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PMI U.S. Issues Call to Rebuild America’s Talent Pipeline in New AI-Era Workforce Report

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Bridging the Gap draws on two national PMI U.S.-convened forums and offers a roadmap for strengthening employer–university partnerships in the age of artificial intelligence

STAMFORD, Conn., Aug. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — PMI U.S. today released Bridging the Gap: Reimagining the Employer-University Relationship in the Age of AI, a new white paper examining the growing disconnect between higher education and workforce needs—and outlining practical steps employers and institutions can take to better prepare students for long-term success in a rapidly changing economy.

The report is based on insights from two PMI U.S.-convened gatherings in 2026: an in-person salon roundtable in Washington, D.C., that brought together university leaders, career services professionals, workforce experts, veterans’ advocates, and employers, and a subsequent national online forum that expanded the dialogue to institutions across the country. Together, participants explored how artificial intelligence, evolving hiring practices, and changing workforce expectations are reshaping the transition from education to employment.

“PMI U.S. convened these conversations because workforce readiness is emerging as one of the defining challenges—and opportunities—of our time,” said Marian Salzman, Senior Vice President, Corporate Development and Senior Advisor to the U.S. CEO at PMI U.S. “As technology transforms how we work, employers and educators must work more closely together to ensure talent is not only technically prepared, but also equipped with the human skills that increasingly distinguish exceptional performers in an AI-enabled world.”

The report finds that while employers continue to report talent shortages, students and recent graduates face mounting barriers to securing meaningful opportunities. Internship opportunities have declined, application volumes have surged, and many hiring systems rely heavily on automated screening technologies that prioritize credentials and keywords over qualities such as judgment, communication, adaptability, and resilience.

One of the most significant findings is the emergence of an “AI-versus-AI” hiring environment. Job seekers increasingly use AI to craft resumes, cover letters, and interview preparation materials, while employers deploy AI-powered systems to manage growing applicant pools. The result can be a hiring process where automation increasingly mediates both sides of the equation.

Yet the report argues that AI’s rise is also elevating the importance of uniquely human capabilities.

“The question is no longer whether graduates know how to use AI,” said Kaleen Love, Chief People & Culture Officer at PMI U.S. “The question is whether they can exercise judgment, communicate effectively, build trust, and apply technology responsibly. Those are the capabilities that organizations increasingly value and that no technology can fully replace.”

Among the report’s key findings:

Human-centered skills such as critical thinking, ethical judgment, communication, adaptability, and relationship-building are becoming more valuable as technical skills evolve more rapidly.Experiential learning—including internships, apprenticeships, employer-sponsored projects, and military transition programs—consistently produces stronger employment outcomes and greater career readiness.Employers are showing renewed interest in face-to-face engagement with students as they seek better ways to assess candidates beyond resumes and algorithms.Stronger, sustained partnerships between employers and educational institutions are essential to creating a more effective and equitable talent ecosystem.

The white paper concludes with a framework built around five recommended shifts: moving from credential-focused education to talent development, transforming career services into strategic partnership functions, embedding communication and ethical AI use into core curricula, investing in relationship-driven recruiting, and creating sustained employer–institution collaborations.

The discussions that informed the report included participants from institutions ranging from major research universities and business schools to community colleges and liberal arts institutions, as well as leaders from PMI U.S., workforce development organizations, and veteran-focused employment initiatives.

“The future workforce will require more than technical expertise,” Salzman added. “It will require curiosity, wisdom, adaptability, and the ability to work effectively with others. Through these conversations, PMI U.S. sought to bring together leaders who are committed to building a stronger bridge between education and opportunity—and this report represents a call to action for all of us.”

PMI U.S.: Invested in America
Philip Morris International Inc.’s U.S. businesses are invested in America’s future and advancing a smoke-free nation. The businesses are committed to providing the approximately 25 million legal-age consumers who smoke cigarettes with better, smoke-free alternatives and to ensuring the products are marketed responsibly. From PMI’s global headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut, and other locations nationwide, PMI U.S. contributes leadership, jobs, investment, and innovation in the U.S. The U.S. businesses employ more than 3,000 people across America and operate product manufacturing facilities, including in Aurora, Colorado, Owensboro, Kentucky, and Wilson, North Carolina. For more information, please visit www.uspmi.com.

References to “PMI” mean the Philip Morris International family of companies. “PMI U.S.,” “we,” “our,” and “us” refer to one or more PMI U.S. businesses.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pmi-us-issues-call-to-rebuild-americas-talent-pipeline-in-new-ai-era-workforce-report-302862179.html

SOURCE PMI US Corporate Services, Inc.

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Alex Morgan and TOGETHXR Partner with Bet on Her App to Centralize Women’s Sports Fandom

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August 27, 2026

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Partnership to connect storytelling, real-time sports information, and community to enhance
the women’s sports fan experience

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As women’s sports are driving unprecedented demand for increased access, content and coverage, athlete icon and businesswoman Alex Morgan and TOGETHXR, the fastest-growing and most engaging women’s sports media company, today announced they are teaming up with the Bet on Her app, one of the fastest-growing and highest-rated women’s sports apps, to bring fans closer to the teams, leagues, athletes and communities all on one connected platform.

As part of the partnership, TOGETHXR and Alex Morgan’s Trybe Ventures have acquired an equity stake in Bet on Her, Inc. The investment further aligns both organizations around a unified goal: expanding access, coverage, and community for women’s sports worldwide.

The partnership comes as a natural fit for the two women-owned sports media companies, expanding on the individual strengths of both entities across the landscape. TOGETHXR, a leading women’s sports media company reaching millions of fans, will leverage its storytelling, editorial, and community to introduce audiences to Bet on Her, while Bet on Her becomes a daily destination for TOGETHXR’s audience to discover games, events and experiences while also interacting with a community of women’s sports fans around the world.

Alex Morgan, who co-founded TOGETHXR alongside world champion athletes Sue Bird, Simone Manuel, Chloe Kim and sports media veteran Jessica Robertson, has seen firsthand the impact that developing a storytelling platform can make in the industry.

“Fans have always shown up for women’s sports, even when they’ve had to search across different platforms to find the teams, athletes, and games they care about,” said Morgan, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Trybe Ventures. “Bet on Her was built to make that easier, and through this partnership with TOGETHXR, we’re taking it a step further to combine the power of great storytelling with an incredible, personalized tool that helps fans discover what’s happening across women’s sports and find more ways to follow and experience them.”

The Bet on Her app was built from the ground up to solve the fragmentation of the women’s sports fan’s experience, with up-to-the-moment highlights, live scores, stats, upcoming schedules, broadcast information for more than 60 leagues globally, and an interactive map of women’s sports bars with listed watch party events taking place around the world.

Additional features of the app include a women’s sports newsroom, dubbed “The Tea,” aggregating articles from trusted women’s sports sources, as well as a compilation of top-rated women’s sports podcasts with a built-in audio player and a real-time social media feed that pulls posts from top women’s sports journalists, leagues, and athletes for fans to join the conversation as it happens. The app also organizes a thriving community of women’s sports fans in an interactive chat across all things women’s sports worldwide.

“Women’s sports fans have been underserved in the technology space for far too long,” said Dana Drambarean, Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Bet on Her. “The passion has always been there, but the digital tools and experiences available to fans have lagged behind. We built Bet on Her to become the mobile platform we wished existed ourselves—a place where women’s sports live on the front page, not the sidebar. Partnering with TOGETHXR and Alex is an incredible opportunity to accelerate that vision and reach even more fans around the world.”

Download Bet on Her today on the App Store and Google Play to discover, follow, and engage with everything happening across women’s sports.

About TOGETHXR
TOGETHXR is the fastest-growing, most popular, and most engaging women’s sports brand. The trailblazing media and commerce company has generated more than eight figures in revenue from its trademarked slogan and product line, which boldly state an undeniable truth: “Everyone Watches Women’s Sports.” Co-founded by sports media veteran Jessica Robertson alongside four of the world’s greatest professional athletes — Alex Morgan, Chloe Kim, Simone Manuel, and Sue Bird — TOGETHXR focuses on rich storytelling rooted in lifestyle and youth culture. TOGETHXR’s in-house production studio has developed a slate of premium scripted and unscripted content streaming on platforms including Amazon Prime and FuboTV.

Visit TOGETHXR.com or contact press@togethxr.com.

About Bet on Her
Bet on Her is the home of everything women’s sports on mobile, bringing together scores, schedules, news, podcasts, social conversation, live game experiences, and personalized content from more than 60 women’s sports leagues and competitions worldwide. Founded in 2026, Bet on Her was built to create the platform women’s sports fans deserve—one destination to follow the teams, athletes, and stories they love.

Visit bet-on-her.com or contact press@bet-on-her.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/alex-morgan-and-togethxr-partner-with-bet-on-her-app-to-centralize-womens-sports-fandom-302862196.html

SOURCE TOGETHXR

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Asset Panda Helps Law Enforcement Agencies Strengthen Chain of Custody and Evidence Accountability With Digital Asset Management

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August 27, 2026

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Cloud-based platform and AI-powered tools help agencies replace paper evidence logs with secure, court-ready records

FRISCO, Texas, Aug. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Asset Panda, the leading asset management, inspection, and audit software, today announced expanded capabilities designed to help law enforcement agencies modernize evidence management, strengthen chain of custody procedures and improve accountability across their operations.

For police departments, sheriff’s offices and investigative agencies, maintaining an unbroken chain of custody is critical to preserving the integrity of criminal investigations. Yet many agencies still rely on paper logs and disconnected systems to track evidence, creating opportunities for human error, misplaced records and documentation gaps that can undermine cases in court.

Asset Panda’s cloud-based police asset management software provides agencies with a centralized digital system for tracking evidence, seized property and law enforcement equipment throughout their entire lifecycle. By replacing manual processes with digital workflows, departments can create an auditable record of every transfer, assignment and status change associated with an asset.

“When a case reaches the courtroom, investigators need complete confidence in the integrity of their evidence,” said Rex Kurzius, CEO of Asset Panda. “An incomplete transfer record or misplaced paper log can create unnecessary risk for an agency. Asset Panda helps law enforcement organizations establish a secure digital chain of custody that improves accountability and provides clear documentation from collection through final disposition.”

Integrated directly into Asset Panda Pro, Ursa AI provides law enforcement leaders with a faster way to access information and analyze operational data. The platform’s automated workflows, user-level audit trails and role-based permissions help agencies establish standardized procedures while reducing administrative burden.

The platform also supports broader law enforcement asset management needs, including tracking firearms, radios, body-worn cameras, vehicles, tactical equipment, uniforms and other department-issued assets. Agencies can manage both serialized equipment and high-volume inventory through a single system while maintaining detailed assignment histories for individual personnel.

“Law enforcement agencies face increasing demands for transparency, accountability and operational efficiency,” said Justin Lackey, President of Asset Panda. “Whether it’s producing a complete evidence history for court, managing thousands of issued assets or preparing for an audit, agencies need systems that eliminate manual work while increasing confidence in their records. That’s exactly what Asset Panda was built to do.”

As municipalities continue investing in technology modernization, Asset Panda says agencies are increasingly seeking solutions that improve both efficiency and public trust. By creating a single source for evidence, equipment and inventory records, departments can strengthen accountability while ensuring critical information is available whenever it is needed.

For more information about Asset Panda, visit the company’s website.

About Asset Panda
Founded in 2012, Asset Panda is an asset tracking, inspection, audit, and compliance platform. Designed to help the world work smarter, Asset Panda Pro helps businesses track asset lifecycles, check items in and out, perform inspections, and more across web and mobile platforms. With Ursa AI, teams can set up customized accounts, fields, and workflows in minutes, saving valuable time and simplifying tasks. Asset Panda is committed to providing clients with outstanding customer service and constantly improving its technology. To learn more about Asset Panda, visit assetpanda.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/asset-panda-helps-law-enforcement-agencies-strengthen-chain-of-custody-and-evidence-accountability-with-digital-asset-management-302862160.html

SOURCE Asset Panda

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Branford Castle Charges Ahead with Sale of Vitrek

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August 27, 2026

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BOCA RATON, Fla. and NEW YORK, Aug. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — On August 27,  2026, Branford Castle Partner’s Fund I completed the sale of Vitrek LLC to Industrial Physics, the global packaging, material, and coating test and measurement group backed by KKR-affiliated investment funds.  Vitrek, based in Lockport, IL, is a leader in electronic test and measurement including for electrical safety testing and electronic jet engine balancing systems for military and commercial applications.  Vitrek was the third investment in Branford’s Fund I and now represents its fifth exit.  During Branford’s ownership, Vitrek expanded its product lines, integrated three add-on acquisitions, and professionalized its sales and marketing efforts.

“We’ve enjoyed our partnership with the entire Vitrek team, led by Don Millstein and Todd Stukenberg. They have built one of the premier companies in electrical safety and precision test and measurement, broadening into new end markets along the way. We wish Vitrek continued success with its new owner,” said David Castle, Managing Partner of Branford Castle Partners.

“It has been a privilege to work alongside Don, Todd and the entire Vitrek team. Vitrek is a stronger, more diversified business today, and we’re excited to see that continue under Industrial Physics,” added Marilyn Yang, Managing Director of Branford Castle Partners.

The transaction was supported by the investment banking team at Stifel, led by Bharat Ramprasad and Michael Hart, the legal team at Akerman LLP, headed by Jed Freeland, and the accounting/finance team at RSM, headed by Michael Giuliano.  At the time of the sale, Vitrek’s lenders/financing partners were Pelham S2K and Farragut Capital Partners.

Vitrek’s CEO, Don Millstein, added, “We had a great run with the team at Branford. We leave this partnership a larger, more capable organization.”

Todd Stukenberg, President of Vitrek, added, “We’re proud of what we built together with Branford and are now excited for Vitrek’s next chapter with Industrial Physics.”

About Branford Castle Partners

Branford Castle is a private market investor focused on lower middle-market investments across North America. With more than 35 years of helping to grow businesses, the firm typically makes control investments in companies with up to $15 million of EBITDA and a leadership position in a niche industry. Branford Castle prides itself on the strong relationships it develops with its portfolio company managers. Branford Castle has particular expertise in industrials/specialty manufacturing, consumer products, specialty materials, test and measurement, business services and logistics. Please visit Branford Castle’s website at www.branfordcastle.com for additional information.

About Vitrek

Vitrek designs and manufactures precision test and measurement solutions that help the aerospace, defense, semiconductor, medical device and other diversified industrial manufacturers improve product quality, ensure regulatory compliance, and accelerate production. From electrical safety testing and high-voltage measurement to signal conditioning, high-speed data acquisition, and semiconductor metrology, Vitrek’s family of brands—including MTI Instruments and GaGe—supports engineers throughout the product development, qualification, production, and maintenance lifecycle.

About Industrial Physics

Industrial Physics is a global packaging, material, and coating test and measurement group. With 12 specialist brands operating across 19 industries in 75 countries, Industrial Physics protects the integrity of its customers’ brands and products through best-in-class technology, test and measurement systems, and services. www.industrialphysics.com

Contact:

For Branford Castle:

Lambert by LLYC
Christina Maldonado
christina.maldonado@llyc.global

For Industrial Physics:

Karen Mann | Global Marketing Director | kmann@industrialphysics.com 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/branford-castle-charges-ahead-with-sale-of-vitrek-302860960.html

SOURCE Branford Castle Partners

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