Technology

New TEDCO Study Outlines Steps for Developing Maryland’s Cybersecurity Workforce

Published

2 years ago

May 29, 2024

Findings include a misalignment of cybersecurity workforce supply and demand

COLUMBIA, Md., May 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — TEDCO, Maryland’s economic engine for technology companies, unveiled the recently completed “Cybersecurity Workforce Analysis and Study” (“Study”). The Study was commissioned by TEDCO to better understand the current status of Maryland’s cybersecurity workforce pipeline. This knowledge will be used to guide the Cyber Maryland Program (“Program”) and its 18-member board of directors as they develop a statewide cybersecurity workforce development strategic plan.

Study found that only 33% of the cybersecurity workforce demand is being met by the current workforce

“The Study confirms what businesses and government agencies in Maryland already know: demand for skilled cybersecurity professionals—who protect our communities from criminals threatening our way of life—is incredibly nuanced. Thankfully, there is support and momentum amongst key stakeholders to bridge our talent gap,” said Roger Austin, chair of the Cyber Maryland board of directors. “My fellow board members and I are committed to address this critical need by developing innovative solutions to overcome our cyber skills talent gaps and provide good, paying jobs for our state’s residents.”

The Study, performed by Lightcast, found that the epicenter for cybersecurity talent can be found in the National Capital Region, a region that consists of Maryland, the District of Columbia and Virginia. This region hosts the largest and most concentrated cybersecurity workforce nationwide; a large portion of this is contributed to the region being home to several federal government agencies. This prime location has also given rise to a large ecosystem of defense contractors, cybersecurity firms and technology companies, the Study notes.

However, despite this being an epicenter for talent, there are some issues. In particular, the Study notes that the development of talent is lagging behind the intense demand for cybersecurity workers. This lag places Maryland and the District of Columbia region seventh nationwide in the number of cyber-aligned graduates at the sub-bachelor’s degree level and tenth in bachelor’s degree completions. While this may not seem to be detrimental, it is resulting in a region-wide talent gap.

While talent gaps for cyber-aligned fields are felt in most states, the National Capital Region is feeling them the most. With the largest cybersecurity talent gap in the nation and more than 6,500 openings between December 2023 – January 2024 in Maryland and the District of Columbia alone, the Study found that only 33% of the cybersecurity workforce demand is being met by the current workforce. These positions are not only unfilled, but they’re unable to be filled with the current supply of talent in the region.

“As cybersecurity continues to grow as an essential part of every industry, the need for a strong and resilient workforce pipeline has become increasingly important,” said Alex Choi, executive director, government program development, affairs & research, TEDCO. “Together, with the Cyber Maryland board and ecosystem stakeholders, we look forward to ensuring that we are not only meeting the Cybersecurity workforce needs of today, but also building a nimble workforce pipeline infrastructure that can adapt to the needs of the future.”

In the coming months, the Program will convene a series of work sessions to strategize and build on the recommendations provided in the Study. The workgroups will delve deeper in topics including, expanding apprenticeships, internships and other work-learning opportunities, recommendations on skills-based hiring practices, evolving cybersecurity education and training and creating a wholistic, statewide approach to Maryland’s cyber workforce industry data. These recommendations, along with the findings of the Study, will be compiled into a strategic plan which will be operationalized to establish a nimble and sustainable workforce pipeline infrastructure.

The Program, established through legislation in 2023, seeks to address challenges in the state’s cybersecurity workforce development ecosystem by impacting current and future demand through the development of a workforce pipeline infrastructure. The Program serves as a ‘hub’ for cybersecurity related workforce development in the state, facilitating greater communication and fostering deeper relationships between employers, training/educational providers and the workforce. Through stakeholder engagement, industry data analysis, grantmaking and other initiatives, the Program helps identify and address current and emerging training and workforce needs in the ecosystem.

Read the study in its entirety by clicking here.

About TEDCO
TEDCO, the Maryland Technology Development Corporation, enhances economic empowerment growth through the fostering of an inclusive entrepreneurial innovation ecosystem. TEDCO identifies, invests in, and helps grow technology and life science-based companies in Maryland. Learn more at www.tedcomd.com.

Media Contact
Tammi Thomas, Chief Development & Marketing Officer, TEDCO, tthomas@tedcomd.com

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SOURCE TEDCO

Technology

Mago Maga to Launch Roma-X AI Home Coffee Roaster on Kickstarter July 23

Published

56 minutes ago

July 21, 2026

NEW YORK and HONG KONG and LONDON, July 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — For coffee enthusiasts, a great cup begins with freshly roasted beans. Following the widespread adoption of home espresso machines and grinders, coffee roasters are emerging as the next major category in home coffee equipment.

On July 23, 2026, Mago Maga will launch Roma-X, its third-generation AI home coffee roaster, on Kickstarter. The campaign offers users worldwide an opportunity to participate in product discovery, share roast profiles, and help build a connected home-roasting community.

Roma-X is not a minor update to the Roma Pro series. It has been representing a comprehensive redesign across physical structure, control systems, mobile app, and user experience. The compact appliance combines near-commercial-grade roasting control with intelligent automation and kitchen-friendly operation.

Key Features:

Large Capacity
Roasts up to 300g of green coffee beans per batch.

Easy & Flexible Roasting
Features 6 preset roast levels, 266 built-in roast profiles for different origins, and a manual mode for creating customized roast profiles.

Smart Touchscreen Control
Equipped with a 5-inch full-color touchscreen supporting English, Spanish, and Chinese, with Bluetooth connectivity.

Mobile App Control
iOS and Android apps enable real-time roasting monitoring and control.

Coffee Community & Cloud Platform
Users can upload, download, and share roast profiles, exchange roasting experiences, and access new content through the app community.

OTA Updates
Receive new features and additional roast profiles through wireless updates.

Indoor-Friendly Smoke Filtration
Integrated filtration system reduces up to 90% of smoke and airborne particles, making home roasting easier.

Visible Roasting Experience
Dual-layer borosilicate glass chamber provides a clear view of the entire roasting process.

AI-Powered Roasting
AI roasting algorithms enable precise control, while cloud-based machine learning continuously optimizes roast profiles.

Roma-X debuted at World of Coffee San Diego 2026 as one of eight Best New Product finalists. Mago Maga’s Roma Pro V1.0 previously won the Best New Product People’s Choice Award at the 2024 SCA Coffee Expo in Houston.

“Fresh roasting is becoming a new trend in the home coffee experience. The launch of Roma-X will bring home coffee users an entirely new social sharing experience and the magical fun of AI machine learning,” said Mago Maga CEO Chifeng Lei.

The Kickstarter campaign opens July 23 with early-bird pricing exceeding 50% off the planned US$1,598 retail price. Shipping begins in fall 2026.

Kick Starter Campaign:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/magomaga/mago-maga-smart-roaster-pro?ref=1xyojm

Follow Mago Maga
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/magomaga.coffeeroaster
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/magomagaroast/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35H_yhVlbaY

pr@magomaga.net

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SOURCE Mago Maga

Technology

Interblock Appoints Kay Oswald as Chief Executive Officer

Published

56 minutes ago

July 21, 2026

Proven global operator with 25+ years scaling international technology and consumer businesses to drive Company’s next phase of growth

LAS VEGAS, July 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Interblock, the global leader in electronic table gaming products, today announced that the Board of Directors has appointed Kay Oswald (pronounced “Kai”) as Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Oswald’s appointment concludes the comprehensive search announced in February 2026 and follows the interim leadership of Bala Ganesan, Managing Director at Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. (“Oaktree”). Mr. Ganesan will return to his full-time role at Oaktree, where he will work closely with Interblock and ensure a seamless leadership transition. Oaktree-advised investment funds own a majority of the equity interests in Interblock.

David Quick, Oaktree Managing Director and Interblock Board member, said, “Kay is a proven global operator with a track record of building disciplined, scalable businesses across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America. Following a rigorous search, the Board is confident Kay is the right leader to build on the world-class operating platform established over the past year and to capitalize on Interblock’s global growth opportunities including expanding our footprint across key regions and accelerating innovation in our product portfolio.”

Oswald brings more than 25 years of international leadership experience across consumer, hardware, and industrial technology businesses. He most recently served as Chief Executive Officer of KOHPA Technologies, a venture-backed industrial technology company, and previously as CEO and Board Member, North America, of Technogym USA Corp., the global leader in luxury fitness equipment. Originally from Germany and having built his career largely in the United States, Oswald has lived and led teams in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Australia, with deep experience in global manufacturing, supply chain, and premium hardware businesses.

“Interblock is an exceptional company, which is the product of a talented global team, industry-leading innovation, and the disciplined operating platform Bala and the leadership team have been building over the last several months,” said Oswald. “This is a new Interblock, and I am honored to lead the company into its next phase of global growth. I look forward to delivering operational excellence and strengthening our relationship with our customers and partners in every market we serve.”

Mr. Quick continued, “On behalf of the Board, I want to thank Bala for his outstanding leadership as interim CEO. He strengthened Interblock’s operating disciplines, leadership bench, and execution across the business, and the Company Kay inherits is stronger than at any point in its history. We are pleased that Bala will remain closely involved with Interblock in his role at Oaktree.”

“It has been a privilege to lead Interblock during this important period,” said Mr. Ganesan. “Kay’s global experience and operational rigor make him the ideal leader for the Company’s next chapter. I look forward to continuing to support Kay, the leadership team, and our people around the world in my role at Oaktree.”

About Interblock®

Interblock stands as the world’s leading developer and supplier of award-winning electronic table gaming products. With a commitment to quality, innovation, and service, Interblock delivers high-performance solutions and memorable gaming experiences across the globe. Today, Interblock holds 247 licenses, operates in 371 jurisdictions, and has products installed in 113 countries and 44 U.S. states and territories.

For more information, visit www.interblockgaming.com and follow Interblock on Instagram, X, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Media Contact:
Suzanne Byowitz / Miranda Dunne
Suzanne.Byowitz@fgsglobal.com / Miranda.Dunne@FGSGlobal.com

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SOURCE Interblock Gaming

Technology

CoVet Partners with Rewilding Britain to Support Nature Recovery Across the UK

Published

56 minutes ago

July 21, 2026

New partnership directs funds from UK subscriptions to locally led rewilding projects across Britain’s land and seas.

TORONTO, July 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — CoVet, the veterinary industry’s leading AI copilot platform, today announced its first environmental partnership with Rewilding Britain.

Rewilding Britain works to create a wilder Britain for nature, climate, and people. Rewilding is the large-scale restoration of nature until it can take care of itself.

Through the partnership, CoVet will redirect a percentage of individual subscription revenue to Rewilding Britain, helping fund locally led nature recovery across England, Scotland, and Wales. The contributions will support the charity’s Rewilding Innovation Fund and Rewilding Challenge Fund, which back locally-led rewilding projects across habitat restoration, species recovery, community initiatives, and marine projects.

“CoVet has a responsibility to reflect the values of the people we serve,” said Yannick Bloem, CEO and Co-Founder of CoVet. “Rewilding Britain is doing measurable, science-based work to help nature recover across Britain. Every new UK individual subscription will help support that work.”

“We’re delighted to welcome CoVet as a corporate partner,” said Kate Barclay, Director of Fundraising at Rewilding Britain. “Support like this helps us fund crucial rewilding projects, enabling large-scale restoration of ecosystems. It’s encouraging to see a technology company consider its footprint and choose to invest in nature restoration.”

The partnership reflects CoVet’s commitment to supporting the animals, communities, and natural places connected to veterinary care.

CoVet is a remote-first company, which reduces the impacts associated with office operations. Its AI is used only when needed, models are not trained on customer data, and the platform runs on Google Cloud’s energy-efficient infrastructure.

Through Rewilding Britain, CoVet can support nature recovery across Britain while continuing to reduce avoidable impact in its own operations.

About CoVet
CoVet is an AI-powered clinical copilot built by veterinary professionals, for veterinary professionals. Designed to reduce administrative burden and prevent burnout, CoVet automates SOAP notes, transcribes consultations, and streamlines client communication, saving clinics over two hours per veterinarian, per day. Trusted by tens of thousands of users across six continents, CoVet helps veterinary teams reclaim their time and refocus on what matters most: exceptional patient care.

Learn more at co.vet

About Rewilding Britain
Rewilding Britain is Britain’s leading rewilding charity, working to create a wilder Britain for nature, climate and people. Rewilding Britain influences policy, removes barriers, and inspires positive, practical action to help rewilding – the large-scale restoration of nature and its remarkable web of life – flourish across at least 30% of Britain’s land and seas by 2030. Rewilding offers hope for tackling the nature and climate emergencies, while creating a cascade of benefits for people and local communities.

Learn more at rewildingbritain.org.uk

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