Connect with us

Technology

Meridian Credit Union Wins Silver Stevie® Award for AI-Powered Business Transformation

Published

on

TORONTO, Aug. 19, 2026 /CNW/ — Meridian Credit Union has been named the winner of a Silver Stevie® Award in the Best Use of AI in Business Transformation category in the 23rd Annual International Business Awards®.

The award recognizes Meridian’s enterprise-wide approach to artificial intelligence, spanning governance, risk oversight, workforce enablement, innovation, and value realization. As one of Canada’s leading credit unions, Meridian has embedded AI across the organization through a strategy that prioritizes responsible adoption, strong governance, and employee empowerment.

Meridian’s AI transformation has focused on building a sustainable foundation for long-term success in a highly regulated industry. Through enterprise adoption of Microsoft Copilot, robust governance practices, Board-level oversight, and a growing citizen developer ecosystem, Meridian is enabling employees across the organization to identify opportunities, build solutions, and enhance the Member and employee experience.

Today, 96% of Meridian employees use Copilot daily. Employees are also actively exploring AI through initiatives such as AskHR, Meridian’s tailored AI-powered assistant that helps answer employee questions, and EdgeLab, a collaborative space where teams can test ideas, experiment with emerging technologies and develop practical solutions to improve how work gets done across the organization.

“This recognition reflects Meridian’s commitment to embracing innovation in ways that create meaningful impact for our employees, Members and communities,” said Jay-Ann Gilfoy, President and Chief Executive Officer, Meridian Credit Union. “By pairing strong governance with employee empowerment, we’ve built an approach to AI that enables our teams to work smarter, solve problems in new ways and unlock value across the organization. We’re proud of the progress we’ve made and honoured to be recognized for our leadership in responsible AI adoption.”

The International Business Awards are the world’s premier business awards program. The 2026 program received more than 3,400 nominations from organizations in 82 nations and territories. The nominations were evaluated by more than 200 business professionals worldwide serving as judges on specialized committees.

“The 2026 International Business Awards winners represent the very best in business achievement from organizations of all sizes and across virtually every industry,” said Stevie Awards President Maggie Miller. “This year’s winners have demonstrated exceptional innovation, leadership, resilience, and results in a highly competitive global field. We congratulate every Stevie Award winner and look forward to celebrating their achievements together in Paris on October 28.”

Details about The International Business Awards and the complete list of Stevie Award winners are available at The International Business Awards.

About Meridian Credit Union

Meridian is Ontario’s largest credit union, and one of the largest in Canada. Guided by our purpose, “helping you achieve your best life,” Meridian delivers personal, and wealth financial business solutions to over 380,000 Members. Our bold Meridian for Good strategy is aimed at helping people get access to the money and advice they need; plan for a better future that is clean, resilient, and diverse; and be financially confident. Meridian has one operating subsidiaries: Meridian OneCap Credit Corp (“MOCC”). For more information, please visit: meridiancu.ca.

We acknowledge that our operations are located on Treaty 13 lands, the territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, and the traditional territories of the Haudenosaunee and Huron-Wendat Peoples. We also recognize the ancestral and unceded territories of all First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples across Turtle Island. With gratitude for their enduring care for the lands and waters, we remain committed to learning, listening, and building meaningful partnerships with Indigenous communities as we work toward a better future together.

SOURCE Meridian Credit Union

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Technology

JuryBall Vegas Conference Brings Leading Trial Lawyers & Litigation Experts Together for Networking and Hands-On Big Data Education

Published

on

By

Listen to the inventors of trial science, as conference brings together plaintiff attorneys and litigation experts nationwide to explore how big data is changing the law

LAS VEGAS, Aug. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — JuryBall, the bestselling book and app that help trial attorneys improve trial outcomes though big data, announced the return of JuryBall Vegas, a four-day immersion into the data, psychology, and strategic decisions that influence outcomes before trial begins.

Early bird registration is now open through August 31 with tickets starting at $1,350.

Built for plaintiff trial lawyers handling significant cases, every session is designed to help attendees better understand how jurors think, what drives damages, and where strategic advantage is created. JuryBall Vegas will be held November 1–5 at the Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas, bringing together nationally recognized trial lawyers, professors from top academic institutions across the country, jury consultants and litigation experts to examine how data is reshaping modern trial practice.

The four-day immersive conference is put on by Sean Claggett, John Campbell, and Alicia Campbell, co-authors of JuryBall: The Big Data Revolution Is Here. The book challenges the legal profession to rethink how trial decisions are made, replacing assumptions with evidence and testing conventional wisdom against real-world data. Through the JuryBall Vegas conference, the authors continue to advance trial advocacy through education, research and innovation.

“JuryBall is a proprietary tool we developed to better understand jurors, evaluate cases and make more informed decisions about how to prepare for trial,” said Sean Claggett, founding partner at Claggett & Sykes Trial Lawyers and co-author of JuryBall: The Big Data Revolution Is Here. “Some of the largest, record-breaking verdicts happening across the country have involved attorneys who have applied what they learned through JuryBall. The era of relying on gut instinct alone is over. We’re helping trial lawyers use data to make smarter decisions, achieve stronger outcomes and continue pushing the profession forward.”

“The conference was created to bring together some of the best minds in trial law to share the research and strategies that are helping shape the future of litigation,” said John Campbell, partner at Campbell Law and co-author of JuryBall: The Big Data Revolution Is Here. He continued, “We look forward to continuing to pull together bright minds across the country to further explore what trial science is and how it can best be implemented in the courtroom.”

Early bird registration is now open through August 31 with tickets starting at $1,350.

JuryBall Vegas 2026 Overview

CLE-Eligible Sessions: Up to 12 CLE credits available for those attending all three daysIndustry-Leading Speakers: Presentations from Sean Claggett, John Campbell, Alicia Campbell, top legal professors from the country’s most prestigious academic institutions, and case strategy workshopsMeals and Networking: Welcome reception, unique networking opportunities, as well as daily breakfast and lunchSpecial Events: Golf tournament, optional add-ons for VIP entertainment and dinner experiences, and wellness experiencesConference Resources: Whova conference app/event platform access, conference materials, post-conference slides and attendee networking accessHands-On Learning: See how a study is actually run and seen by participants, with a full-day workshop dedicated to practicing in real-time

“JuryBall Vegas is designed to extend well beyond the classroom,” said Alicia Campbell, founder of Campbell Law and co-author of JuryBall: The Big Data Revolution Is Here. Campbell continued, “From welcome receptions and golf to private dinners and late-night conversations, the relationships built here often prove as valuable as the ideas shared from the stage.”

JuryBall Vegas 2026 builds on the growing momentum of the JuryBall conference series. Earlier this year JuryBall Madrid 2026 brought more than 150 leading U.S. trial attorneys to Spain for three days of trial science, strategy and connection.

To learn more about JuryBall Vegas or to register for the conference, visit https://www.juryballvegas.com/.

About JuryBall

JuryBall is a bestselling book, trial science platform and conference series built to help plaintiff attorneys move beyond gut instinct and make smarter, more informed decisions through data. Created by trial lawyers and researchers Sean Claggett, John Campbell and Alicia Campbell, JuryBall includes the bestselling book JuryBall: The Big Data Revolution Is Here, a proprietary litigation analytics app and immersive educational conferences in Las Vegas and Madrid.

JuryBall conferences bring together leading trial attorneys, jury consultants and litigation experts to examine what the data reveals about jurors, damages and the strategic decisions that influence trial outcomes. Through hands-on education, real-world research and shared case strategies, JuryBall challenges conventional wisdom and gives attorneys practical tools to better understand jurors, evaluate cases and prepare for trial. Across its book, technology and live events, JuryBall is helping advance a more empirical approach to trial law while building a community of attorneys committed to achieving stronger outcomes and pushing the profession forward.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/juryball-vegas-conference-brings-leading-trial-lawyers–litigation-experts-together-for-networking-and-hands-on-big-data-education-302856869.html

SOURCE JuryBall

Continue Reading

Technology

Brander Group Helps University of North Alabama Acquire Much Needed IPv4 Addresses

Published

on

By

Brander Group helped the University of North Alabama acquire and transfer its own IPv4 address space, giving the university greater control, flexibility, and long-term network independence.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Aug. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Brander Group Inc., a global leader in IPv4 address brokerage and network infrastructure solutions, announced its successful partnership with the University of North Alabama (UNA), enabling the institution to acquire dedicated IPv4 address space and secure direct ownership of its critical network assets.

As reliance on ISP-assigned addresses creates operational limitations for growing institutions, secondary IPv4 market transfers have become vital for maintaining long-term network independence, flexibility, and security. Brander Group worked directly with UNA’s leadership to guide the university through every phase of procuring and transferring dedicated IPv4 addresses.

“Last year, the University of North Alabama made the decision to purchase our own IP address space, allowing us to move beyond the limitations of relying on ISP-assigned addresses. We acquired IPv4 addresses through Brander Group, and the entire experience exceeded our expectations.

From our very first conversation, the Brander Group team was professional, knowledgeable, easy to work with, and responsive. They guided us through every step of the process, ensured we fully understood our options and exactly what we were purchasing, offered very competitive pricing, and kept everything moving efficiently from start to finish. They also worked closely with us throughout the registration and transfer process, helping ensure a smooth and seamless transition.

Owning our own IP address space has given us greater control over our network, increased long-term flexibility and stability, and the confidence that comes from managing an important part of our infrastructure independently.

For any organization considering a similar move, we highly recommend Brander Group. Their expertise, professionalism, and commitment to customer service made what could have been a complex project straightforward and successful. We would not hesitate to work with them again.”

— Mr. Ethan G. Humphres (’02, ’19), CIO/Assistant Vice President, Information Technology Services at the University of North Alabama

The engagement highlights Brander Group’s ongoing focus on providing structured, efficient solutions that help higher education institutions and enterprise organizations navigate resource constraints, address scarcity, and execute complex transfers with clarity and speed. By prioritizing transaction accuracy, compliance, and transparent communication, Brander Group ensures clients establish full administrative control over their network footprint.

Since its inception in 2017, Brander Group has generated over $1 billion in revenue by streamlining access to scarce IP address resources and telecom infrastructure services worldwide.

About Brander Group

Brander Group Inc. is a leading provider of IPv4 address brokerage and telecom infrastructure consulting services. The firm assists enterprises, service providers, and institutions in navigating complex IP procurement, transfer, and management processes with an emphasis on transaction efficiency, regulatory compliance, and long-term partnership. Beyond business operations, Brander Group actively supports local and national communities through the Brander Group Giving Back Initiative.

Media Contact

Brander Group Press, Brander Group Inc, 1 7015605616, info@brandergroup.net, https://brandergroup.net/press-releases/

View original content:https://www.prweb.com/releases/brander-group-helps-university-of-north-alabama-acquire-much-needed-ipv4-addresses-302854938.html

SOURCE Brander Group Inc

Continue Reading

Technology

49th Parallel Wealth Management Closes Out a Summer of Cross-Border Innovation — Free Tools, an Audiobook, and a New App, With a Hardcover Edition on the Way

Published

on

By

In the span of a few weeks, the fee-only advisory firm turned the ideas in founder Lucas Wennersten’s retirement guide into a free suite of 13 planning tools, an audiobook, and a mobile app — with a hardcover edition of the book now in production.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. and VANCOUVER, BC, Aug. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — 49th Parallel Wealth Management, a fee-only fiduciary firm built for households whose financial lives cross the Canada–U.S. border, capped a season of rapid product development this summer — turning the ideas in founder Lucas Wennersten’s retirement guide into a free suite of calculators, an audiobook, and now a mobile app, with a hardcover edition of the book in production.

“A book can only sit on a shelf,” said Lucas Wennersten, CFP® (Canada and U.S.), CFA, founder of 49th Parallel Wealth Management and author of Crossing the 49th Parallel. “We wanted the ideas in it to actually travel with people — in their ears on a flight south for the winter, in their hands as a free calculator, and now literally in their pocket every time they cross the border. That’s what this summer was about.”

From Page to Practice: What Shipped This Summer

July 24 — A free suite of cross-border planning tools launched, anchored by an OAS Clawback Calculator that shows Canadian retirees exactly how much Old Age Security the government will claw back — and how to reduce it. The suite has since grown to 13 no-sign-up tools covering RESP withdrawals, RRIF minimums, RRSP/TFSA/FHSA priority, the Canada–U.S. tax treaty, and more — all free at 49thparallelwealthmanagement.com/tools.August 11 — Crossing the 49th Parallel arrived as an audiobook on Audible, narrated by Mateus R. Gomes, bringing the firm’s retirement guide to commuters, snowbirds, and listeners who’d rather absorb the material on a flight or a drive than a page.August 19 — Cross-Border Day Tracker launched as a standalone mobile app, taking the most-used tool from the free suite — a day-counter for the IRS Substantial Presence Test — and putting it in users’ pockets, with no sign-up required and direct links to the underlying IRS and CRA rules.

Next: A Hardcover Edition

A hardcover edition of Crossing the 49th Parallel is now in production, featuring new cover art in the firm’s “From the Desert to the Tundra” visual identity. A release date and purchase link will follow; in the meantime, the book remains available now in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook editions.

Everything, Still Free

Across every format, the philosophy hasn’t changed: give people a clear, honest starting point before they need to hire anyone. The full toolkit remains free and available now:

Crossing the 49th Parallel — available now in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook editions on Amazon and Audible; hardcover coming soon.13 free cross-border planning tools — at 49thparallelwealthmanagement.com/tools, covering OAS, RESP, RRIF, RRSP/TFSA/FHSA, the tax treaty, and more.Cross-Border Day Tracker — free on the App Store this week (search “49th Parallel: Day Tracker”), with an Android release following shortly, or download directly at 49thparallelwealthmanagement.com/day-tracker/.

About 49th Parallel Wealth Management

49th Parallel Wealth Management is a fee-only, fiduciary registered investment adviser built for households whose financial lives cross the Canada–U.S. border. The firm coordinates investment management, financial planning, and cross-border tax preparation as a single relationship, so treaty benefits are claimed, double taxation is avoided, and nothing falls into the gap between two systems. Founded by Lucas Wennersten, CFP® (Canada and U.S.), CFA — author of Crossing the 49th Parallel — the firm serves clients from offices in Scottsdale, Arizona and Vancouver, British Columbia.

Media Contact

Shakorah Wennersten, Chief Operating Officer, 49th Parallel Wealth Management

info@49thparallelwealthmanagement.com • Scottsdale, AZ: 480-520-7770 • Vancouver, BC: 647-670-1203

49thparallelwealthmanagement.com

Disclaimer: Crossing the 49th Parallel and the tools referenced provide general educational information only and are not tax, legal, or investment advice. 49th Parallel Wealth Management is a registered investment adviser; advisory services are offered only where the firm is registered or exempt. Cross-border rules change and outcomes depend on individual circumstances.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/49th-parallel-wealth-management-closes-out-a-summer-of-cross-border-innovation–free-tools-an-audiobook-and-a-new-app-with-a-hardcover-edition-on-the-way-302856884.html

SOURCE Lucas Wennersten

Continue Reading

Trending