CHICAGO, May 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Following its recognition as an Innovator in Redhand Advisor’s 2025 RMIS Report, Aclaimant, a leader in next-generation risk management solutions, today announced the launch of its AI Assistant. This powerful tool leverages artificial intelligence to deliver real-time support for critical risk management tasks, including data analysis, risk assessments, compliance monitoring, and informed decision-making. By providing immediate insights and streamlined workflows tailored to the needs of risk and safety managers, AI Assistant proactively identifies risks, mitigates threats, and optimizes resource allocation.

“Our clients face increasing demands with limited resources,” stated David Wald, Co-Founder and President of Aclaimant. “AI Assistant serves as their dedicated risk management partner, capable of searching, summarizing, analyzing, predicting, recommending, and executing tasks and actions. This is a true force multiplier, and we are just beginning to unlock its potential.”

AI Assistant also powers Aclaimant’s patent-pending DIPDash (Data Ingestion Pipeline & Dashboard). This specialized multi-stage platform directly addresses the significant challenges the insurance industry encounters in obtaining, creating, and maintaining high-quality data sets across all systems of record, particularly with insurance claims.

“Aclaimant’s AI capabilities, built upon our modern architecture, represent a fundamental shift in the Risk Management Information Systems (RMIS) space,” affirmed Kathy Burns, CEO of Aclaimant. “We are honored by Redhand Report’s recognition of our industry leadership. Our AI-driven analytics and workflow solutions are revolutionizing the RMIS landscape, delivering immediate value and enabling clients to go live in weeks, not months or years.”

For more information about Aclaimant and AI Assistant, please visit https://www.aclaimant.com/solutions/ai-insights

About Aclaimant

Aclaimant is a next-generation Risk Management Information System (RMIS) designed to empower every organization to protect what matters most. Our intuitive, easy-to-use and powerful platform enables employers, brokers, carriers and TPAs to reduce the cost of risk and drive higher productivity. Aclaimant transforms the management of data, people, and processes through its workplace safety, incident and claims management, assets and exposures, AI and analytics solutions. Thousands of safety and risk management professionals rely on Aclaimant to achieve better outcomes. For more information, visit https://www.aclaimant.com.

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SOURCE Aclaimant

Updated Foundational Literacy Program Will Include New Digital Experience, Integrated Phonics Assessments and More

PORTSMOUTH, N.H., May 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Heinemann today announced the release of an updated edition of its popular foundational literacy program Saxon Reading Foundations. Previously known as Saxon Phonics and Spelling, the new program will be redesigned to feature engaging and kid-friendly illustrations alongside a brand new digital experience and new and updated content aligned to the latest science of reading research. Saxon Reading Foundations will be available on the Heinemann Flight platform for the 2025-2026 school year.

Authored by special education teacher Lorna Simmons, Saxon Reading Foundations is a research-based, structured, sequential phonics program for K-2 students, designed to explicitly teach phonemic awareness, phonics and fluency. Simmons’ years of formal training and classroom experience combined with her personal struggles to guide her own dyslexic son to reading success provide a unique foundation for this immersive program that has been found to be consistently effective for children of varying ability levels and socioeconomic backgrounds.

“I know from firsthand experience as a parent and as an educator how absolutely crucial it is all for students to receive evidence-based foundational skills instruction,” said Lorna Simmons. “I’m proud that Saxon has helped to turn so many children into successful readers and I’m excited to offer a new edition that builds on the program’s strengths, incorporates the most up-to-date research on effective instruction, and provides digital tools that will help make teachers’ lives easier.”

Research-Based Enhancements to Strengthen Instruction
The new edition of Saxon will add a new scope and sequence in Grade K with students being introduced to a new letter a day to reflect the latest research on appropriate pacing. There will be new practice opportunities with decodable text included in student workbooks and phonological awareness instruction integrated into the lessons in Grades K and 1. Grade 2 will add morphology extension lessons as part of an updated scope and sequence, giving students additional opportunities to practice advanced phonics skills. The new program will also have improved multilingual learner supports throughout and new beginning-, middle- and end-of-year phonics assessments to help teachers track student progress and tailor instruction to meet students’ needs.

New Digital Tools to Increase Ease of Use for Teachers
An updated digital experience on the Heinemann Flight platform will provide teachers with implementation and pacing support alongside expanded classroom modeling and tutorial videos. The new edition of Saxon will also add digital assessment and reporting capabilities so teachers can quickly monitor student progress and access student data to inform classroom instruction.

“Over the course of its nearly 40-year history, Saxon Reading Foundations has been incredibly popular among classroom teachers, thanks to its immersive, innovative and engaging design. But the main driver of the program’s continued success is a simple yet powerful one: it is extremely effective at helping children master the foundational skills they need to become confident and joyful readers,” said Maggie DeMont, general manager of Heinemann. “Heinemann is delighted to be able to continue to perfect this proven program with a brand new edition, designed to help transform the next generation of students into successful readers.”

For more information about Saxon Reading Foundations, please visit: https://www.heinemann.com/saxon-reading-foundations/.

About Heinemann
Heinemann is a leading provider of professional resources and educational services for educators, kindergarten through college. Heinemann supports the professionalism of teachers as they help children become literate, compassionate, engaged citizens of the world. Heinemann authors are exemplary educators eager to support the practice of other teachers through professional books and explicit teaching materials, streaming videos, podcasts and blogs, as well as professional learning experiences, both live and online. Heinemann is dedicated to teachers and the modernization of the teaching profession. Visit Heinemann.com to learn more.

Media Contact:
Erika McCaffrey
Director, Communications
Heinemann Publishing
publicity@heinemann.com

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SOURCE Heinemann

New GoDaddy research shows entrepreneurs remain focused on growth despite rising concern

TEMPE, Ariz., May 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Nearly half of U.S. small and microbusiness owners expect the national economy to weaken in the coming months. Despite the outlook, most still believe their own businesses will grow, according to new survey data released today by GoDaddy.

In the latest findings from the GoDaddy Small Business Research Lab, formerly known as Venture Forward, 49% of 2,100 U.S. microbusiness owners* surveyed predict a weaker economy in the next six months. That is up 17 points from 2024. Even so, 66% of respondents have positive revenue expectations, and only 9% forecast a sales decline.

“Small business owners are realistic about the economy, but they believe in themselves,” said GoDaddy CEO Aman Bhutani. “GoDaddy’s research shows they remain intent on pushing their small businesses forward.”

The GoDaddy Small Business Research Lab findings reflect a steady shift over time. In 2023, 73% of microbusiness owners said they expected to grow revenue in the first 6 months of the year. Now in 2025, it stands at 66%. Most respondents still expect growth, clearly, but the trend indicates weakening optimism.

Entrepreneurs are also adjusting their long-term goals. 40% now say they plan to remain solo entrepreneurs – up from 36% last year – versus aspiring to build mid-size or corporate enterprises. This points to a growing interest in right-sized businesses that match owners’ lifestyles and risk tolerance.

Rising Costs Put Pressure on Small Business Margins

While optimism holds, cost pressures are rising and showing up not just in what small businesses pay, but what they can charge. Over half (52%) of respondents cited limited cash flow as their biggest financial barrier, but existing expenses (34%) and pricing pressure on goods and services (33%) ranked highest among specific cost challenges.

These pricing pressures are especially acute among Construction & Home Trades (40%) and Creative-Media businesses (36%), with solo operators and small teams reporting they are feeling the pinch of existing operating costs the most. For businesses with 5–9 employees, wages emerged as the top cost barrier (45%), reflecting a shift toward labor-related pressure once headcount rises.

One in three owners (33%) also named financial strain as their primary source of stress—ranking it above challenges like adopting new technology, managing vendors, or finding and retaining customers.

Access to capital, often a major hurdle for new businesses, appears to be improving. Only 8% of owners say it is their top challenge, down from 10% the year before.

Sharing their perspective on the results, Victor W. Hwang, founder and CEO of Right to Start, a nonprofit that promotes U.S. small business growth, added: “The results of this GoDaddy survey demonstrate quantitatively the drive and resilience of entrepreneurs all across the United States. Their commitment to their enterprises is relentless and innovative. America’s entrepreneurs are an extraordinary resource for strengthening the U.S. economy and growing new businesses and jobs nationwide.”

Commenting on the findings, small business owner Leo Lopez owner of San Jose-based La Fenice Pizza said: “The economy is definitely uncertain right now, but as a small business owner, you learn to live with that. I’ve had to adjust, simplify, and focus on what really works, and that’s helped me grow stronger. For me, resilience isn’t about being unaffected. It’s about finding a way to keep going, even when things get unpredictable. That’s how I’ve built my business, and I think a lot of us are doing the same.”

“Entrepreneurs are planning for what is ahead,” Bhutani added. “They are navigating these times by staying focused and determined. At GoDaddy, our job is to make sure they have the tools they need to succeed.”

For more insights from GoDaddy’s latest small business research, visit the full report here:
https://www.godaddy.com/ventureforward/the-future-of-entrepreneurship-is-leaner-smarter-and-more-resilient

About GoDaddy

GoDaddy helps millions of entrepreneurs globally start, grow, and scale their businesses. People come to GoDaddy to name their idea, build a website and logo, sell their products and services and accept payments. GoDaddy Airo®, the company’s AI-powered experience, makes growing a small business faster and easier by helping them to get their idea online in minutes, drive traffic and boost sales. GoDaddy’s expert guides are available 24/7 to provide assistance. To learn more about the company, visit www.GoDaddy.com. 

* Microbusinesses are small businesses that typically employ fewer than 10 employees.

Source: GoDaddy Inc.

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SOURCE GoDaddy Inc.