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Promotions, Retirements and a New Loan Office for OVBC

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GALLIPOLIS, Ohio, May 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Ohio Valley Banc Corp. (Nasdaq: OVBC) recognized Thomas E. Wiseman’s previously announced retirement as chairman of the board at OVBC’s shareholders meeting on May 13, 2026.

Wiseman was a founding board member of Ohio Valley Banc Corp. in 1992. He joined the board of The Ohio Valley Bank Company (OVB) the same year. At the time, he was president of The Wiseman Agency, representing the third generation operating the multi-line independent insurance agency started by his grandfather in 1928. Over the next years, Wiseman’s role at OVB grew, leading him from the position of lead independent director to president and chief executive officer, and lastly chairman of the board.

Under his direction, OVBC surpassed one-billion dollars in assets. His anthem of putting “Community First” inspires bankers and customers alike. Though stepping down from his role as chairman, Wiseman will remain a member of the board of directors of both OVBC and OVB.

Reflecting upon the Board’s decision to appoint Mr. Smith, Wiseman stated, “At the company’s organizational meeting, the Board determined that it was time to move from a lead independent director governance structure to an independent chairman governance structure as many other publicly traded companies have.”

K. Ryan Smith, a director of OVBC since 2021, was named OVBC’s first independent chairman of the board. Smith is president of the University of Rio Grande and Rio Grande Community College. He is a graduate of Gallia Academy High School and holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from The Ohio State University.

Smith, a native of Gallia County, Ohio, spent the first 23 years of his career working as vice president and partner of Smith Financial Advisors. The family-run business managed wealth for individuals throughout the region. His desire for public service led him to his election to the Ohio State House of Representatives, where he served as finance chairman and ultimately Speaker of the House before stepping down to serve in his current role at the university. He will continue in his role as president at the university and community college while also serving as OVBC chairman.

He and his wife of 29 years, Vicki, are the proud parents of four children. Over the years, Smith has served his community well in leadership roles with the Gallia County Chamber of Commerce, Holzer Health System, and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. He is currently a member of the Gallia County Community Improvement Corporation.

Wiseman further commented, “Teamed with a strong CEO as we have in Larry Miller, together, they will provide leadership and strategic vision ensuring your company’s continued success.”

The position of lead director was eliminated upon the retirement of David W. Thomas, who earlier this year notified the board of his intent to retire at the 2026 annual meeting. Thomas, former chief examiner of the Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Financial Institutions, has been a vital asset to the board with his wealth of knowledge and expertise in the field of banking. As a member of the board for more than 18 years, Thomas served on the executive, audit, enterprise risk and nominating committees. He also was the chair of the audit and enterprise risk committee.

In addition, Thomas has been an active member of the community for many years. From coaching and umpiring youth baseball to being a member of the Heritage Christian Church, he has exemplified what it means to put “Community First.” He currently resides in Westerville, Ohio, with his wife, Peggy, and enjoys spending time with his four children and five grandchildren.

Larry E. Miller II, OVB chief executive officer, announced that Ryan J. Jones has been named as the company’s new president. Jones will also resume his responsibilities as chief operating officer. Jones began his career in banking in 1999 with Milton Bank. While there, he fulfilled many roles, including BSA officer, compliance officer, audit liaison, loan officer, security officer, operations officer, and chief operating officer. In 2008, Jones became a member of the Milton Banking Company Board of Directors, where he served as secretary. When Milton Bank merged with OVB in 2016, he served as the OVB chief risk officer before later accepting the role of chief operating officer and risk officer in 2022.

Jones, a lifelong Jackson, Ohio, resident, graduated from Jackson High School and obtained his degree in business management from the University or Rio Grande. He is also a graduate of the Ohio Bankers League Bank Leadership Institute. In addition, Jones has completed the Metavante Regulatory Services Advanced Compliance School, Advanced Deposit and Operations School and Advanced Loan School. He also completed the Community Bankers Association Consumer Lending Institute.

Outside of the financial world, Jones is a very active member of the community as he currently serves on the Jackson Area Festival Events (JAFE), Jackson Apple Festival, Jackson Bullpen Club, and is a Holzer Heritage Foundation Board Member. He enjoys spending time with his wife Aimee, and their two children.

CEO Miller also announced that a new OVB Loan Office will be opening in Charleston, West Virginia, this summer. New locations in South Bloomfield and Ironton, Ohio, are also in the early planning stages.

Ohio Valley Banc Corp. common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol OVBC. The holding company owns The Ohio Valley Bank Company, a $1.5 billion asset community bank with 18 offices in Ohio and West Virginia, and Loan Central, Inc. with six consumer finance offices in Ohio. Learn more about Ohio Valley Banc Corp. at www.ovbc.com.

Contact Bryna Butler, Ohio Valley Bank, 740-578-3400, bsbutler@ovbc.com or: Hope Roush, Ohio Valley Bank, 740-578-3452, hdroush@ovbc.com

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SOURCE Ohio Valley Banc Corp.

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LEAP Group Relaunches HumanView, a Growth Intelligence System Built to Explain Why Customers Behave the Way They Do

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7 hours ago

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October 24, 2026

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Reimagined from the ground up, HumanView pairs statistical modeling with expert analysts to turn millions of real-world customer signals into business decisions

LOUISVILLE, Ky., Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — LEAP Group today announced the relaunch of HumanView, its growth intelligence service. The new version has been rebuilt from the ground up and now has a dedicated home at leapgroupnetwork.com/humanview.

HumanView analyzes what customers say and do across social platforms, e-commerce sites, review platforms, search behavior and user-generated content, including signals from Reddit, TikTok, YouTube, Meta, Amazon and Walmart+ that general AI tools cannot always access. Because the data reflects unprompted, real-world behavior, it avoids the response bias built into surveys and focus groups.

The service works in three layers. HumanView captures signals at scale, decodes millions of records through validated statistical models such as regression, correlation and clustering, and then relies on experienced analysts to interpret the patterns. Clients receive clear, human-validated insights instead of another dashboard.

“Machines find the patterns. Humans find the point,” said Alan Gilleo, CEO at LEAP Group. “The first version of HumanView showed us how much customers reveal when nobody is asking them questions. This version is built to explain why they act the way they do, and to put those answers in front of everyone making decisions, from product to service to marketing.”

HumanView focuses on three areas:

Growth Intelligence: customer motivations and how people perceive a brand and its competitors

Market and Category Intelligence: product pain points, service friction, unmet needs and competitive gaps

Audience Intelligence: new segments, positioning opportunities and gaps in the market

Every model is designed and validated by data scientists and benchmarked before it informs a recommendation.

To learn more about HumanView, visit leapgroupnetwork.com/humanview.

About LEAP Group
LEAP Group is a boutique marketing agency holding company with offices in Louisville, Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Chicago. Guided by the belief that brands should “Market Less. Matter More.,” LEAP gives clients access to specialized experts across its entire network. Learn more at leapgroupnetwork.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/leap-group-relaunches-humanview-a-growth-intelligence-system-built-to-explain-why-customers-behave-the-way-they-do-302918557.html

SOURCE LEAP Group

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STEPHEN A. SMITH ADDRESSES WHITE HOUSE DINNER ATTENDANCE, REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO HBCUs AND PROTECTING CORPORATE INVESTMENT IN BLACK EDUCATION

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8 hours ago

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October 24, 2026

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NEW YORK, Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Stephen A. Smith, media mogul, New York Times bestselling author, and proud 1991 graduate of Winston-Salem State University, is addressing the public discussion surrounding his decision to attend a White House dinner with President Donald Trump, emphasizing his commitment to the long-term financial stability of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

For Smith, the decision was rooted in a commitment to institutions that have educated generations of Black leaders, professionals, entrepreneurs, and public servants.

“I will always advocate for HBCUs and the students whose futures depend on them,” Smith said. “My reason for attending the White House dinner was to discuss the challenges these institutions face in securing long-term funding and to make the case that corporate America must continue to invest in them.”

Smith acknowledged federal support through the FUTURE Act while expressing concern that political tensions surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) could discourage private companies from supporting HBCUs. He maintains that these institutions deserve sustained corporate partnerships, philanthropic contributions, and public investment.

“If we truly believe in free-market capitalism, businesses should be able to support educational institutions and charitable causes without fear of criticism or repercussions,” Smith said. “HBCUs have made extraordinary contributions to this country. They deserve sustained public and private investment.”

Ashley Christopher, Esq., Founder and CEO of the HBCU Week Foundation, recognized Smith’s advocacy and decision to engage with the administration.

“Stephen A. Smith has been a powerful advocate for HBCUs, using his platform and influence to shine a national spotlight on our institutions,” expressed Christopher, “His continued support of HBCU Week helps advance our mission of connecting students with life-changing educational opportunities, and we are proud to have him as our ambassador.”

Since Smith became an HBCU Week Ambassador in 2019, the initiative has facilitated more than 15,000 on-the-spot college acceptances and raised and awarded more than $150 million in scholarships, according to the HBCU Week Foundation.

As public discussion continues, Smith is emphasizing the importance of ensuring HBCUs have the resources and partnerships needed to educate future generations and expand opportunities for students.

CLICK HERE to watch Smith’s full response to his White House visit.

MEDIA CONTACT:

media@mrsasinc.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/stephen-a-smith-addresses-white-house-dinner-attendance-reaffirms-commitment-to-hbcus-and-protecting-corporate-investment-in-black-education-302918547.html

SOURCE Straight Shooter Media

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Advantex Announces Completion of Financing and Extension of Maturity Date of Previously Issued Debentures

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8 hours ago

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October 24, 2026

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TORONTO, Oct. 23, 2026 /CNW/ — Advantex Marketing International Inc. (CSE: ADX) (“Advantex”), a leader in the merchant cash advance and loyalty marketing products for merchants, today announced the completion of a $250,000 secured debt financing. Advantex issued a $250,000 non-convertible debenture which bears an interest rate at 12% per annum and matures December 15, 2027. The proceeds raised from this issuance of the Debenture will be used for working capital purposes.

Advantex has also extended the maturity of its existing $700,000 in 12% secured debentures from October 10, 2026 to December 15, 2027.

About Advantex Marketing International Inc.

Advantex provides working capital to merchants. Advantex also provides specialized marketing programs that enable members of Aeroplan to earn Aeroplan points at participating merchants.

Advantex shares trade on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol ADX. For more information go to Advantex’s profile on www.sedar.com

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable securities laws relating to the future business and operations of Advantex. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements. The business and operations of Advantex described herein is dependent on a number of factors and is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to differ material include, but are not limited to, changes in Advantex’s economic and competitive conditions including but not limited to the industry sectors in which Advantex operates.

The statements in this news release are made of the date of this release. Forward-looking statements are made based on management’s beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date the statements are made and Advantex undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as required by applicable law.

SOURCE Advantex Marketing International Inc.

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