms worsen before seeking help. CareCompass™ addresses this gap by connecting individuals in real-time to a registered nurse who can:

Assess symptoms in real timeProvide immediate, personalized guidance to the most appropriate site of service for their situationSupport safe self-care when appropriateDispatch EMS when clinically necessary

For example, instead of defaulting to EMS for respiratory symptoms, a nurse can assess the situation, guide appropriate interventions, and help stabilize the individual at home, avoiding an unnecessary ED visit.

Driving Better Outcomes While Reducing Cost

By introducing integrated clinical assessment in the moment of need, CareCompass™ helps:

Reduce avoidable emergency department visits and hospital transportsLower total cost of care across Medicare, Medicaid, and at-risk populationsImprove appropriate utilization of healthcare resourcesIncrease confidence for individuals and caregivers to act sooner

This shift from reactive response to proactive intervention enables a more efficient, patient-centered model of care, especially for aging and high-risk populations.

Delivering Actionable Insight for Care Teams

Beyond the immediate interaction, CareCompass™ generates clinically enriched insights that extend value across healthcare organizations. Unlike traditional incident reports that simply document events, CareCompass™ captures clinical context, transforming individual symptoms into actionable intelligence.

This enables:

Risk stratification and trend identification across populations Identification of comorbidities and emerging health patterns Care gap closure and targeted follow-up interventions More effective case management and care coordination 

Care teams can use these insights to conduct timely follow-ups, adjust care plans, reinforce education, and intervene before conditions worsen, creating a closed-loop model of care that extends beyond the initial interaction.

A Unified Solution for Consumers and Healthcare Organizations

CareCompass™ is designed to deliver value across both direct-to-consumer (DTC) and enterprise (B2B) use cases:

For Consumers and Caregivers:

24/7 access to a registered nurse through a familiar deviceSupport for everyday health concerns, not just emergenciesGreater confidence to remain independent at homePeace of mind knowing help is available before situations escalate

For Health Plans, Providers, and Care Organizations:

Earlier visibility into member needs and emerging risksReduced unnecessary utilization and improved cost managementEnhanced ability to support care in placeData-driven insights to optimize care management and quality performance

“When people act earlier, everything improves—outcomes, experience, and cost,” said Dillione “CareCompass gives people permission and confidence to reach out sooner, which ultimately leads to better care and fewer avoidable emergencies.”

About Connect America

Connect America is a proactive, intelligent care platform that helps healthcare organizations, caregivers, and consumers prevent avoidable emergency department visits and enable safe, independent living at home. With more than 50 years of experience, the company has served over 25 million individuals and currently supports more than 2.5 million consumers and caregivers across the US and Canada.

By delivering real-time visibility into the home through connected data, analytics, and human support, Connect America enables early risk detection, timely intervention, and coordinated care—improving outcomes, enhancing independence, and lowering total cost of care.

For more information, visit www.connectamerica.com

Media Contact
Joe Morgan
jmorgan@sovyn.com 

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SOURCE Connect America

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Adam Milstein and the Adam and Gila Milstein Family Foundation to Sponsor Panel on K-12 Transparency and Foreign Influence at the 2026 State Policy Network Annual Meeting

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August 13, 2026

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The Orlando panel will convene education, national security, and antisemitism researchers to examine who is funding American classrooms and what parents and policymakers are permitted to see.

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Adam Milstein, Israeli-American “Strategic Venture Philanthropist,” community leader, and co-founder of the Adam and Gila Milstein Family Foundation (MFF), announced today that MFF will sponsor a panel at the 2026 State Policy Network (SPN) Annual Meeting, taking place August 24–27 at the JW Marriott Grande Lakes in Orlando, Florida.

The session, “Transparency, Parental Power, and Exposing Foreign Influences in K–12,” will be held Wednesday, August 26, from 3:30 to 4:15 PM ET. The K–12 public school system serves the vast majority of American students, yet it faces growing threats to transparency and accountability. From foreign-funded curriculum initiatives to unchecked external influence, parents and policymakers are increasingly demanding visibility into what is being taught and who is funding it. The panel explores how to ensure transparency, accountability, and alignment with American values in public schools.

The panel will feature:

Kate Bierly, Campaign Director, Next Generation Texas at Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF).Deb Kraulidis — Moms for America (Grassroots)Dr. Brandy Shufutinsky — Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD)(Moderator & Panelist)Chen Rosenberg Klein — Milstein Foundation (Panel Lead)

Their arenas differ, spanning parental organizing, curriculum research, foreign funding investigations, and the academic study of antisemitism, but they share a conviction that what happens in a classroom is a matter of public record and public accountability.

“Educational institutions that accept foreign funds must face scrutiny and accountability” said Adam Milstein, co-founder of the Adam and Gila Milstein Family Foundation.

MFF’s return to the SPN Annual Meeting reflects the model Milstein has built over 25 years. The foundation supports more than 200 nonprofit organizations and has facilitated over 1,000 collaborations between them, connecting research, legal, media accountability, and education groups so their combined effort outpaces what any one of them could achieve alone. MFF sponsored a panel at the 2025 SPN Annual Meeting in New Orleans on fostering American values and countering radical ideology in education.

About Adam and Gila Milstein
Adam Milstein is an Israeli-American strategic venture philanthropist, businessman, and community leader. Born in Haifa, Israel, he served in the Israel Defense Forces during the 1973 Yom Kippur War before immigrating to the United States in 1981. He is a managing partner at Hager Pacific Properties and a co-founder of the Israeli-American Council, where he served as Chair from 2015 to 2019 and continues to serve on the board. Adam serves on the boards of StandWithUs, Hasbara Fellowships, and several other organizations.

Gila Milstein, born in Morocco and raised in Israel, is a community leader and philanthropist who serves as President of Stand By Me and the MERONA Leadership Foundation. She also sits on the boards of the American-Israel Education Foundation and StandWithUs.

Together, Adam and Gila co-founded the Adam and Gila Milstein Family Foundation, which supports a network of nonprofit organizations dedicated to strengthening American values, combating bigotry and hatred, and promoting the U.S.-Israel alliance. The Milsteins live in Encino, California, and have three daughters and three grandchildren.

About the Adam and Gila Milstein Family Foundation
The Adam and Gila Milstein Family Foundation works to strengthen American values, combat hatred in all forms, and support the U.S.-Israel alliance. Partnering with more than 200 nonprofit organizations and having facilitated over 1,000 collaborations between them, MFF promotes freedom, democracy, and accountability, ensuring that the next generation is equipped to uphold the values that make America and Israel strong. Learn more at www.milsteinff.org.

About State Policy Network
State Policy Network (SPN) is the nation’s premier organization supporting and connecting 63 state-based affiliates and more than 130 national nonprofit partners advancing state and local policy solutions that strengthen communities and expand personal freedom. SPN equips leaders across all 50 states with the strategies, resources, and peer connections they need to defend federalism, civil society, and free enterprise. Learn more at www.spn.org.

Media Contact: walsh@spn.org
Director of Media Relations

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SOURCE Adam and Gila Milstein Family Foundation

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TransPerfect’s Trial Interactive Partners with Virtual Data Corp to Bring Predictive Compliance Intelligence to Trial Interactive

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August 13, 2026

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Key Takeaways

First native LiveTMF integration in an eTMF platform.Compliance intelligence continuously updates document requirements as studies evolve.Reduces manual effort and inspection risk.

NEW YORK, Aug. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Trial Interactive, a division of TransPerfect and an industry leader in practical eClinical innovation that simplifies and automates clinical processes for sponsors, CROs, and sites around the world, today announced the native integration of LiveTMF, a clinical trial compliance intelligence engine powered by Virtual Data Corp, into the Trial Interactive platform. The integration makes TransPerfect the first eTMF provider to natively implement LiveTMF and gives Trial Interactive users an expected document list (EDL) that LiveTMF keeps current throughout the study.

EDLs have traditionally been treated as a one-time configuration exercise: define the study design, generate the list, move on. In reality, studies evolve as sites activate, protocols amend, and investigators change, causing static lists to quickly fall out of sync and leaving study teams to reconcile gaps manually, often just before an inspection.

At the core of LiveTMF is a deterministic, patent-pending compliance model developed by Virtual Data Corp. It maps a study’s structure—including protocol, sites, investigators, institutional review boards, and ethics committees—and the role each party holds over time against applicable regulations and sponsor SOPs. As study events happen, the engine recalculates the document list in place, separating what’s simply missing from what’s blocked by an unmet dependency.

“This is the direction we’ve been taking Trial Interactive for a while now: less configuration, more intelligence,” said Michael Smyth, Division President of TransPerfect Life Sciences Solutions. “LiveTMF gives our clients a document list that reflects the study as it’s actually running in the platform they already use every day.”

“Everyone in this industry has an expected document list, and almost nobody trusts it,” commented Jordan Ellington, Founder and CEO of Virtual Data Corp. “That is not a configuration problem, it is a modeling problem. LiveTMF builds the list from what actually happened, so the list becomes the work.”

LiveTMF can run as a system-agnostic standalone application alongside any best-in-class eTMF provider without requiring system migration or revalidation. General availability is anticipated in Q4 2026.

For more company news and announcements, visit the TransPerfect News & Press Center at www.transperfect.com/about/news-and-press.

About Virtual Data Corp

Virtual Data Corp builds AI-native infrastructure for clinical trial compliance. Its flagship product, LiveTMF, computes and explains trial master file compliance state across the full study timeline using a deterministic temporal compliance engine. The company is based in Austin, Texas, and was founded by Jordan Ellington, who has spent three decades building enterprise software for regulated industries. For more information, visit www.virtualdata.io.

About Trial Interactive

Trial Interactive is an industry leader in practical eClinical innovation that simplifies and automates clinical processes and quality management for sponsors, CROs, and sites around the world. The 21 CFR part 11-compliant, AI-powered platform delivers an author-to-archive collaboration experience with solutions for clinical document management, site selection, site activation, e-learning, compliance training, and CTMS with seamless solution interoperability and indexing to the eTMF. Trial Interactive is consistently selected by clinical professionals for providing the most comprehensive yet intuitive experience with the most complete offering of technology and expert TMF services. Trial Interactive helps study teams streamline their operations by cutting unnecessary expenses, expediting timelines, reducing compliance risks, and improving operational excellence. For more information on Trial Interactive, please contact info@trialinteractive.com or +1 212.400.8848, or visit www.trialinteractive.com.

About TransPerfect

TransPerfect is the world’s largest provider of language and AI solutions for global business. From offices in over 150 cities on six continents, TransPerfect offers a full range of services in 200+ languages to clients worldwide. More than 6,000 global organizations employ TransPerfect’s GlobalLink® technology to simplify the management of multilingual content. With an unparalleled commitment to quality and client service, TransPerfect is fully ISO 9001 and ISO 17100 certified. TransPerfect has global headquarters in New York, with regional headquarters in London and Hong Kong. For more information, please visit our website at www.transperfect.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/transperfects-trial-interactive-partners-with-virtual-data-corp-to-bring-predictive-compliance-intelligence-to-trial-interactive-302850175.html

SOURCE TransPerfect

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