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Beacon Global Strategies Adds Two National Security Experts to Its Growing Team and Announces Several Senior Promotions

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WASHINGTON, Feb. 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Beacon Global Strategies (BGS), a leading strategic advisory firm focusing on global public policy, government procurement, and geopolitical risk analysis, today announced it will be expanding its growing team by adding Mr. Peter Hall as Senior Vice President and Mr. Jon Green as Associate Vice President. In these roles, Mr. Hall will provide invaluable insight to the firm’s Intelligence Practice, while Mr. Green will support the firm’s Defense Practice. Additionally, BGS is pleased to announce the promotions of Mr. Barry King to Managing Director, Ms. Julie Grundman, Mr. Ivan Kanapathy, and Mr. Louis Lauter to Senior Vice Presidents.

“We’re excited to have Peter and Jon join our BGS team. Their extensive expertise in intelligence and defense will undoubtedly bolster our capabilities, further solidifying our dedication to providing unmatched strategic advisory services to our clients,” stated Andrew Shapiro, Managing Director at Beacon. “Additionally, we extend our congratulations to Barry, Julie, Ivan, and Louis on their well-deserved promotions.”

Mr. Peter Hall recently joined BGS as Senior Vice President. Prior to joining Beacon, Mr. Hall served as Senior Director for Growth at Peraton, overseeing growth pursuits at the National Security Agency (NSA) across three business units. With nearly four decades of experience in the U.S. Intelligence Community, he held significant roles, including Deputy Chief of a Joint Agency program and NSA Director’s senior representative to the Department of Defense (DoD). Renowned for his extensive counterterrorism (CT) experience, he served as Deputy Director of the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) and NSA’s Chief of the Office of Counterterrorism, where he orchestrated global CT operations. Mr. Hall’s career also includes roles as NSA’s most senior representative in a combat zone and Acting Assistant Deputy Director, Analysis and Production. Beginning as a Russia analyst and linguist in the U.S. Army, his exceptional career contributions span critical locations during and after the Cold War, earning him the Presidential Rank Award in 2017. 

Mr. Jon Green recently joined BGS as Associate Vice President. Before joining BGS, Mr. Green spent more than eight years working as an advisor and committee staff member on Capitol Hill, most recently serving as the Defense Policy Advisor to Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH). During his tenure on the Hill, he played a pivotal role in the development of nine National Defense Authorization Acts and three annual defense appropriation bills, securing hundreds of millions of dollars for priority defense programs. During his time on Capitol Hill, Mr. Green advised senior elected officials on a wide array of international security issues, ranging from Afghanistan to Ukraine, and functional matters such as irregular warfare and information operations. Prior to this, Mr. Green worked as a contractor for the Department of Defense in Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics. 

Mr. Barry King has assumed the role of Managing Director. Mr. King will help lead the firm’s Intelligence Practice, advising a range of clients with key national security and technology capabilities on go-to-market strategy, stakeholder engagement, as well as policy and budgetary matters. Before joining Beacon, Mr. King served as the U.S. Intelligence Community (IC) Deputy Chief Financial Officer at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI). In this role he advised IC leadership on the allocation of the $60B+ National Intelligence Program budget against U.S. intelligence priorities, leveraging strong working relationships with colleagues across the IC, the Department of Defense, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and Capitol Hill. Mr. King previously served in several senior White House roles, including as Chief of OMB’s Defense Operations, Personnel, and Support Branch; Special Assistant to the OMB Director; and Director of Strategic Planning on the National Security Council staff. Prior to his government service, Mr. King was an international contract negotiator at Raytheon Company.

Ms. Julie Grundman has assumed the role of Senior Vice President. In this role, Ms. Grundman will continue contributing to the ongoing work of the National Security Technology Practice. Before joining BGS, Ms. Grundman was a Senior Manager at PwC UK, where she led the Cybersecurity in Mergers & Acquisitions team. During her time at PwC, she was also seconded in a senior operational role, acting as an Information Risk Manager for a business unit at a global oil and gas company. Before then, Ms. Grundman was an early employee at IronNet Cybersecurity, a technology startup. At IronNet, she managed early customer engagements and strategic alliances, and assisted in the design and growth of the business development and customer success functions. Prior to IronNet, Ms. Grundman oversaw the cybersecurity portfolio at Business Executives for National Security (BENS), working closely with government partners. She has also practiced cybersecurity, data privacy, and corporate law. 

Mr. Ivan Kanapathy has assumed the role of Senior Vice President. In this role, Mr. Kanapathy will continue to support the firm’s Indo-Pacific Practice as well as lead the firm’s Taiwan Analysis Center, which helps clients navigate corporate opportunity, exposure and risk related to Taiwan. Before joining BGS, he had a distinguished career as a military officer and foreign affairs expert, primarily focused on the Indo-Pacific region. Most recently serving on the White House’s National Security Council staff as Deputy Senior Director for Asian Affairs and Director for China, Taiwan, and Mongolia, where he provided crucial advice to the President and National Security Advisor while leading interagency policy development regarding U.S. relations with China and Taiwan across various domains. Previously, as a military attaché at the American Institute in Taiwan and a Marine Corps Foreign Area Officer study fellow, Mr. Kanapathy advised top officials on cross-Strait military matters and conducted extensive research throughout China, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia. With a background as a Naval Flight Officer and expertise in security studies, he has amassed numerous awards and decorations, including the Air Medal and Defense Superior Service Medal. Mr. Kanapathy is also active in academia as an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and holds positions at prominent think tanks, including the Center for Strategic and International Studies and the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments. 

Mr. Louis Lauter has assumed the role of Senior Vice President. In this role, Mr. Lauter will continue to support the firm’s Defense Practice. Prior to joining BGS, Mr. Lauter served as the Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs, where he advised the Secretary of Defense on all legislative matters, supported the confirmation of political appointees and managed congressional engagement across the Department of Defense. Previously Mr. Lauter served in the Obama Administration in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs from 2015-2017 as the Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs and the team chief for Acquisitions, Technology and Logistics. Prior to joining the Department of Defense, he served as the vice president for congressional and government affairs at CSIS where he led the think tank’s outreach to Congress. Before joining CSIS, Mr. Lauter worked for Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and then for Representative Rick Larsen (D-WA) where he led the Congressman’s work on the House Armed Services Committee and the U.S.-China Working group. Mr. Lauter is a Senior Associate (non-resident) at CSIS. Mr. Lauter has been awarded both the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service and the Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service.

About Beacon Global Strategies

Founded in 2013, Beacon Global Strategies is a strategic advisory firm specializing in foreign policy, defense, cyber, intelligence, and national security. Drawing on decades of service in the international security arena, Beacon develops and executes strategies that enable companies to achieve their business objectives around the world.

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SOURCE Beacon Global Strategies

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OMNICOM TO PRESENT AT THE GOLDMAN SACHS COMMUNACOPIA + TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE

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NEW YORK, Sept. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Omnicom (NYSE: OMC) today announced that it will present at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia + Technology Conference 2026 in San Francisco, California on Thursday, September 10, 2026 at 8:10 a.m. Pacific Time.  Live and archived webcasts will be available at the investor relations section of omc.com.

About Omnicom
Omnicom (NYSE: OMC) is the world’s leading marketing and sales company, built for intelligent growth in the next era. Powered by Omni and its proprietary data and identity, Omnicom’s Connected Capabilities unite the company’s world‑class agency brands, exceptional talent, and deep domain expertise across media, commerce, consulting, precision marketing, advertising, production, health, public relations, branding, and experiential to address clients’ most critical growth priorities. For more information, visit omc.com

 

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SOURCE Omnicom Group Inc.

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Minister Hodgson highlights Western Canada’s role in Canada’s energy and economic future

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PRINCE GEORGE, BC, Sept. 4, 2026 /CNW/ — Today, the Honourable Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, concluded a five-day tour across Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia, highlighting how provinces, workers, Indigenous partners, researchers and industry are positioning Canada as a global energy superpower with the strongest economy in the G7. Across Western Canada, Canadians are turning global volatility into opportunities for strength: building a more prosperous economy; enhancing our national security; creating good-paying jobs; and unlocking Canadian resources and connecting them to global markets.

In Alberta, Minister Hodgson spent time with Todd Loewen, Alberta’s Minister of Forestry and Parks, visiting forest sector workers in the Grande Prairie region and meeting firefighters who have kept Albertans safe through wildfire seasons. They discussed supporting the forest products sector in the face of unjustified U.S. tariffs, pivoting Canadian industry to domestic and non-U.S. markets, and how Canada and Alberta can work together to keep communities in Alberta safe from wildfire.

The Minister also visited Suncor’s oil sands operations in Fort McMurray, meeting the people whose hard work powers Canada and reinforces our role as a reliable energy supplier amidst volatile global energy markets. Our government is working hard with our Albertan, industry and Indigenous partners to support our energy sector and build Canada into a prosperous, sovereign and sustainable energy superpower, including through the Canada–Alberta Memorandum of Understanding.

In Saskatchewan, discussions focused on the infrastructure, innovation and resources that will help power Canada’s future. Meetings with provincial counterparts, including Minister Chris Beaudry; municipal leaders; industry; and researchers at the University of Saskatchewan highlighted opportunities to strengthen electricity grids, unlock Saskatchewan’s critical minerals advantage and advance major projects. Visits to the Jansen Mine and the Saskatchewan Research Council’s Rare Earth Processing Facility demonstrated Saskatchewan’s and Canada’s growing strength across the critical minerals and nuclear energy sectors, from resource extraction and processing to advanced technologies and exports.

Minister Hodgson also joined the Honourable Buckley Belanger, Secretary of State for Rural Development, to announce nearly $12 million for businesses in Saskatoon, which are standing up against American tariffs by investing, growing and innovating in Canada, creating jobs, diversifying our supply chains and helping our nation become more economically independent.

The tour also featured two landmark moments that underscored Canada’s ambition to build major projects and strengthen long-term economic prosperity, national security and sustainability. In Saskatchewan, Minister Hodgson announced progress achieved at the McIlvenna Bay copper and zine mine since its referral to the Major Projects Office one year ago. In British Columbia, he joined federal, provincial and Indigenous partners for the groundbreaking ceremony of the North Coast Transmission Line, a transformative infrastructure project that will more than double the availability of clean, low-cost electricity on the West Coast; unlock natural resources projects like the Ksi Lisims LNG facility and critical minerals developments in the Golden Triangle; and create $10 billion in new economic activity and nearly 10,000 jobs.

Western Canada is helping drive a new era of Canadian prosperity, sovereignty and sustainability through responsible resource development, made-in-Canada innovation and a world-class workforce. By advancing projects of national interest, the region is unlocking Canada’s full potential and helping us build Canada Strong.

Quote

“In many ways, Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia are the beating heart of our energy and natural resource sectors. This week, I saw first-hand the people, projects and partnerships that are building Canada Strong amidst the unjustified trade war we are experiencing. From responsible resource development and world-class research to critical infrastructure and energy innovation, Canadians are creating the conditions for long-term prosperity, security, sustainability and sovereignty.”

The Honourable Tim Hodgson
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources

Quick Facts

Minister Hodgson toured Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia from August 30 to September 3, 2026.Canada’s natural resources sector is a cornerstone of the national economy, contributing $459 billion (16 percent) to Canada’s GDP in 2024 and supporting 1.8 million direct and indirect jobs across the country.Western Canada is the powerhouse of Canada’s natural resources economy. In 2022, Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan together accounted for approximately 62 percent of Canada’s natural resources GDP.

Related Products

Canada celebrates progress on the McIlvenna Bay mine: production underway, jobs created, supply chains strengthenedCanada breaks ground on North Coast Transmission Line to deliver clean power and reduce emissions

Associated Links

Canada’s Critical Minerals StrategyNuclear Energy Strategy for Canada

Follow Natural Resources Canada on LinkedIn

SOURCE Natural Resources Canada

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Surfshark launches beta tester program, inviting users to shape the future of cybersecurity

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Users can now gain exclusive early access to unreleased features and communicate directly with Surfshark’s development team via a dedicated Discord hub.

VILNIUS, Lithuania, Sept. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Surfshark, a cybersecurity company, has officially announced the launch of its updated beta tester program, offering users early access to new features, design changes, and updates before they are released to the general public. Currently available for Windows and Android app users, the program invites community members to play a direct role in testing, refining, and shaping the future of Surfshark’s services.

The importance of user feedback

“Our mission is to build the most beloved security product for everyone – but for that, we need input from our community. Surfshark’s development team and I are genuinely excited to always receive feedback from our users. Oftentimes, we are buried so deep into our product that we don’t see the small details or inconveniences – and that’s why we need users’ input to be a part of how Surfshark services are being shaped,” says Gabriele Sinkeviciute, Head of Product at Surfshark.

The beta tester program creates a collaborative environment where users worldwide can test unreleased tools, report bugs or quirks, and provide real-time feedback. Participant feedback will directly influence feature improvements and the development of new products based on user needs.

Initiative works through a closed Discord group designed for direct, two-way communication between beta testers and Surfshark’s product developers.

“Our updated beta tester program allows us to build features aligned with what our community actually needs,” Sinkeviciute continues. “While early versions may occasionally contain bugs, the insight provided by our beta community is invaluable in helping us fine-tune tools before public releases.”

How to join Surfshark’s beta tester program

Any active Surfshark subscriber on Windows or Android can join the program today:

On Windows: Open the Surfshark app, navigate to Settings > App settings, scroll to Beta Testing, and click Join Beta.On Android: Visit the Surfshark app page in the Google Play Store, scroll to the Join the beta section, and tap Join.

Enrolled participants will be invited to join the private Discord hub to connect with developers and fellow beta testers.

To learn more or sign up today, visit: https://surfshark.com/beta-tester-program

ABOUT SURFSHARK

Surfshark is a cybersecurity company offering products including an audited VPN, certified antivirus, data leak warning system, and a tool for generating an online identity. Recognized as a leading VPN by CNET and TechRadar, Surfshark has also been featured on the FT1000: Europe’s Fastest Growing Companies ranking. Headquartered in the Netherlands, Surfshark has offices in Lithuania and Poland. For information on Surfshark’s operations and highlights, read our Annual Wrap-up. For more research projects, visit our research hub.

Contact: media@surfshark.com 

 

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SOURCE Surfshark B.V.

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