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Fulcrum and Woolpert Connect Utility Vegetation Risk Data Straight to the Crews Who Act on It

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Partnership turns lidar-based risk scores into scoped fieldwork with auditable proof-of-work

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Fulcrum, the Field Operations Management platform for almost 3,000 organizations, and Woolpert, the global leader in architecture, engineering, and geospatial (AEG) services for the utility industry, today announced a partnership that connects lidar-based vegetation risk data to the field crews who need it, which enables them to take the actions that drive down actual risk.

Most power utilities manage transmission and distribution infrastructure without an up-to-date, condition-based view of it. That gap forces reactive maintenance: Crews get sent to low-risk spans while encroachment goes undetected somewhere else, outages climb, and regulators take notice. Meanwhile, expectations keep rising — storms shouldn’t mean days without power, dry conditions shouldn’t mean wildfire risk, and utilities are expected to show they’re in control of their network, not reacting to it.

Key capabilities from Woolpert and Fulcrum address the needs of utility companies and their service partners

Woolpert’s advanced lidar and imagery build a precise, connected 3D model of a utility’s corridors, scoring vegetation encroachment and clearance risk down to the span and canopy level.

Fulcrum, the platform field organizations use to run, record, and close out their work, takes that scored data into the field. Crews see which spans need attention first, execute the work, and close it out with a documented record. Completed work flows back to Woolpert, closing the loop between what was surveyed, what got done, and what’s ready for the next compliance cycle.

Instead of giving every span the same attention on the same schedule, the approach works the highest-risk spans first, replacing cycle-based vegetation management with risk-based management. Clearance documentation and hazard-tree identification, captured as structured data rather than trailing paperwork, cut wildfire and safety exposure for crews and the public and leave utilities with a defensible record when regulators ask for one.

“Woolpert enables utilities to get vegetation data, but those organizations need a reliable path from a risk score to the crew standing at the right pole,” said Mike Lambert, Chief Product Officer, Fulcrum. “This partnership puts that path in place, with field teams getting the best possible outcome at the pole by working off the same prioritized, current picture the office is looking at, and the results feeding straight back into it.”

“We built this because managing vegetation risk is a continuous, significant effort that requires a closed loop from observation to action and back again,” said Sam Acheson, Market Director, Woolpert. “Bringing Fulcrum into the workflow means the risk we identify from the air turns into documented action on the ground, which generates additional data that further improves risk mitigation.”

The Fulcrum-Woolpert integration is live today, and is the first of several anticipated use cases for the companies’ combined technology and expertise. The next extension of these capabilities will bring the same lidar-to-field-action model to facilities management by verifying clearance between buildings and high-voltage lines.

About Fulcrum

Fulcrum is the Field Operations Management platform that replaces the many narrow point solutions and paper still common in the field. Field organizations use Fulcrum to run, record, and close out their work. Electric, gas, water, and wastewater utilities, and the engineering, construction, and inspection firms that serve them, run asset management, vegetation management, linear construction, and emergency response and disaster recovery on Fulcrum, capturing an AI-ready record of every job. Almost 3,000 companies use Fulcrum today. Fulcrum is developed by Spatial Networks, Inc., headquartered in San Francisco, California. Learn more at fulcrumapp.com.

About Woolpert

Woolpert is a global leader in architecture, engineering, and geospatial (AEG) services, with over a century of experience driving innovation and delivering impact. Woolpert fuses deep technical expertise with a forward-thinking mindset to solve complex challenges across the public, private, and government sectors. Woolpert is proud to be a certified Great Place to Work, a Top 10 Building Design+Construction firm, a Top 50 Engineering News-Record Design firm, and a Global Top 100 Geospatial company. Woolpert operates from more than 75 offices across five continents — building smarter, more resilient communities around the world. Learn more at woolpert.com.

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SOURCE Fulcrum

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In HelloNation, IT Expert Richard Hermann Explains Aging Office Computers

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HelloNation Article Explains Why Aging Office Computers Can Quietly Raise Costs and Slow Daily Business Operations.

BUFFALO, N.Y., Sept. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The article explains that a computer can still turn on and still fail to perform well. Aging office computers often take much longer to open programs than newer models, and employees notice the delay even without knowing the cause.

According to the article, older hardware also tends to fail more often as parts wear down over time. Hard drives, batteries, and cooling systems all become less reliable with age, which can lead to repair bills or unexpected downtime.

The article notes that security is another growing concern, since many older machines no longer receive full software updates. Businesses that store customer or financial records face greater risk when equipment cannot keep up with current protections.

The article breaks computer costs into two parts, the price paid at purchase and the cost of keeping a machine running afterward. It explains that repairs, support calls, and slow performance can quietly outweigh the savings from delaying a purchase.

Employee time is described in the article as one of the largest hidden costs of outdated technology. A worker who loses ten minutes a day to a slow machine can lose close to forty hours a year, a loss that grows quickly across a full staff.

The article states that most computers perform well for three to five years before real slowdowns begin, and that watching for early warning signs helps time an upgrade before problems affect daily work. It lists frequent freezing, slow startups, and repeated support calls as signals worth taking seriously.

Budgeting for replacement ahead of time, the article explains, reduces stress when a device eventually fails and turns technology spending into a predictable expense rather than an emergency one. Businesses that track replacement cycles closely, it notes, tend to avoid costly surprises and keep operations running smoothly.

The right timeline, according to the article, depends on how a business actually uses its technology day to day. Companies that rely on design work, data analysis, or other demanding tasks may need to replace equipment sooner than businesses with lighter computing needs.

Insights from IT Expert Richard Hermann, featured in the article, point to reviewing computer age and performance once or twice a year as a simple way to catch problems with aging office computers early. The article adds that backups, data transfer, and a short training period for new equipment all deserve attention during any replacement plan.

The article recommends that owners avoid waiting until a computer completely fails, since emergency replacements often mean lost data and rushed purchases. A well timed upgrade, it explains, often pays for itself through fewer repairs, better security, and less lost time.

Overall, the article frames aging office computers as a hidden cost that grows over time rather than a single dramatic failure. Regular attention to performance, security, and employee feedback, IT Expert Richard Hermann’s insights suggest, supports smoother operations and fewer disruptions for a growing business.

Signs It Is Time to Retire Aging Business Computers features insights from Richard Hermann, IT Expert of Buffalo, New York, in HelloNation.

About HelloNation

HelloNation is America’s Good News Network, a premier media platform built on the idea that good news travels faster when real people tell real stories. Through its community-focused digital publications and innovative “edvertising” approach, HelloNation delivers expert-driven, good-news content that informs, inspires, and spotlights the leaders making a meaningful impact in their communities.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/in-hellonation-it-expert-richard-hermann-explains-aging-office-computers-302867945.html

SOURCE HelloNation

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LivePerson Stockholders Approve Acquisition by SoundHound AI

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NEW YORK, Sept. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — LivePerson (NASDAQ: LPSN) (“LivePerson” or “the Company”), a leading provider of predictable conversational AI, today announced that its stockholders voted to approve the proposed transaction with SoundHound AI, Inc. (NASDAQ: SOUN) at the Company’s Special Meeting of Stockholders (the “Special Meeting”) held earlier today.

John Sabino, CEO of LivePerson, said, “We are pleased with the results from our special meeting and thank our stockholders for their support as LivePerson takes this important step forward. We are now one step closer to joining forces with SoundHound AI, further strengthening our position in conversational AI and better positioning the combined business to serve customers and partners at scale. We look forward to working closely with the SoundHound AI team to complete this transaction and deliver the significant value creation potential it offers our stockholders.”

The transaction is expected to close on September 4, 2026, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of customary closing conditions. The final, certified voting results for the Special Meeting will be reported in a Form 8-K filed by LivePerson with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

About LivePerson

LivePerson (NASDAQ: LPSN) is an enterprise leader in predictable conversational AI. The world’s leading brands use our award-winning Conversational Cloud and Syntrix platforms to connect with millions of customers. We power nearly a billion messages every month, providing uniquely rich data analytics, agent training, and AI evaluation tools to unlock the power of conversational AI for better business outcomes. Learn more at liveperson.com.

Media Contact:

Riah Lawry
pr@liveperson.com 

Or

Jim Golden / Dylan O’Keefe
Collected Strategies
LivePerson-CS@collectedstrategies.com 

Investor Relations Contact:

ir-lp@liveperson.com 

Forward-Looking Statements

This document contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws about the expectations, beliefs, plans, intentions, prospects, financial results and strategies relating to SoundHound AI’s proposed acquisition of LivePerson. Such forward-looking statements include, among others, statements regarding the timing of filing the definitive proxy/prospectus and timing of LivePerson’s special meeting, obtaining regulatory approvals, the timing of closing of the proposed acquisition, and the parties’ expectations, intentions, strategies, assumptions or beliefs about future events, results of operations or performance or that do not solely relate to historical or current facts. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events or conditions that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this communication, including: (1) the occurrence of any event, change, or other circumstance that could give rise to the right of one or both of the parties to terminate the definitive merger agreement between LivePerson and SoundHound; (2) the possibility that the transaction does not close when expected or at all due to the failure to satisfy all of the conditions to closing on a timely basis or at all, including the failure to obtain the required shareholder approvals or to consummate the notes restructuring transactions contemplated by the Notes Restructuring Agreement; (3) the risk that the benefits from the transaction may not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected, including as a result of changes in, or problems arising from, general economic and market conditions, interest and exchange rates, monetary policy, trade policy (including tariff levels), laws and regulations and their enforcement, and the degree of competition in the geographic and business areas in which LivePerson and SoundHound operate; (4) any failure to promptly and effectively integrate the businesses of LivePerson and SoundHound; (5) the possibility that the transaction may be more expensive to complete than anticipated, including as a result of unexpected factors or events; (6) reputational risk and potential adverse reactions of LivePerson’s or SoundHound’s customers, employees or other business partners, including those resulting from the announcement, pendency or completion of the transaction; (7) the diversion of management’s attention and time to the transaction from ongoing business operations and opportunities; and (8) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against LivePerson or SoundHound or in connection with the transaction. Further information on factors that could affect the forward-looking statements and expectations above are contained in the filings that LivePerson and/or SoundHound AI have filed, or that will be filed, with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including as set forth in the Form S-4 and the proxy statement/prospectus contained therein, as well as the documents incorporated by reference therein.

All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements set forth above. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and LivePerson does not undertake or assume any obligation to update publicly any of these statements to reflect actual results, new information or future events, changes in assumptions, or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by applicable law.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/liveperson-stockholders-approve-acquisition-by-soundhound-ai-302867972.html

SOURCE LivePerson, Inc.

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Security Systems Expert Brandon Richardson of Manchester, NH Shares Long-Term Protection Tips for HelloNation

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MANCHESTER, N.H., Sept. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — How can property owners keep a security system effective year after year? A HelloNation article answers this question by explaining the small but consistent steps that strengthen equipment performance over time. Readers can explore these insights in a HelloNation article.

The feature highlights Security Systems Expert Brandon Richardson of Mount Major Tech in Manchester, who emphasizes that a reliable security system depends on maintenance, not just installation. Many people assume their system will keep working indefinitely once it is turned on. In practice, small shifts, updates, and overlooked settings can slowly reduce its effectiveness.

Richardson recommends starting with camera angles, since cameras form the backbone of visual evidence. Over months or years, weather, landscaping, or slight bumps can move them off target. Even a few inches of change may create blind spots that weaken coverage. The article explains that reviewing camera angles regularly helps maintain the original viewing plan, ensuring faces and license plates remain visible when incidents occur.

Access logs provide another layer of insight that many owners forget to check. These records track who enters, which credentials are used, and when doors open. Richardson reviews access logs for patterns that do not match normal schedules. If a door opens at an unusual hour or a credential appears unexpectedly, it may signal that permissions need updating or that a process is being misused. The HelloNation article shows how a few minutes of review can uncover issues long before they turn into serious problems.

User permissions also need consistent attention. The piece notes that as employees change roles, vendors rotate, or temporary users finish projects, outdated access remains one of the most common weaknesses in building security. A clean credential list reduces clutter and risk, making the security system easier to manage. Richardson updates these lists often to ensure that only the right people retain access to sensitive areas.

Passwords and codes, though simple, play a major role in preventing unauthorized entry. The HelloNation article explains that static passwords tend to spread over time because people share or write them down. Refreshing passwords and codes on a regular schedule greatly reduces that exposure. The process takes minutes but can prevent the gradual buildup of security gaps that go unnoticed.

Alert settings deserve steady review as well. Systems evolve, and so do business routines. Richardson tests each alert to confirm that it activates during real events and stays silent during normal operations. This process prevents alarm fatigue, which happens when staff receive too many irrelevant alerts and begin to ignore them. By tuning alerts carefully, teams stay confident in their system’s reliability and respond faster when something important occurs.

Software updates are another point of focus. Every major manufacturer releases updates to address bugs, patch vulnerabilities, and ensure compatibility with newer technology. Richardson checks cameras, recorders, access panels, and alarm hubs for current firmware. According to the article, staying current on software updates is one of the most effective ways to protect against modern digital threats. Skipping them can leave security systems exposed or incompatible with new devices.

Integration between systems further strengthens protection. The HelloNation piece describes how cameras, alarms, and access control systems support one another when they share data. A camera can confirm what triggered an alarm, while access logs identify who entered a door at the same time. When these systems are connected, property managers gain a more complete and accurate record of daily activity. This connected defense makes it easier to respond quickly during emergencies and review events after they happen.

Security Systems Expert Brandon Richardson points out that these checks do not require major overhauls. Instead, they should be short, regular reviews that guide the system and keep it performing as designed. A few simple habits—adjusting camera angles, checking access logs, reviewing user permissions, updating passwords, testing alerts, and installing software updates—add up to long-term reliability.

The HelloNation article concludes that the most dependable security system is the one that receives steady attention. Maintenance turns routine technology into a living, adaptable safeguard. By keeping components aligned, updated, and integrated, property owners maintain readiness without unnecessary cost or downtime.

Security System Tips for Better Long Term Protection features insights from Brandon Richardson, Security Systems Expert of Manchester, NH, in HelloNation.

About HelloNation
HelloNation is a premier media platform that connects readers with trusted professionals and businesses across various industries. Through its innovative “edvertising” approach that blends educational content and storytelling, HelloNation delivers expert-driven articles that inform, inspire, and empower. Covering topics from home improvement and health to business strategy and lifestyle, HelloNation highlights leaders making a meaningful impact in their communities.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/security-systems-expert-brandon-richardson-of-manchester-nh-shares-long-term-protection-tips-for-hellonation-302867955.html

SOURCE HelloNation

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