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Florida Leaders Unveil New Partnership: A Global Gateway for Tech & Investment

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MIAMI, March 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Today at the eMerge Americas Conference + Expo, Florida’s business and innovation leaders officially announced a new partnership aimed at establishing Florida as the premier entry point and hub for global technology, capital, and entrepreneurship. This initiative, anchored between Miami and West Palm Beach, will create a direct bridge between international investors, high-growth industries, and Florida’s regional markets, building upon the strong momentum in the area that has successfully attracted a significant number of firms primarily focused in the financial services industry.

Led by three founding partners—Florida Council of 100, eMerge Americas, and Related Ross—the initiative aims to enhance access for entrepreneurs, providing crucial support through strategic infrastructure developments and targeted accelerator programs.

A Bold Vision for Florida’s Future

“This is more than an economic development project—it’s a global statement that Florida is ready to lead in innovation,” said Michael Simas, President & CEO of the Florida Council of 100. “With this initiative, we are ensuring that companies landing here don’t just start in Florida—they scale here and expand across the entire state.”

The strategic initiative is designed to support Florida’s fastest-growing industries, including:

Finance & Insurance – Southeast Florida represents 38.7% of Florida’s finance GDP and nearly 94% of all venture capital raised statewide.Health Services & Medtech – A $114.6 billion industry, with over 419,000 jobs in Southeast Florida alone.IT & Tech – Florida’s tech sector continues to surge, with Southeast Florida capturing 65% of all venture capital raised in IT across the entire state.Aerospace, CleanTech, & Logistics – Expanding Florida’s innovation footprint beyond traditional industries, with 345,000 jobs in Southeast Florida within these emerging sectors.

Why Southeast Florida? Why Now?

“We’ve seen firsthand how South Florida has become a global hub for investment and innovation,” said Melissa Medina, CEO & Co-founder of eMerge Americas. “This new partnership harnesses this momentum, positioning Florida as the destination for tech-driven global business.”

The initiative, which includes Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties, will coordinate with the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County, Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance and Miami-Dade Beacon Council, along with public and private sector partners throughout the region and state.

Southeast Florida is helping drive the state’s economic surge:

$4.13 billion in venture capital activity in 2024, placing Miami among the top 5 in the U.S. for venture deal count and 6th in the nation for venture deal value.$39 billion in new wealth and income in Palm Beach County post-pandemic, which is reported to be more than any other county in the country.Massive infrastructure investment in commercial real estate, talent recruitment, and digital connectivity.West Palm Beach has drawn financial institutions to its city, creating a foundation for a broader business ecosystem: Related Ross broke ground on 1 million square feet of office space in West Palm Beach in March, adding to an existing portfolio of 2 million square feet.The existing ecosystem of first class academic and healthcare institutions will be enhanced as Vanderbilt University and Cleveland Clinic are both launching new projects in West Palm Beach. Vanderbilt is constructing a new graduate campus expected to open in three years. Meanwhile, Cleveland Clinic has announced plans to build a 150-bed hospital and cancer research center, which is scheduled to open in the near future in West Palm Beach.

A Collaborative Effort to Scale Statewide

Unlike isolated business districts, this initiative is designed to enhance Florida’s entire economy. Through strategic partnerships with regional accelerators, business leaders, and policymakers, the initiative will:

Expand Market Access – Florida Council of 100 will ensure seamless entry into Florida’s broader business landscape.Attract Global Investment – eMerge Americas will leverage its international network to bring in venture capital, startups, and corporate partners.Develop Infrastructure – Related Ross is creating world-class commercial spaces and innovation hubs to support long-term growth in Palm Beach County.Ensure Transparency & Growth Metrics – A research component will track investment, job creation, and economic expansion.

“Great cities are not simply built; they emerge from the synergies between talent and partnerships,” said Stephen Ross, CEO and Chairman of Related Companies. “As we navigate an era of rapid change driven by technological advances, South Florida is poised to become an innovation hub. With initiatives like this, we can link educational institutions, entrepreneurial programs, and sources of capital to create a new environment for American businesses.”

Next Steps & Engagement

The launch of this new partnership marks the beginning of a statewide movement to position Florida as the ultimate destination for global business expansion. In the coming weeks and months, the initiative’s partners will be working closely with investors, entrepreneurs, and policymakers to drive continued engagement and investment—including new efforts to market the region, accelerator programs and sources of capital.

About Florida Council of 100
The Florida Council of 100 is a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization of business leaders dedicated to improving Florida’s quality of life and economic well-being. Founded in 1961 at the request of Governor Farris Bryant, the Council serves as a trusted advisor to Florida’s elected officials and policymakers. Its membership represents over 200 companies employing more than 1.3 million Floridians, collectively shaping the state’s future through business-driven policy solutions and direct economic impact initiatives. For more information about the Florida Council of 100, visit www.fc100.org.

About eMerge Americas
eMerge Americas is the premier global tech event held annually in Miami, shaping the future of tech and innovation. The eMerge signature event, launched in 2014, attracts over 20,000 attendees from 60 countries and over 4,300 unique participating organizations. In addition to the annual conference, eMerge organizes and hosts year-round executive summits, a startup accelerator program, startup pitch competitions, community events, masterclasses, and webinars, and publishes venture activity and investment insights reports. For the last decade, eMerge has served as a global catalyst for innovation and investment, working at the forefront of building the South Florida and Florida tech and entrepreneurial ecosystem.

About Related Ross
Led by visionary developer Stephen Ross, Related Ross is a fully integrated real estate firm with unparalleled expertise in mixed-use development. For more than 25 years, Related has led the transformation of West Palm Beach into one of the nation’s fastest-growing cities to live, work, and visit. Related Ross leads the market in Class A office with over 2.8M square feet of existing commercial holdings built and under construction. Known for luxury residential buildings, Related Ross is introducing a new class of rentals and condos to the market, including The Laurel and South Flagler House. The company also developed and owns the most celebrated destinations in the region including CityPlace – the most visited neighborhood in the City, fostering culture and enriching the community with lush green spaces, a diverse mix of experiential retail and culinary offerings, the largest concentration of public art installed by a private company in Palm Beach County, educational programming and modern residences; as well as Hilton West Palm Beach, RH West Palm and the historic Harriet Himmel Theater. For more information about Related Ross, please visit www.relatedross.com

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SOURCE eMerge Americas

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Products That Count Announces the Winners of the 2026 CPO Awards, Honoring the Product Leaders Redefining Their Craft in the AI Era

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The annual Awards recognize Chief Product Officers whose scope, influence, and impact have expanded dramatically as AI reshapes every organization.

SAN FRANCISCO, May 1, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Products That Count, the world’s largest nonprofit community of product managers with over 600,000 members, today announced the winners of the 2026 CPO Awards. The Awards, produced in partnership with Mighty Capital, celebrate the Chief Product Officers whose leadership is shaping how products are built, shipped, and scaled in a moment of unprecedented change.

“The CPO mandate has fundamentally expanded,” said SC Moatti, Founder and Managing Partner of Products That Count. “Our winners this year are setting the standard for what the role becomes when AI is woven into every layer of the business. They are the builders other builders learn from.”

The role of the Chief Product Officer has never been broader. Today’s CPOs are architecting the systems, teams, and decisions that determine whether their companies win in the AI era.

The 2026 CPO Award Winners, by category:

President / CEO: Former CPOs who have elevated to the top role.

Eglae Recchia, CPO, Keyway

Maria Thomas, CEO (promoted from CPO), Rebrandly

Nabil Bukhari, President, Extreme Networks

Shiven Ramji, President & Chief Product Officer, Okta

Investor Mindset: Treating product like a portfolio of bets, with M&A as a strategic lever.

Achuth Rao, CPO, New York Life Insurance Company

Andrew Tsao, CPO & Analytics Officer, Audible

Dane Glasgow, CPO, Paramount/Skydance

Diana Benli, Chief Product Officer, Cognizant

Diego Dugatkin, Chief Product Officer, Box

Mike Bidgoli, CPO & CTO, Tubi

Vasu Murthy, CPO, Cohesity

Vrushali Paunikar, CPO, Carta

Ambrish Verma, Chief Product Officer, Ingram Micro

Enterprise Scale: Operating in complexity. Not speed alone, but transformation at scale.

Carla Guzzetti, Chief Product Officer, Cloud Applications, Extreme Networks

Eddie Garcia, Chief Product Officer, eBay

Gautam Shah, Chief Product Officer, Carelon

Ghazal Badiozamani, SVP of Product Management, Cengage

Kelli Fielding, Chief Product Officer, Europe, TransUnion

Mikhail Vaysbukh, Chief Product Officer, Elsevier

Monica Ugwi, GM, Copilot + Agents for Manufacturing & Mobility, formerly Microsoft

Randall Hounsell, SVP Connected Living Product, Comcast

Rita Khan, Chief Consumer & Digital Officer, formerly Optum

Ryan Bergstrom, Chief Product Officer, Paychex

Tim Simmons, Chief Product Officer, formerly Walmart International

Tina Tarquinio, Chief Product Officer, IBM Z and LinuxONE, IBM

Todd Garner, CPO, Sam’s Club

Trey Courtney, Global Chief Product & Partnerships Officer, Mood Media

Wyatt Jenkins, SVP Product, Intuit

Shayani Roy, SVP Product Management and Design, OpenTable

Scale Up: Growth-stage leaders putting the scale in place.

Aaron Seevers, Chief Product Officer, Noom

Avijit Sinha, SVP Corporate Development, EDB

Hannah Park, Chief Product Officer, Planned Parenthood

Joe Futty, CPO & CTO, Pipedrive

Jonathan Shottan, Chief Product Officer, Tonal

Kimberly Bloomston, CPO, 6sense

Kousthub Raghavan, Chief Product & Digital Officer, CLEAR

Natalia Williams, Chief Product Officer, Qonto

Nikita Miller, Chief Product Officer, Perk

Nilesh Khandelwal, Chief Product Officer, Rakuten Rewards

Paul Burke, CPO, Reveleer

Randhir Vieira, CPO, formerly Healthify

Renn Turiano, CPO, Gannett – USA Today Network

Sarah Turrin, CPO, Color

Emerging: On an amazing trajectory, regardless of tenure.

Adam Kelsey, EVP, Product Management, SignalWire

Apurva Garware, SVP, Head of Product, Invisible Technologies

Chai Atreya, Chief Product Officer, ActiveCampaign

Jack Brody, Chief Product Officer, Suno

John Barrus, VP of Product Management, Niobium

Kevin Swint, former Co-Founder & CPO, RemixAI

Nirmal Kumar, CPO, Aliaswire

Rafael Flores, Chief Product Officer, Treasure Data.ai

Sarah Jacob Singh, CPO & CTO, Medbridge

Sarosh Waghmar, CPO & Co-Founder, Spotnana

Vanessa Davis, CPO, LegalOn

Vikas Seth, CPO, ARIS

Platform: Multiplying impact beyond their own product by leveraging the ecosystem at scale.

Arnab Bose, CPO, Asana

Kishan Chetan, EVP & GM, Agentforce Service Cloud, Salesforce

Shardul Vikram, Chief Product Officer, SAP Application AI, SAP

Tom Occhino, Chief Product Officer, Vercel

Rohit Badlaney, CPO & General Manager, IBM Cloud Platform, IBM

Terre Layton, former CPO, BetterHealth

B.J. Boyle, Chief Product Officer, MacroHealth

Winners were selected by an Independent Advisory Council of seasoned product executives based on impact and leadership.

ABOUT PRODUCTS THAT COUNT

Products That Count is the world’s largest nonprofit community, engaging 600,000+ product managers and Chief Product Officers (CPOs) united by a mission: to empower everyone to build products that truly count. In a world flooded with products, only a few ignite passion, deliver value at scale, and transform lives. Behind those exceptional products are visionary CPOs and high-performing product teams driving innovation at the most bleeding-edge companies. We recognize these trailblazers through our coveted Awards, accelerate careers from PM to the C-suite and beyond through daily best practices, and serve as the trusted advisor to nearly all Fortune 1000 CPOs. Our Corporate Alliance includes Walmart, Ford, Cisco, Johnson & Johnson, Amplitude, and more. The most admired product leaders across industries serve on our Advisory Council, guiding the future of product leadership. Together, we’re shaping a future where every product counts. Learn more at productsthatcount.org

ABOUT MIGHTY CAPITAL

Mighty Capital is the VC firm that leverages the Product Alpha Effect, a data-backed framework for outperformance that proves great products drive great businesses. Founded in 2018 by SC Moatti, a product visionary and former Meta product leader, and Jennifer Vancini, a veteran of tech investing and M&A, we bring a differentiated edge to venture. Through Moatti’s 600,000-strong Products That Count network of product leaders, we see where the world is going before others do. That proprietary signal gives us an advantage in sourcing, diligence, and post-investment value creation. Our portfolio speaks for itself: 1 in 5 companies is a category leader like Amplitude (NASDAQ:AMPL), Groq, and Netskope (NASDAQ:NTSK). Founders consistently call us the most value-add investor on their cap table, and use our global product ecosystem as a marketplace to accelerate time to revenue, scale, and exit. Anchored by GCM Grosvenor, we’re deploying Fund III with both prior funds in top decile DPI and TVPI, more than $20B in value created, and 6 IPOs to date. Learn more at Mighty.Capital.

Media Contact

Emma Shirlin, Products That Count, 1 8287020154, emmashirlin@productsthatcount.com

View original content:https://www.prweb.com/releases/products-that-count-announces-the-winners-of-the-2026-cpo-awards-honoring-the-product-leaders-redefining-their-craft-in-the-ai-era-302759934.html

SOURCE Products That Count

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Thomson Reuters Announces Cash Distribution Per Share and Share Consolidation Ratio for Return of Capital and Share Consolidation Transactions

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Participating shareholders to receive cash distribution of US$1.435518 per common share

Shares to begin trading on a post-consolidated basis on May 4, 2026

TORONTO, May 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Thomson Reuters (TSX/Nasdaq: TRI) today announced the cash distribution per share and the share consolidation ratio for its return of capital and share consolidation transactions, which have received the requisite approvals and will be effective at 3:01 a.m. (Toronto time) on May 4, 2026. The company’s common shares will begin trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) and the Nasdaq on a post-consolidated basis when the markets open on May 4, 2026. The company’s trading symbol will remain “TRI” on both exchanges. The new CUSIP number for the post-consolidated common shares is 884903881 and the new ISIN number is CA8849038812.

The return of capital and share consolidation transactions consist of a distribution of US$1.435518 per common share (US$605 million in the aggregate) and a consolidation of the company’s outstanding common shares (or “reverse stock split”) at a ratio of 1 pre-consolidated share for 0.984560 post-consolidated shares. The share consolidation is proportional to the special cash distribution and the share consolidation ratio was based on the volume weighted average trading price of the shares on the Nasdaq for the five trading day period which ended today.Eligible shareholders who duly exercised their right to opt out of the return of capital will not receive the cash distribution. Each opting-out shareholder will still participate in the transactions through a share exchange and the share consolidation, but will continue to hold the same number of shares that it currently holds. Such opting-out shareholders will realize a proportionate increase in their equity and voting interests in the company by virtue of the consolidation of the participating shares under the share consolidation.

As promptly as practicable after the transactions are effective, Computershare Investor Services Inc., the company’s depositary for the transactions, will deliver cash distribution amounts to registered participating shareholders, subject to the terms and conditions of the transactions. The effects of the share consolidation will be reflected in the company’s share register. Beneficial or non-registered shareholders participating in the return of capital will receive cash distributions from their intermediary and the effects of the share consolidation will be recorded in their accounts.

Fractional shares will not be issued as part of the return of capital and share consolidation transactions and shareholders will receive the value of any fractional shares in cash, subject to certain exceptions described in the company’s management proxy circular dated March 13, 2026 (the “Circular”).

The Canadian and U.S. tax consequences of the return of capital and share consolidation transactions are complex. Shareholders are encouraged to review the Circular and related materials carefully and to consult their financial, tax and legal advisors.

Further details of the return of capital and share consolidation transactions are described in the Circular and related materials, which are available on www.thomsonreuters.com/2026specialmeeting. The return of capital and share consolidation documents were previously filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities on SEDAR+ and are available at www.sedarplus.ca. The documents were also furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission through EDGAR and are available at www.sec.gov.  

About Thomson Reuters

Thomson Reuters (TSX/Nasdaq: TRI) informs the way forward by bringing together the trusted content and technology that people and organizations need to make the right decisions. The company serves professionals across legal, tax, audit, accounting, compliance, government, and media. Its products combine highly specialized software and insights to empower professionals with the data, intelligence, and solutions needed to make informed decisions, and to help institutions in their pursuit of justice, truth and transparency. Reuters, part of Thomson Reuters, is the world’s leading provider of trusted journalism and news. For more information, visit thomsonreuters.com.

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking within the meaning of applicable Canadian and U.S. securities laws, including the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements relating to the completion of the return of capital and share consolidation transactions and the anticipated tax treatment for shareholders participating in the return of capital and those opting out. These forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and reflect our company’s current expectations. As a result, forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations, including the risk factors discussed in materials that Thomson Reuters from time to time files with, or furnishes to, the Canadian securities regulatory authorities and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. There is no assurance that the return of capital and share consolidation transactions will be completed or that other events described in any forward-looking statement will materialize. Except as may be required by applicable law, Thomson Reuters disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements.

CONTACTS
MEDIA
Zoe Zanettos
Director, Corporate Affairs
+1 647 202 8948
zoe.zanettos@thomsonreuters.com 

INVESTORS
Gary E. Bisbee, CFA
Head of Investor Relations 
+1 646 540 3249
gary.bisbee@thomsonreuters.com 

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SOURCE Thomson Reuters

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Lockheed Martin Awarded U.S. Space Force Space-Based Interceptor Contracts to Meet Layered Missile Defense Demand

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HUNTSVILLE, Ala., May 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) has been selected by U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command to develop capabilities supporting the Space-Based Interceptor (SBI) program. These agreements mark progress toward fielding core elements of an integrated, layered homeland defense solution. 

This work will accelerate development, testing and integration of SBI capabilities, delivering an early engagement layer that expands coverage, enhances survivability and strengthens deterrence against emerging missile threats.

Lockheed Martin’s SBI system leverages our experience with combat-proven interceptors like THAAD and PAC-3 as well as the Next Generation Interceptor, hypersonic strike systems and missile warning and tracking systems.

The result is an early, additional layer to the multi-domain, layered shield that protects the homeland and critical infrastructure from evolving missile threats.

“Lockheed Martin is already making next generation integrated air and missile defense a reality with our proven capabilities and the expertise across our entire network,” said Robert Lightfoot, Lockheed Martin Space president. “We’re investing in technology and infrastructure, while bringing together the strength of the full industrial base, to deliver advanced capabilities like SBI faster and are committed to delivering an integrated demonstration by 2028.” 

About Lockheed Martin

Lockheed Martin is a global defense technology company driving innovation and advancing scientific discovery. Our all-domain mission solutions and 21st Century Security® vision accelerate the delivery of transformative technologies to ensure those we serve always stay ahead of ready. More information at www.Lockheedmartin.com.

The views and conclusions contained in this document are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as representing the official policies, either expressed or implied, of the U.S. Government.

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SOURCE Lockheed Martin

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