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Interplay Learning and DBAKE Foundation Join Forces to Launch Construction Trade Pre-Apprenticeship Programs

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New program provides earn-while-you-learn trades training for underserved participants.

AUSTIN, Texas, July 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Interplay Learning, the leading provider of immersive skilled trades training, has proudly announced its partnership with the DBAKE Foundation, a St. Louis-based non-profit organization dedicated to promoting construction trades education for underserved youth. DBAKE is integrating Interplay Academy job-ready certificate programs into their paid, six-week pre-apprenticeship program to help young people gain job-ready skills and find fulfilling careers in the skilled trades.

Founded in 2022 by general contractor Annamarie Baker, the DBAKE Foundation is on a mission to fulfill the vision of her late son, Damion Baker, by creating awareness around trades careers and providing greater access to leading career training for underrepresented residents of St. Louis.

Commencing in September 2024, DBAKE’s earn-while-you-learn, six-week pre-apprenticeship program will feature Interplay Academy job-ready certificate pathways in HVAC, plumbing, electrical, construction, multi-family maintenance, building maintenance, and appliances. Leveraging immersive 3D simulations, VR, and high-impact video content, the pathways will guide learners from zero trades skills to job-ready. Curated training paths, combined with career support and in-person instruction, will lead participants to safely work towards earning an Interplay Learning Job-Ready Certificate and industry-recognized certifications like OSHA10 and EPA 608.

“As I strive to fulfill my son’s vision and empower underserved youth in our community, DBAKE’s partnership with Interplay Learning marks a pivotal moment in our journey,” said Annamarie Baker, founder, DBAKE Foundation. “With Interplay’s innovative technology, we’re not only modernizing education; we’re increasing access to careers that will unlock so much potential in our community.”

One standout feature of Interplay Learning’s training is its video game-like approach, making learning engaging and enjoyable for participants. This innovative method resonates with today’s tech-savvy youth, facilitating their engagement with the material and comprehension of complex trade skills.

Employ St. Louis will host the inaugural class with R&R Marketplace in Dellwood, a revitalized community hub. A job fair at the end of the program will facilitate direct connections between learners and potential employers, while DBAKE Foundation’s deep industry connections to major employers and union partners will ensure that graduates can transition smoothly into structured registered apprenticeships and employment opportunities.

“At Interplay, our goal has always been to equip individuals with the tools for success in the trades,” said Doug Donovan, CEO and founder, Interplay Learning. “This partnership with the DBAKE Foundation highlights our dedication to making a real impact in communities, bridging gaps, and creating opportunities. Together, we’re forging a future where every aspiring tradesperson can thrive.”

For more information about the DBAKE Foundation and how you can donate, visit https://givebutter.com/2qP1s9 or email abaker@dbake.org

About the DBAKE Foundation
The DBAKE Foundation, established by Annamarie Baker, is a St. Louis-based non-profit organization dedicated to advancing construction trades education for underserved youth while honoring the memory of her late son, Damion Baker. Through high-quality training programs and strategic partnerships, the foundation aims to empower young people to pursue fulfilling careers in the skilled trades, thus fulfilling Damion’s vision and legacy.

About Interplay Learning
Austin-based Interplay Learning is the industry leader in immersive training solutions for the skilled trades. Interplay’s acclaimed SkillMill training platform enables rapid upskilling and empowers new technicians to be job-ready within weeks, not years. Featuring expert-led videos, hands-on 3D simulations, knowledge checks, and personalized learning paths, SkillMill is more scalable and engaging than traditional training. Leveraging advanced technologies like AI and VR, Interplay is reshaping the future of online skilled trades training, delivering highly effective learning experiences that result in better careers and better lives.

Recent accolades include Fast Company’s 2024 Most Innovative Companies in the World, AHR’s 2024 Innovation Award, Forbes’ 2023 America’s Best Startup Employers, 2022 Inc. 5000 list, and 2022 Inc. Best in Business list. Visit www.interplaylearning.com to learn more.

MEDIA CONTACT: 
Heather Ripley
Ripley PR
(865) 977-1973
hripley@ripleypr.com

 

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SOURCE Interplay Learning

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3 Easy Ways to Save on Payroll Software in 2025

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New survey results from Halfpricesoft reveals key tricks businesses across America have been using to maximize efficiency.

REDMOND, Wash. , Jan. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — With inflation, “shrinkflation,” and corporate price hikes since the pandemic, small businesses are being squeezed by big tech companies into ever-smaller margins. Large coastal tech providers continue raising prices on even the most basic payroll software features, leaving small businesses and bookkeepers to foot the bill.

 

Business experts at Halfpricesoft have spent thousands of hours talking with small businesses from Iowa to Idaho to learn how they are surviving these unprecedented times. From cutting overhead costs to running more effective acquisition campaigns, they found that one of the biggest unnecessary expenses is overpaying for tech products—particularly payroll software. Business owners and accountants shared stories of per-employee fees exceeding $10 and steep charges for adding new companies.

Fixed Price for Employees

The fastest way to save money on payroll is to pick software with a fixed price rather than per-employee charges. Many major providers charge double digits per additional employee, which quickly drives up costs. Instead, choose solutions that offer a fixed rate, regardless of the number of employees.

ezPaycheck, an unlimited-employee payroll solution from Halfpricesoft, does exactly that. With unlimited employees and unlimited checks, bookkeepers, CPAs, and business owners have saved as much as 90% by switching from larger competitors. By focusing on fewer (but essential) features and streamlining development, ezPaycheck has been sold and supported continuously since 2005.

https://www.halfpricesoft.com/index.asp

Accurate, Updated Tax Withholding

One of the most common (and costly) mistakes businesses make is using payroll software that overestimates withholding. When employers send excess funds to the IRS and state governments on behalf of employees, it ties up capital that could otherwise be reinvested into the business.

The key to scaling a  small business or CPA firm is efficient capital allocation, making any significant overpayment of taxes a major liability. Some payroll software, to avoid underpayment, will drastically overcalculate withholdings or fail to handle state tax rates correctly.

Halfpricesoft takes pride in ezPaycheck’s accuracy and rapid updates. Whenever new tax laws or rate changes are announced, ezPaycheck and ezAccounting are updated promptly—often faster than many other solutions on the market. This commitment to accuracy and ease of use explains why ezPaycheck boasts one of the highest customer retention rates in the industry.

Quick Technical Support

Small businesses are often overlooked by larger companies, even when paying thousands of dollars in annual fees. When payroll errors or calculation issues arise, major providers tend to prioritize their biggest clients, leaving smaller businesses with delayed or inadequate support. This oversight can lead to tax penalties and costly mistakes.

ezPaycheck stands out in the payroll market for its fast, attentive support—especially when W-2 and 1099-MISC forms are due at the end of January. During these peak periods, support hours extend to over 12 hours a day, ensuring quick response times. From remote desktop troubleshooting to detailed phone consultations, Halfpricesoft focuses on customer success as one of its guiding principles. Only when small-business partners succeed can a payroll company truly grow.

Conclusion

With a 30 day free trial  and only $169 for an annual license, businesses owners and CPAs are encouraged to try ezPaycheck. With after the fact checks, 941 e-filing, check printing, and misc checks, ezPaycheck is the best payroll software for small businesses who want to scale affordably.

https://www.halfpricesoft.com/index.asp

Halfpricesoft.com is a leading provider of small to mid-size business software, including online and desktop payroll software, online employee attendance tracking software, accounting software, in-house business and personal check printing software, W2, software, 1099 software,1095 form software and ezACH direct deposit software. Software from halfpricesoft.com is trusted by customers for over 20 years and will allow US business owners to simplify payroll processing and streamline business management.

 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/3-easy-ways-to-save-on-payroll-software-in-2025-302344122.html

SOURCE Halfpricesoft.com

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Siemens launches new program to empower startups with cutting-edge technology

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Siemens for Startups program to streamline the collaboration process and facilitate partnerships with new innovative companiesSiemens to collaborate with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to deliver access to Siemens Xcelerator ecosystem and accelerate innovation at startups

MUNICH, Jan. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Siemens today launched Siemens for Startups, a new program to empower early-stage engineering and manufacturing startups. Announced at CES 2025 in Las Vegas, the program will enable new innovative companies to accelerate innovation, streamline development processes and scale faster by providing venture-related services, while reducing the cost of access to Siemens software and hardware.

“Startups are essential to making our customers more competitive, sustainable and resilient. By collaborating with startups, Siemens helps bring breakthrough ideas to industries faster, empowering customers to address global challenges more effectively with cutting-edge technologies, tools and solutions,” said Peter Koerte, Member of the Managing Board of Siemens AG, Chief Technology Officer and Chief Strategy Officer. 

The Siemens for Startups program has three pillars:

Connect 
The new program will help onboard startup companies to the Siemens Xcelerator marketplace, thus providing access to a global go-to-market channel and the Siemens Xcelerator ecosystem.Collaborate 
As an early customer and co-developer, Siemens will collaborate with leading startups through venture clienting. This approach will give Siemens access to cutting-edge capabilities and services and provide startups with the early revenue needed for growth.Empower
Solutions from the “Siemens for Startups” program will provide startups – whether focused on product development or on software development – with packaged access to essential software tools from Siemens Xcelerator.

Partnership with AWS

As part of its ongoing strategic collaboration with AWS, Siemens will link the “Siemens for Startups” program with AWS’s Startup program to accelerate innovation, streamline development processes and enable startups to scale faster. The collaboration underscores both companies’ commitment to fostering entrepreneurship and driving digital transformation in the industrial sector.

“Collaborating with Siemens allows us to extend the capabilities of our AWS Startup program to a new generation of innovators in the engineering and manufacturing space,” said Jon Jones, Vice President and Global Head Startups at AWS. “By providing startups with advanced software, generative AI and cloud services, AWS and Siemens are enabling them to bring their ideas to life more quickly and boost entire industries with cutting-edge solutions.”

Integrating Siemens’ comprehensive suite of industrial software – including design, simulation and manufacturing solutions from the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio – into AWS’s scalable cloud infrastructure and startup program will enable startups to access the tools and resources they need to seize market opportunities. For technical and go-to-market support, qualifying startups will receive AWS credits, business development resources and access to the AWS Activate program.

Showcasing startups

At CES 2025, Siemens highlighted the following startup companies that are collaborating with Siemens’ teams and technology to scale operations.

Arkisys is building one of the first business platforms in space for new technology hosting, satellite integration, assembly and resupply. The Arkisys Port supports scalable rapid prototyping, new payload and technology testing, the assembly and integration of new free-flying space platforms and destinations for orbital transfer vehicles, and on-orbit assembly and manufacturing.Dirac, a Siemens Technology Partner, is a leader in automated manufacturing workflow software, revolutionizing American manufacturing with innovative solutions that bridge the gap between design and production. Its flagship product, BuildOS, is the first automated work instruction platform, using physics-based simulations and manufacturing best practices to automatically generate animated, interactive, 3D assembly-ready work instructions directly from CAD models. BuildOS enables companies to seamlessly transition from design to production while retaining critical tacit knowledge, aggregating and contextualizing it within the design process. As a Technology Partner working alongside Siemens, Dirac has been able to drive enormous value across the Automotive and Aerospace & Defense industries.EthonAI is developing the EthonAI Manufacturing Analytics System (MAS), a powerful software suite designed to achieve operational excellence at scale. The MAS creates a common context across disparate factory data sources, analyzes data using the latest AI techniques, and makes the results accessible through a suite of interoperating applications. The applications within the MAS are specifically tailored to improve operational KPIs such as quality, throughput, uptime, costs and sustainability. Customers using EthonAI have achieved waste reductions of over 50 percent.Haddy is revolutionizing furniture manufacturing with advanced 3D printing and robotics, producing high-quality, sustainable products at a low cost and on a commercial scale. Haddy is building a global network of local micro-factories equipped with hybrid Flexbot systems from CEAD and recycling units that shorten the supply chain and help the environment by reducing waste.Instrumental technology automates failure discovery and root cause analysis in electronics manufacturing — accelerating new product development and improving yield in production. Easy-to-use workflows enable engineers to do failure analysis 100x faster.Tended uses geospatial data and wearable technology to transform the safety of high-risk work environments. The solution provides organizations with enhanced visibility over onsite operations to quickly identify and correct unsafe actions. A high degree of accuracy helps to ensure people, plant and equipment are in the right place at the right time, helping to prevent near misses and accidents.

More information about Siemens for Startups is available at www.siemens.com/startups

This press release is available at:
https://sie.ag/2vXqqh

Follow us at www.x.com/siemens_press

Siemens AG (Berlin and Munich) is a leading technology company focused on industry, infrastructure, mobility, and healthcare. The company’s purpose is to create technology to transform the everyday, for everyone. By combining the real and the digital worlds, Siemens empowers customers to accelerate their digital and sustainability transformations, making factories more efficient, cities more livable, and transportation more sustainable. Siemens also owns a majority stake in the publicly listed company Siemens Healthineers, a leading global medical technology provider pioneering breakthroughs in healthcare. For everyone. Everywhere. Sustainably. 

In fiscal 2024, which ended on September 30, 2024, the Siemens Group generated revenue of €75.9 billion and net income of €9.0 billion. As of September 30, 2024, the company employed around 312,000 people worldwide on the basis of continuing operations. Further information is available on the Internet at www.siemens.com.

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SOURCE Siemens

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Tech Mahindra Tops India and Achieves Second Place Globally in the S&P Dow Jones Sustainability Indices 2024 for TSV IT Services Segment

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PUNE, India and NEW YORK, Jan. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Tech Mahindra (NSE: TECHM), a leading global provider of technology consulting and digital solutions to enterprises across industries, has announced its recognition as a global sustainability leader by S&P Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) 2024, one of the world’s most renowned indices for ESG (Environmental, Social & Governance). DJSI has ranked Tech Mahindra as 1st in India and 2nd globally, with an impressive score of 88 and 100 percentile in the ‘TSV IT services’ segment, highlighting the organization’s unwavering commitment to advancing sustainability across its businesses globally.

The TSV IT services segment comprises three divisions: data processing and outsourced services, internet services and infrastructure, and IT consulting & other services. The announcement follows the recent results of the annual Dow Jones Sustainability Indices rebalancing and reconstitution, marking Tech Mahindra’s inclusion in the DJSI World Index and DJSI Emerging Markets for the tenth consecutive year. The DJSI World Index represents the top 10% of the largest 2,500 companies in the S&P Global Broad Market Index (BMI) based on long-term economic, environmental, and social criteria.

Sandeep Chandna, Chief Sustainability Officer, Tech Mahindra, said, “In a rapidly changing world, organizations must commit to sustainability and resilience, ensuring our actions today pave the way for a better tomorrow. Tech Mahindra is proud to celebrate its inclusion in the prestigious Dow Jones Sustainability Indices for the 10th consecutive year. This sustainability milestone is a testament to our commitment to a greener future and reflects our unwavering commitment to environmental responsibility, social impact, and ethical practices.”

Tech Mahindra’s sustainability initiatives are committed to creating a positive environmental impact and achieving ambitious targets, including Net Zero by 2035, Carbon Neutrality by 2030, and attaining 90% renewable energy sourcing by 2030. The organization also aims to become water-positive by 2030 and ensure 100% Zero Waste to Landfill certification across all owned facilities.

Through the implementation of an internal carbon pricing mechanism, Tech Mahindra drives strategic investments in renewable energy, green buildings, and energy-efficient technologies. This reinforces Tech Mahindra’s position as a global leader in sustainability, committed to creating lasting value for its stakeholders and the planet.

For more information on the Dow Jones Sustainability World Indices components, click here.

For more information on how TechM can partner with you to meet your Scale at Speed™ imperatives, please visit https://www.techmahindra.com/

Tech Mahindra’s Social Media Channels: Facebook, X, LinkedIn and YouTube

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2539364/Tech_Mahindra_Logo.jpg

 

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SOURCE Tech Mahindra

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