Guggenheim Expands SEA Operations with Strategic Focus on Indonesia Led by Prof. Wong Woon Thiam

Guggenheim announces its strategic expansion into Southeast Asia with a core focus on Indonesia, guided by Prof. Wong Woon Thiam. The initiative aims to enhance localized investment research, operational client support, and institutional technology frameworks across regional markets.

Indonesia, 11th Sep 2026 – Guggenheim has formally announced the strategic expansion of its operational footprint into Southeast Asia, establishing a dedicated presence in Indonesia. The initiative, overseen by financial scholar and industry specialist Prof. Wong Woon Thiam, marks a structured effort to enhance institutional investment research, localized operational management, and technological infrastructure across regional markets. 

By establishing a localized foundation in Jakarta, the firm seeks to align global asset management methodologies with the distinct economic dynamics of Emerging Asia.

Strategic Positioning in Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia has emerged as a significant focal point for institutional capital due to persistent demographic growth, digital transformation, and expanding capital markets. Within this framework, Indonesia represents a pivotal economic hub, accounting for a substantial portion of the region’s gross domestic product. Guggenheim’s expanded presence in Jakarta serves as a strategic gateway to monitor macroeconomic trends, assess local asset classes, and deliver dedicated institutional services.

The initiative reflects a long-term commitment to deepening operational capabilities across primary growth markets. Rather than relying solely on cross-border management models, the organization is deploying a localized operational structure designed to evaluate domestic market structures, regulatory evolution, and sector-specific opportunities with direct on-the-ground precision.

Leadership and Governance

Under the direction of Prof. Wong Woon Thiam, the regional initiative focuses on building robust governance structures, market intelligence frameworks, and institutional relations. Prof. Wong brings extensive expertise in financial economics, asset allocation strategies, and quantitative market analysis. His oversight is expected to guide the regional team in conducting rigorous academic and practical research into local market mechanisms.

“Establishing a direct operational footprint in Indonesia allows for a more nuanced understanding of regional market mechanics,” stated Prof. Wong Woon Thiam during a financial forum addressing regional capital growth. “Our focus centers on integrating disciplined analytical methodologies with localized insights, ensuring that asset management protocols remain resilient, compliant, and responsive to regional macroeconomic shifts.”

Localized Operational Framework

The Jakarta-based operations are designed to support a multi-faceted service model, encompassing quantitative research, risk management, and client interface functions. 

By establishing direct operational capabilities in Indonesia, Guggenheim aims to streamline communication channels with regional institutions, family offices, and accredited market participants.

Key operational objectives for the initial rollout include:

  • Developing comprehensive macroeconomic and equity research focused on Indonesian and ASEAN markets.
  • Establishing compliant data analytics protocols to support regional risk assessment models.
  • Building localized operational infrastructure to support seamless client onboarding and institutional inquiry resolution.
  • Collaborating with local academic and industry experts to foster financial knowledge transfer and technical capacity.

Integration of Advanced Analytics

A central pillar of the expanded operations involves the application of modern data architecture and analytical tools. The localized team will utilize structured research models to evaluate market liquidity, sector volatility, and macroeconomic indicators. This technical framework is intended to assist investment professionals in identifying emerging risk factors while optimizing asset allocation strategies in dynamic market environments.

The deployment of advanced research infrastructure aligns with broader industry shifts toward data-driven decision-making. By combining localized datasets with global risk management standards, the firm aims to maintain high standards of analytical rigor across its regional mandates.

As Southeast Asian markets continue to mature, the presence of global institutional frameworks is anticipated to support market efficiency, liquidity, and professional standards. The company’s structured expansion into Jakarta represents an initial step in a multi-phase strategy aimed at fostering sustainable operational growth across key Asian growth corridors.

About Guggenheim

Guggenheim is a global financial services firm engaged in asset management, investment banking, and capital market services. The firm provides institutional investors, corporations, and high-net-worth clients with disciplined investment strategies, comprehensive market research, and tailored financial solutions. Guided by principles of analytical rigor, risk management, and client-centric service, Guggenheim operates across major global financial centers to deliver long-term value and institutional stability. 

Media Contact

Organization: Guggenheim

Contact Person: Henry Johnny

Website: https://www.guggenheimpartners.com/

Email: Send Email

Country: Indonesia

Release id: 48952

The post Guggenheim Expands SEA Operations with Strategic Focus on Indonesia Led by Prof. Wong Woon Thiam appeared first on King Newswire. This content is provided by a third-party source.. King Newswire makes no warranties or representations in connection with it. King Newswire is a press release distribution agency and does not endorse or verify the claims made in this release. If you have any complaints or copyright concerns related to this article, please contact the company listed in the ‘Media Contact’ section

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Texas Native Acquitted by Bexar County Jury is Now Demanding Accountability

Kerry Ray Lampkin Jr. directed his defense to a Not Guilty theft verdict and says his ongoing federal dispute is open to a negotiated resolution.

Austin, Texas – Kerry Ray Lampkin Jr., a 37-year-old Indigenous American and native son of this land, was acquitted by a Bexar County jury after being charged with theft of property valued from $30,000 to less than $150,000. The certified judgment in State of Texas v. Kerry Lampkin, case 2024CR009936, records the jury’s Not Guilty verdict and orders his immediate discharge. The acquittal was entered June 18, 2025, in the 187th District Court.

Lampkin says the victory came after he ended his relationship with prior counsel and took direct command of his defense strategy. His account is one of pressure, preparation, faith, and refusal to fold when the machinery around him appeared overwhelming. The official judgment records that he appeared with counsel at trial, while Lampkin maintains his account of self-representation.

The acquittal closed the prosecution, but Lampkin says it did not close the damage. He reports lasting financial loss, disruption, reputational harm, emotional strain, and continuing consequences arising from the events surrounding the case. He says he is now pursuing a federal action seeking $12 million in damages. The federal claims remain allegations unless and until resolved through judgment or agreement.

LAMPKIN STATEMENT: “They had the accusation, the resources, and the weight of the system. I had the truth, my faith, and the courage to stand. A jury heard the evidence and said Not Guilty. Now the fight is about repairing what was broken and making sure accountability reaches every door it must reach.”

Today, Lampkin is turning lived experience into instruction and purpose. Through Prosperity Trust and Funding and his Skool community, Possessing the Land with Kerry Lampkin, he teaches, speaks, writes, produces media, and leads conversations centered on faith, financial understanding, self-education, accountability, and disciplined action. His message reaches beyond one courtroom: knowledge must become courage, and courage must become constructive work that strengthens families and communities.

HIS TEACHING CREED: Knowledge is protection. Truth is power. When you know your rights, fear leaves the room.

A MESSAGE FROM KERRY: “Life will throw things at you, and sometimes you have to face them head-on. What was meant to break you does not have to break you. It can become the vehicle that carries you toward your destination, your purpose, and what God created you to do. Never look at trials and tribulations as the end. Receive the lesson, rise with greater wisdom, and keep moving forward. I approve this message.” Says Kerry Ray Lampkin Jr.

Although prepared to continue the federal fight, Lampkin says he remains open to serious, good-faith discussions aimed at resolving the dispute outside court. His position is direct: peace is possible, but any resolution must recognize the scope of the claimed harm and bring meaningful closure.

The story carries a wider message for communities across Texas and the nation: an accusation is not a conviction, pressure is not proof, and one determined voice can still be heard by twelve jurors.

STATE CASE DETAILS

  • Case: 2024CR009936
  • Court: 187th District Court, Bexar County, Texas
  • Verdict: Not Guilty by jury
  • Acquittal Entered: June 18, 2025

About Kerry Ray Lampkin Jr. 

Kerry Ray Lampkin Jr. is a Texas-based educator, motivational speaker, father, mentor, author, film producer, entrepreneur, minister, and community advocate committed to helping everyday families stand with confidence in courtrooms, contracts, and life. Through Prosperity Trust and Funding and the Skool community Possessing the Land with Kerry Lampkin, he teaches people how to read documents, organize records, understand process, protect their rights, and speak clearly without fear or confusion. His public story follows a Bexar County jury acquittal, an ongoing effort to obtain redress for the harm he says followed the underlying events, and a mission to turn panic into power, pressure into preparation, and adversity into purpose.

Social Media and Important Links

For any inquiry contact KerryRayLampkinJr@gmail.com  or call (866) 299-5164 

Media Contact  

Company name: Prosperity Trust and Funding 
Contact name: Kerry Ray Lampkin Jr. 
Email: KerryRayLampkinJr@gmail.com 
Phone: (866) 299-5164
Website: https://www.instagram.com/KerryLampkin

InviteCount Launches All-in-One Wedding Platform for Websites, Invitations, RSVPs and Planning

United States, 11th Sep 2026 — Invite Count LLC has announced the launch of InviteCount, an all-in-one wedding platform that brings wedding websites, digital invitations, RSVP management, guest management and wedding planning tools together in one place. Designed to simplify the planning process, InviteCount gives couples the tools to create a beautiful wedding website, manage their guests and organize important details of their celebration from a single platform.

Available worldwide at invitecount.com, InviteCount is built around a single guest list that powers the platform’s website, digital and printable invitations, RSVPs, seating chart, budget, planning checklist, vendor management and day-of schedule. The platform is sold through a one-time payment per wedding, with nothing renewing after the wedding.

A key part of InviteCount’s approach is keeping the guest experience simple. Guests do not need to create an account, download an app or interact with advertising or vendor marketing. They can respond to an invitation through a single link or QR code, while couples maintain control of their guest information and wedding planning.

One Guest List Across the Wedding

InviteCount connects its planning tools through one underlying guest list rather than requiring couples to move information between separate applications. When a guest changes information such as a meal choice, the update can flow through the relevant planning tools, including seating and catering numbers.

The platform includes RSVP collection with attendance, meal choices, dietary notes, plus-ones, custom questions and guest messages. Live RSVP analytics provide attendance and meal totals, while guest information can be exported for use by caterers and other wedding professionals.

InviteCount also includes a guest list manager, seating planner, table capacities, printable seating charts, guest messaging, registry links and honeymoon-fund functionality.

Three Studios for the Wedding Experience

InviteCount’s Website Studio provides a browser-based editor with 250+ wedding website designs, 10+ page layouts, 300+ color palettes. Couples can preview their websites on desktop and mobile, customize individual template elements and manage cover-photo positioning.

The Card Studio provides a five-card printed suite consisting of Cover, Invitation, Details, Wedding Party and RSVP cards. The cards can be customized with event details, wording, decorative elements and RSVP QR codes, then exported as print-ready PDFs for home printing or an independent print shop.

The Interactive Card Studio adds cinematic digital experiences for save-the-date, thank-you and welcome cards. Couples can choose from animated entrances, colorways, paper treatments, wax-seal monograms, ribbons and other visual elements. Cards can be shared through links, messages, email or QR codes and can connect guests to the wedding website.

Guest Invitations in 16 Languages

InviteCount supports multilingual guest invitations, allowing couples to provide a more accessible experience for guests from different countries and language backgrounds.

Guest-facing invitations are currently available in 16 languages and language variants:

  • English
  • Danish
  • German
  • Spanish
  • French
  • Italian
  • Dutch
  • Norwegian
  • Swedish
  • Turkish
  • Bulgarian
  • Russian
  • Armenian
  • Traditional Chinese
  • Simplified Chinese
  • Arabic

Arabic invitations are supported with right-to-left layouts. The multilingual experience can be used across the guest-facing invitation and RSVP experience, helping couples communicate important wedding information in their guests’ preferred language.

Try Before Signing Up

InviteCount also offers Sneak Peek, allowing visitors to preview their own engagement photo, names and wedding details across the platform’s designs without creating an account or uploading the photo. The preview operates in the browser, with the images remaining on the visitor’s device.

The experience includes desktop and phone previews, theme search, color filtering, layout selection and an interactive card-entrance playground.

One-Time Pricing

InviteCount offers a free plan for weddings with up to 30 guests, while paid plans are structured as a single payment per wedding:

  • Free: $0 for up to 30 guests
  • Premium: $49 for up to 100 guests
  • Signature: $79 for unlimited guests

Every wedding after the first is available at half price, at $25 for Premium and $40 for Signature. Paid plans add features including custom domains, premium page layouts and additional interactive card options.

Tools for the Wedding Day

InviteCount extends beyond planning with a day-of operations hub, guest photo collection and collaboration features. Couples can create a guest photo QR code for use at the celebration, allowing guests to upload photos without an account or app. Hosts can moderate submissions or display them automatically through a live photo wall.

The platform also provides ceremony, reception and evening-party management, vendor organization, budget tracking, wedding-day schedules, address collection and guest communications.

InviteCount is operated by Invite Count LLC, registered in Wyoming, USA. The company received its federal EIN in June 2026 and is currently accepting real payments through Stripe Checkout worldwide.

About InviteCount

InviteCount is an all-in-one wedding platform that gives couples one place to build a wedding website, create digital and printable invitations, collect RSVPs and manage their guest list, seating chart, budget, checklist and vendors. Guests can respond through a single link without an account, app or advertising. InviteCount is available worldwide at invitecount.com and offers free access for weddings with up to 30 guests, with paid plans sold as a one-time payment per wedding.

Media Contact

Organization: InviteCount

Contact Person: RoseMarie Cruz

Website: http://invitecount.com/

Email: Send Email

Country: United States

Release id: 48996

The post InviteCount Launches All-in-One Wedding Platform for Websites, Invitations, RSVPs and Planning appeared first on King Newswire. This content is provided by a third-party source.. King Newswire makes no warranties or representations in connection with it. King Newswire is a press release distribution agency and does not endorse or verify the claims made in this release. If you have any complaints or copyright concerns related to this article, please contact the company listed in the ‘Media Contact’ section

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JUMO and Standard Bank launch Social Finance Framework to scale inclusive finance in Africa

Cape Town, South Africa, September 11th, 2026, FinanceWire

Designed to support the mobilisation of sustainable funding for financial inclusion and economic empowerment across Africa.

Banking technology company JUMO has launched a new Social Finance Framework (SFF) in partnership with Standard Bank’s Sustainable Finance team. The framework aligns with internationally recognised sustainable finance guidelines and provides a transparent structure for raising social finance, such as social loans and social bonds.

This will fund financially inclusive lending activities on JUMO’s technology platform to positively impact underserved individuals, micro enterprises and SMEs across the nine African markets JUMO operates in. With an addressable lending opportunity and a scalable, technology-enabled platform, JUMO is well positioned to deploy capital efficiently across high-growth African markets. The framework is also supported by a positive second party opinion from Endiligence.

Founded with a vision to close the access gap in financial systems for emerging markets, JUMO has built AI-powered technology and lasting partnerships with financial institutions and telcos to expand access to financial services for communities traditionally excluded from formal banking systems. JUMO has demonstrated rapid and accelerating scale, with over $10bn in lifetime disbursements and more than 317 million loans delivered since inception. This is underpinned by 79% year-on-year growth in disbursements and record monthly volumes. The platform delivers measurable inclusion outcomes, with millions of new-to-bank customers, significant participation from youth, women and rural populations, and meaningful exposure to low-income segments often excluded from formal finance.

The framework supports funding for eligible social activities including:

  • SME and microenterprise financing
  • Employment generation
  • Economic empowerment
  • Access to responsible digital financial services

JUMO operates digital financial ecosystems across multiple African markets, with further expansion planned across the continent.

“The launch of the framework represents an important milestone in JUMO’s sustainable finance journey and underpins our core commitment to responsible lending,’ says JUMO CEO Paul Whelpton. ‘It enables a broader pool of development finance institutions, impact investors and sustainability-focused funders to access transparent and measurable social impact opportunities in Africa.”

“The framework standardises the governance, reporting and impact measurement processes intended to provide investors with confidence that financing is directed towards eligible social activities aligned with global sustainable finance standards,’ says George Karamitsos, VP of Sustainable Finance for Standard Bank. ‘The framework provides a credible, transparent vehicle to channel institutional capital into JUMO’s proven platform at scale.”

By combining JUMO’s technology-driven banking infrastructure with sustainable finance principles, the jointly established framework aims to accelerate access to responsible credit and unlock economic opportunity for millions of underserved consumers and businesses across the continent.

Capital directly supports underserved populations, including youth, women, rural communities, and low-income individuals, with clear evidence of improved livelihoods.

About JUMO

JUMO has developed AI-led financial technology that enables banks to offer a new generation of digital credit and savings products to millions of entrepreneurs in Africa. JUMO works with partners, such as banks, e-money operators and payments providers, to facilitate high-tech information and money management systems.

Since its founding in 2015, JUMO has disbursed over $10 billion to 40 million people in Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Uganda, Côte d’Ivoire, South Africa, Benin and Cameroon. JUMO’s administration of over 317 million individual loans has proven that microcredit in Africa is imperative, impactful and sustainable.

With unmatched speed to market and low infrastructure costs, JUMO aims to bring banking to everyone, everywhere, at any time.

www.jumo.world

Media enquiries

comms@jumo.world

About Standard Bank

The Standard Bank Group is the largest African bank by assets, operating in 21 African countries, 4 global financial centres and 2 offshore hubs.

Headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, we are listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, with share code SBK, and the Namibian Stock Exchange, share code SNB. Standard Bank has a 163-year history in South Africa and started building a franchise outside southern Africa in the early 1990s. Our strategic position, which enables us to connect Africa to other select emerging markets as well as pools of capital in developed markets, and our balanced portfolio of businesses, provide significant opportunities for growth.

As at 30 June 2026, Standard Bank Group had 19.5 million clients, employed over 50 000 people (including Liberty) and had over 1 200 points of representation and over 5 600 ATMs across the African continent. The group’s largest shareholder is the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), the world’s largest bank, with a 19.7% shareholding. In addition, Standard Bank Group and ICBC share a strategic partnership that facilitates trade and deal flow between Africa, China and select emerging markets.

For further information, go to http://www.standardbank.com

Social Finance Framework Objectives

The framework serves five key strategic purposes:

Unlock Institutional & Impact Capital

The framework creates a credible structure through which global investors, DFIs and banks can fund sustainable lending activities on JUMO’s platform with confidence.

Scale Financial Inclusion and Social Impact

It supports funding for underserved individuals and SMEs who often lack access to traditional banking products.

Create Credibility Through International Standards

Alignment with globally recognised sustainable finance principles provides transparency, governance and market credibility.

Enable Repeat Sustainable Funding

The framework streamlines future social financing transactions and creates long-term fundraising efficiencies.

Position JUMO as a Sustainable Fintech Leader

The framework elevates JUMO beyond a fintech lender into a recognised sustainable finance platform supporting inclusive growth across Africa.

Contact

Head of Content and Communications
Rose Cohen
JUMO
rose.cohen@jumo.world
+27 83 6750354

JUMO and Standard Bank launch Social Finance Framework to scale inclusive finance in Africa

Cape Town, South Africa, September 11th, 2026, FinanceWire

Designed to support the mobilisation of sustainable funding for financial inclusion and economic empowerment across Africa.

Banking technology company JUMO has launched a new Social Finance Framework (SFF) in partnership with Standard Bank’s Sustainable Finance team. The framework aligns with internationally recognised sustainable finance guidelines and provides a transparent structure for raising social finance, such as social loans and social bonds.

This will fund financially inclusive lending activities on JUMO’s technology platform to positively impact underserved individuals, micro enterprises and SMEs across the nine African markets JUMO operates in. With an addressable lending opportunity and a scalable, technology-enabled platform, JUMO is well positioned to deploy capital efficiently across high-growth African markets. The framework is also supported by a positive second party opinion from Endiligence.

Founded with a vision to close the access gap in financial systems for emerging markets, JUMO has built AI-powered technology and lasting partnerships with financial institutions and telcos to expand access to financial services for communities traditionally excluded from formal banking systems. JUMO has demonstrated rapid and accelerating scale, with over $10bn in lifetime disbursements and more than 317 million loans delivered since inception. This is underpinned by 79% year-on-year growth in disbursements and record monthly volumes. The platform delivers measurable inclusion outcomes, with millions of new-to-bank customers, significant participation from youth, women and rural populations, and meaningful exposure to low-income segments often excluded from formal finance.

The framework supports funding for eligible social activities including:

  • SME and microenterprise financing
  • Employment generation
  • Economic empowerment
  • Access to responsible digital financial services

JUMO operates digital financial ecosystems across multiple African markets, with further expansion planned across the continent.

“The launch of the framework represents an important milestone in JUMO’s sustainable finance journey and underpins our core commitment to responsible lending,’ says JUMO CEO Paul Whelpton. ‘It enables a broader pool of development finance institutions, impact investors and sustainability-focused funders to access transparent and measurable social impact opportunities in Africa.”

“The framework standardises the governance, reporting and impact measurement processes intended to provide investors with confidence that financing is directed towards eligible social activities aligned with global sustainable finance standards,’ says George Karamitsos, VP of Sustainable Finance for Standard Bank. ‘The framework provides a credible, transparent vehicle to channel institutional capital into JUMO’s proven platform at scale.”

By combining JUMO’s technology-driven banking infrastructure with sustainable finance principles, the jointly established framework aims to accelerate access to responsible credit and unlock economic opportunity for millions of underserved consumers and businesses across the continent.

Capital directly supports underserved populations, including youth, women, rural communities, and low-income individuals, with clear evidence of improved livelihoods.

About JUMO

JUMO has developed AI-led financial technology that enables banks to offer a new generation of digital credit and savings products to millions of entrepreneurs in Africa. JUMO works with partners, such as banks, e-money operators and payments providers, to facilitate high-tech information and money management systems.

Since its founding in 2015, JUMO has disbursed over $10 billion to 40 million people in Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Uganda, Côte d’Ivoire, South Africa, Benin and Cameroon. JUMO’s administration of over 317 million individual loans has proven that microcredit in Africa is imperative, impactful and sustainable.

With unmatched speed to market and low infrastructure costs, JUMO aims to bring banking to everyone, everywhere, at any time.

www.jumo.world

Media enquiries

comms@jumo.world

About Standard Bank

The Standard Bank Group is the largest African bank by assets, operating in 21 African countries, 4 global financial centres and 2 offshore hubs.

Headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, we are listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, with share code SBK, and the Namibian Stock Exchange, share code SNB. Standard Bank has a 163-year history in South Africa and started building a franchise outside southern Africa in the early 1990s. Our strategic position, which enables us to connect Africa to other select emerging markets as well as pools of capital in developed markets, and our balanced portfolio of businesses, provide significant opportunities for growth.

As at 30 June 2026, Standard Bank Group had 19.5 million clients, employed over 50 000 people (including Liberty) and had over 1 200 points of representation and over 5 600 ATMs across the African continent. The group’s largest shareholder is the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), the world’s largest bank, with a 19.7% shareholding. In addition, Standard Bank Group and ICBC share a strategic partnership that facilitates trade and deal flow between Africa, China and select emerging markets.

For further information, go to http://www.standardbank.com

Social Finance Framework Objectives

The framework serves five key strategic purposes:

Unlock Institutional & Impact Capital

The framework creates a credible structure through which global investors, DFIs and banks can fund sustainable lending activities on JUMO’s platform with confidence.

Scale Financial Inclusion and Social Impact

It supports funding for underserved individuals and SMEs who often lack access to traditional banking products.

Create Credibility Through International Standards

Alignment with globally recognised sustainable finance principles provides transparency, governance and market credibility.

Enable Repeat Sustainable Funding

The framework streamlines future social financing transactions and creates long-term fundraising efficiencies.

Position JUMO as a Sustainable Fintech Leader

The framework elevates JUMO beyond a fintech lender into a recognised sustainable finance platform supporting inclusive growth across Africa.

Contact

Head of Content and Communications
Rose Cohen
JUMO
rose.cohen@jumo.world
+27 83 6750354

Shute Family Foundation Aims to Surpass 200k Raised for Tunnel to Towers at 6th Annual 9-11 Golf Tournament

The Shute Family Foundation will host its 6th Annual 9/11 Charity Golf Tournament on September 11 at Saint Anne Country Club, aiming to surpass $200,000 raised for Tunnel to Towers. The event will honor veterans and first responders and feature a live painting and charity auction by Master Disney Artist Rob Surette.

FEEDING HILLS, MA, August 24, 2026 – The Shute Family Foundation is proud to announce its 6th Annual Charity Golf Tournament, taking place Friday, September 11, 2026, at Saint Anne Country Club in Feeding Hills, Massachusetts.

This premier regional event will bring together golfers, veterans, first responders, business leaders, and community supporters from across Western Massachusetts and Central Connecticut to honor the memory of our nation’s fallen heroes while raising funds for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.

To date, the Shute Family Foundation has raised an incredible $184,000 for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation. With a fundraising goal of $50,000 for this year’s tournament, the organization is on track to surpass the $200,000 lifetime fundraising milestone.

“Reaching this $200,000 milestone on the anniversary of September 11th is a testament to the incredible generosity of our local community,” said Dave Shute, founder of the Shute Family Foundation. “Our mission is to support the Tunnel to Towers Foundation in its vital work providing mortgage-free homes to our nation’s catastrophically injured veterans, Gold Star families, and families of fallen first responders. We invite everyone to join us this year and help us surpass our biggest goal yet.”

The tournament will feature a four-person scramble with a 9:30 a.m. shotgun start. In addition to a premier day on the course, participants will take part in a powerful opening ceremony honoring local military members and first responders, followed by awards, raffles, and a live charity auction.

A highlight of this year’s event will be a live speed-painting performance by world-renowned Master Disney Artist Rob Surette of Haverhill, Massachusetts. Surette will create an original patriotic work of art live during the tournament. The completed piece will then be auctioned, with 100% of the proceeds benefiting the foundation.

Tournament registration, corporate sponsorship packages, and direct donation opportunities are currently available, with space filling quickly.

To register a team, secure a sponsorship, make a donation, or learn more about supporting this milestone event, visit www.theshutefamilyfoundation.com.

About the Shute Family Foundation

The Shute Family Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to uniting communities across Western Massachusetts and Central Connecticut in support of America’s heroes. Through its flagship annual golf tournament, the foundation has become a leading regional contributor to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, helping ensure that the sacrifices of military service members and first responders are never forgotten.

David V. Shute, Founder
The Shute Family Foundation
413-896-1122
ShuteFamilyFoundation@gmail.com
www.theshutefamilyfoundation.com

 

Media Contact

Organization: Shute Family Foundation

Contact Person: Dave Shute

Website: https://www.theshutefamilyfoundation.com

Email: Send Email

City: Suffield

State: Connecticut

Country: United States

Release id: 48949

The post Shute Family Foundation Aims to Surpass 200k Raised for Tunnel to Towers at 6th Annual 9-11 Golf Tournament appeared first on King Newswire. This content is provided by a third-party source.. King Newswire makes no warranties or representations in connection with it. King Newswire is a press release distribution agency and does not endorse or verify the claims made in this release. If you have any complaints or copyright concerns related to this article, please contact the company listed in the ‘Media Contact’ section

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Airwheel SE3SX AI Wheel Luxury Suitcase Wins 2026 WGA for Smart Electric Riding Carry-On Hand Luggage

HONG KONG, CHINA – The SE3SX Cabin Suitcase recently received the Silver Award in Product Design at the 2026 WGA Wonder Global Design Award, standing out among numerous international entries. The recognition highlights not only its distinctive industrial design, but also Airwheel’s continued exploration of how intelligent technology can be integrated into real-world travel.

airwheel_smart_electric_cabin_luxury_Ai_suitcase_01

Rather than treating luggage as a passive container, Airwheel is developing it as an active mobility device—combining electric drive technology, intelligent controls, connected features and premium design in a compact carry-on format.

From Traditional Luggage to Intelligent Mobility

For decades, the fundamental concept of luggage has remained largely unchanged: pack belongings, pull the handle and walk.

Airwheel approached the problem differently.

The company recognized that the most physically demanding part of many journeys does not necessarily happen during a flight or train ride. It often occurs while travelers move through expansive airports, railway stations, exhibition centers, hotels and transportation hubs, carrying or pulling luggage over long distances.

airwheel_smart_electric_cabin_luxury_Ai_suitcase_07

The result was a new product category that combines luggage with personal mobility.

The Airwheel SE3SX Electric Riding Cabin Suitcase allows users to transition from conventional pulling to powered riding. Equipped with a high-performance brushless motor, the suitcase can reach a riding speed of up to 9.9 km/h, providing an alternative way to move through appropriate travel environments.

Its intelligent riding handle integrates key riding controls, allowing users to manage acceleration, braking, steering and reverse functions with a relatively intuitive control layout. This approach reduces the learning curve while making the riding experience feel more like a compact personal mobility device.

airwheel_smart_electric_cabin_luxury_Ai_suitcase_03

For Airwheel, the objective is not simply to make a suitcase that can move. It is to make luggage more useful once travelers leave the airport gate, hotel lobby or railway platform.

SE3SX: Where Intelligent Design Meets Practical Engineering

The SE3SX combines mobility with a structure designed around both riding and luggage protection.

Its motorized front wheel uses a retractable structure that can extend the wheelbase by approximately 180 mm when riding. The longer wheelbase is designed to enhance stability and handling, helping the suitcase maintain a more controlled riding experience across suitable indoor and outdoor surfaces.

The suitcase body uses an ABS+PC composite construction, reinforced with an integrated aviation-aluminum frame structure. With a maximum load capacity of 95 kg, the design balances the requirements of riding stability with the everyday demands of carrying personal belongings.

This engineering approach reflects a broader philosophy behind the SE3SX: intelligent functionality should not come at the expense of practicality.

A Smart Suitcase still needs to function as luggage. A Luxury Suitcase still needs to look refined. And an Electric Riding Suitcase still needs to provide a reliable and intuitive riding experience.

SE3SX brings these elements together in one 20-inch travel platform.

Intelligent Interaction Beyond the Physical Ride

airwheel_smart_electric_cabin_luxury_Ai_suitcase_03_

The evolution of the SE3SX does not stop with electric mobility.

Through its dedicated intelligent APP, users can access key operating information such as riding speed, battery level and accumulated mileage. Riding speed can be adjusted within a range of 0.1–9.9 km/h, allowing users to select a more suitable pace for different environments.

The APP also extends control beyond basic riding.

Users can remotely control the suitcase’s retractable structure, customize its lighting experience and access additional intelligent functions. The built-in ambient lighting supports 8 colors and 9 lighting effects, allowing the suitcase to develop a distinctive visual identity while reinforcing its technology-oriented design language.

Additional functions include low-battery reminders, Bluetooth disconnection alerts, cruise control, intelligent remote control and programming-oriented features.

Together, these capabilities transform the suitcase from a mechanical travel accessory into a connected intelligent device.

The idea is simple: instead of forcing users to adapt to complicated technology, the technology should gradually disappear into the experience.

Apple Find My Adds Another Layer of Travel Security

Connectivity also plays an important role in modern travel.

The Airwheel SE3SX supports Apple Find My, allowing compatible Apple devices to help users locate the suitcase through the Find My network. When the suitcase is within an appropriate nearby range, users can also activate a sound to assist with locating it.

For travelers moving through crowded airports, railway stations, hotels or other busy environments, location-based connectivity can provide an additional layer of reassurance.

The feature reflects a wider shift in how people think about travel equipment. A modern suitcase is no longer isolated from the digital ecosystem surrounding its owner.

It can be connected, monitored and managed as part of a broader intelligent travel experience.

Designed for Real-World Travel

Advanced technology only becomes meaningful when it works within real travel conditions.

The Airwheel SE3SX adopts a 20-inch carry-on format, measuring approximately 530 × 360 × 236 mm, making it compact enough for everyday business trips, leisure travel and other mobility scenarios.

The product is equipped with a 73.26 Wh lithium battery and incorporates a modular, removable battery design to facilitate handling and inspection where required. The battery has passed International safety certification.

A TSA-compatible combination lock further supports international travel, while an external USB output interface allows users to recharge mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets and Bluetooth headphones during a journey.

These details demonstrate an important principle behind SE3SX: intelligent travel technology must remain connected to the realities of travel.

An Award That Recognizes More Than Appearance

The 2026 WGA Wonder Global Design Award evaluates product design across multiple dimensions, including creativity, aesthetics, functionality, practicality, market impact, emotional impact and problem-solving.

The SE3SX Silver Award therefore represents recognition beyond visual design.

Its combination of electric mobility, intelligent interaction, structural engineering and travel-oriented functionality demonstrates how a familiar everyday product can be reconsidered through technology.

For Airwheel, international design recognition has become part of a longer journey.

Since entering the intelligent mobility field, the company has continued to invest in areas including electric drive systems, intelligent control, structural design and human-machine interaction. Airwheel has accumulated more than 600 patents globally and has developed a portfolio spanning intelligent mobility products and smart travel equipment.

The company’s products have also received recognition from international design and innovation programs, reflecting its ongoing efforts to combine technology with practical product design.

Building a Broader Intelligent Travel Ecosystem

airwheel_smart_electric_cabin_luxury_Ai_suitcase_09

SE3SXD Ai Luxury Suitcase is the flagship expression of this philosophy, but it is not the only product in Airwheel’s intelligent travel portfolio.

The SE3SL+ Airport Suitcase extend smart riding technology to different travel preferences, combining riding functionality with features such as intelligent APP connectivity, Apple Find My and USB charging.

The SE3miniT Boarding suitcase focuses on a lighter and more compact riding experience for users who prioritize portability and flexible urban mobility.

For travelers requiring additional luggage capacity, the SE3T expands the concept into a larger 24-inch format with approximately 48 liters of storage capacity and a riding speed of up to 13 km/h.

Airwheel also extends intelligent riding technology into family travel with the SQ3S and SQ3S children’s smart riding suitcases, creating a different approach to mobility and entertainment for younger travelers.

Together, these products demonstrate that Airwheel’s vision is broader than a single electric suitcase.

The company is building a product ecosystem around the idea that travel equipment can become more intelligent, more connected and more responsive to individual needs.

The Next Step in Intelligent Travel

The evolution of luggage is no longer limited to lighter materials, larger wheels or additional storage.

The next generation is increasingly about interaction.

From Smart Suitcase to AI Suitcase, from traditional carry-on luggage to Electric Riding Suitcase, Airwheel is exploring how technology can give everyday travel equipment new capabilities without making the experience unnecessarily complicated.

The Airwheel SE3SX represents one step in that evolution.

It combines powered mobility, intelligent control, connected functions, premium construction and carry-on-oriented design in a single platform—turning the suitcase from something travelers simply pull behind them into something that can actively participate in the journey.

For Airwheel, the future of travel is not simply about arriving faster.

It is about making the entire journey smarter, easier and more connected. And with the SE3SX, that future is beginning to take shape—one journey, one innovation and one intelligent suitcase at a time.

Media Contact

Company: Airwheel

Contact: Media Team

Email: Jonas@airwheel.net

Website: https://www.airwheel.net

Darryl Kauffman Highlights the Value of Lifelong Business Education

  • After more than four decades in accounting and business, Kauffman brings years of operating experience back to the classroom as he continues his education at Pepperdine University.

LAS VEGAS, NV, Sep 11, 2026, ZEX PR WIRE — After a career spanning public accounting, corporate finance, business ownership, and consulting, Darryl Kauffman is continuing his formal business education at Pepperdine University, where he completed an MBA in 2026.

For Kauffman, returning to school after decades in the workforce offers a different educational experience than when he first studied accounting at California State University, Chico. He now approaches business concepts with years of practical experience to compare against what he encounters in the classroom.

“When I first studied accounting, I was learning the concepts before I had any experience applying them,” Kauffman said. “Going back to school later in life is almost the reverse. Now I can hear an idea and immediately think about situations where I saw it play out in an actual business.”

Kauffman believes that the relationship between education and experience can be valuable throughout a career. His own decision to continue his education reflects a broader view that professional experience does not eliminate the need to keep learning.

Bringing Four Decades of Business Experience Into the Classroom

Kauffman earned his accounting degree from California State University, Chico, in 1984 and began working in public accounting the following year. He remained in public accounting until 1993, then moved into corporate leadership as CFO of Strings Restaurants.

That transition gave him an early opportunity to see the difference between studying financial information and making decisions inside an operating business.

“When you are working inside a company, the numbers have a story behind them,” Kauffman said. “A change in a report might come from staffing, pricing, purchasing, operations, or several things happening at once. Understanding the number means understanding the business that produced it.”

His career later included work as a senior financial analyst at Dole and as a regional controller for McDonald’s. He also served as controller for Sr Care Advocates.

Working across different industries reinforced the importance of context. Although many accounting and finance principles remained consistent, the operating environments could differ dramatically.

“You cannot assume that because you understand one business, you automatically understand another,” Kauffman said. “The questions you ask have to reflect how that particular organization actually works.”

How Experience Changes Business Education

Kauffman’s return to higher education has allowed him to examine those experiences from another perspective.

A business case or management concept that might once have been purely theoretical can now remind him of a decision he encountered as a CFO, controller, analyst, or business owner. In some cases, experience reinforces what is being taught. In others, it highlights how unpredictable real business situations can become.

Kauffman said this is one reason he believes education can remain useful well beyond the early stages of a career.

“The advantage of experience is that you have more examples to draw from,” he said. “The danger is assuming those examples mean you have already seen everything. Business keeps changing, and there is always something you haven’t encountered before.”

That willingness to continue learning has also been part of Kauffman’s work outside large organizations. In 2007, he established DK CPA and operated the practice through 2018. Running his own business added another perspective to the corporate experience he had accumulated earlier in his career.

Ownership, he said, made some business concepts much more immediate.

“When it is your own operation, decisions look different,” Kauffman said. “You are thinking about time, customers, employees, expenses, and what needs attention first. It gives you another way to look at the same business principles.”

Learning Does Not Have to End With Experience

Kauffman continues to study business beyond his formal coursework. Reading is part of his regular routine, and business books have long influenced how he approaches his work.

He is also currently involved at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas as a college student and faculty assistant, studying New Venture Management and Quantitative Finance.

Kauffman views continued education as a way to test old assumptions as much as it is a way to learn new concepts. After decades spent working with financial information and business operations, he believes curiosity remains important.

“Experience should give you context, but I don’t think it should make you stop asking questions,” Kauffman said. “Sometimes learning something new confirms what you already believed. Sometimes it makes you reconsider it. Both are useful.”

For Darryl Lynn Kauffman, returning to business school is not about starting over. It is an opportunity to combine formal education with decades of experience while continuing to examine how businesses operate, make decisions, and adapt.

About Darryl Kauffman

Darryl Kauffman is a Las Vegas-based accounting and business professional with experience in public accounting, corporate finance, business ownership, consulting, and business coaching. He earned a degree in accounting from California State University, Chico, and an MBA from Pepperdine University. His career has included roles as CFO of Strings Restaurants, senior financial analyst at Dole, regional controller at McDonald’s, and controller at Sr Care Advocates. He later operated DK CPA from 2007 through 2018. Kauffman is also a faculty assistant at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Outside of business, his interests include playing guitar and bass, SCUBA, automotive work, woodworking, reading, and exercise.

Roberto Cioffi Highlights Why Financial Planning Must Adapt as Business Conditions Change

  • Corporate finance professional Roberto Cioffi explains why strong financial planning combines disciplined frameworks with the flexibility to respond when assumptions no longer match business conditions.

CALGARY, Alberta, Sep 11, 2026, ZEX PR WIRE — Every budget and financial forecast begins with a set of assumptions. Companies estimate revenue, expenses, demand, interest rates, operating conditions, and other factors based on the information available at the time. The challenge is that businesses rarely operate in an environment where those assumptions remain unchanged.

Roberto Cioffi, a Calgary-based corporate finance professional with nearly two decades of experience in financial planning, forecasting, budgeting, financial modeling, and business analysis, believes this is why flexibility should be considered an important part of financial discipline.

“A forecast is based on what you know at a particular point in time,” Cioffi said. “When the conditions or assumptions change, the value comes from understanding why they changed and what that means for the business.”

Cioffi currently works as a Director of Corporate Finance, where his responsibilities include corporate financial planning, annual budgeting, forecasting, financial modeling, capital allocation, expenditure reviews, business opportunity analysis, and supporting strategic planning. His experience has given him a close view of how financial plans interact with changing business conditions.

Financial Plans Depend on Assumptions

Budgets and forecasts can provide companies with a framework for allocating resources and measuring performance. However, Cioffi believes leadership teams should also understand the assumptions supporting those plans.

Interest rates may change. Operating costs may rise or fall. Consumer behavior can shift. Revenue may develop differently than expected. Broader economic conditions can also affect the environment in which a company operates.

When those factors change, comparing actual performance against the original plan can help leadership understand what has happened and why.

“The difference between a forecast and the actual result is often where an important conversation begins,” Cioffi said. “Instead of only asking whether the company was above or below the forecast, it can be more useful to understand what caused the difference.”

A variance may reflect a temporary event, an incorrect assumption, a change in operating conditions, or a larger trend. Identifying the reason can give leadership better context when deciding whether the original plan still makes sense.

Flexibility Does Not Mean Constantly Changing Direction

Cioffi cautions against interpreting flexible financial planning as a reason to continually rewrite plans whenever results differ from expectations.

Instead, he sees financial discipline and flexibility as complementary ideas. A clear budget or forecast gives an organization something against which it can measure performance. Flexibility allows leadership to recognize when new information is significant enough to warrant another look at the assumptions behind that plan.

“A strong financial framework creates consistency,” Cioffi said. “The goal is not to change direction every time something moves. The goal is to recognize when the facts have changed enough that the original assumptions need to be reconsidered.”

This approach can be particularly useful when leadership teams conduct regular reviews of financial performance. Rather than treating the annual budget as a document that remains untouched throughout the year, companies can use actual results and updated information to better understand how the business is developing.

Understanding the Story Behind the Numbers

Cioffi’s perspective has developed through years of working at different levels of corporate finance. He began his career as a Financial Analyst before advancing to Senior Financial Analyst and Finance Manager roles. As his responsibilities expanded, he became increasingly involved in annual planning, forecasting, operational analysis, business performance, and discussions with senior leadership.

Those experiences reinforced his belief that financial information is most useful when it is considered alongside the operational context behind it.

“Numbers tell a story about how a business is performing, but you still have to understand the decisions and circumstances behind those numbers,” Cioffi said. “That context is important when you are trying to determine what should happen next.”

For example, an unexpected increase in expenses may appear negative when viewed alone, but the reason for that increase matters. It could reflect an unplanned cost, or it could result from an intentional business decision. Similarly, revenue that falls below a forecast can have several possible causes, each of which may require a different response.

Cioffi believes finance teams can contribute to these discussions by connecting financial results with information from other areas of the organization.

Financial Planning as an Ongoing Business Process

Cioffi views effective financial planning as an ongoing process rather than a one-time annual exercise. That process includes establishing expectations, measuring actual performance, examining meaningful differences, and revisiting assumptions as new information becomes available.

He also believes communication is an important part of that work. Financial models can become complex, but leadership teams still need to understand the key assumptions and implications behind them.

“Financial information is most useful when the people involved in the decision understand what it actually means,” Cioffi said. “The technical work matters, but so does the ability to explain what the information is telling you.”

As business conditions continue to evolve, Cioffi believes the companies that approach planning with both structure and adaptability can be better prepared to understand change. The purpose is not to predict every development correctly. Instead, it is to create a framework that helps leaders recognize when expectations and reality have started to move apart.

About Roberto Cioffi

Roberto Cioffi is a Calgary, Alberta-based corporate finance professional with nearly two decades of experience in financial analysis, budgeting, forecasting, financial modeling, business performance, and strategic planning. He graduated from the University of Alberta in 2007 after studying finance and business and has progressed through Financial Analyst, Senior Financial Analyst, Finance Manager, and Director of Corporate Finance roles. His professional interests include corporate finance, economics, Canadian business, financial planning, business strategy, and the role finance teams can play in supporting informed organizational decision-making.

How Kevin Trudeau Tells If Your Marketing Message Will Actually Sell

Illinois, USA, Sep 11, 2026, ZEX PR WIRE — Every day, businesses invest thousands in advertising that doesn’t convert. The copy sounds impressive. The product looks polished. Yet sales remain flat. The problem isn’t the product or even the budget. It’s that most marketing messages fail a simple test: they don’t speak to what the customer actually wants.

Kevin Trudeau learned this lesson as a teenager writing direct mail pieces. Before he turned 18, he had generated over $1 million in sales by focusing on one question: what problem am I solving in order for the customer say yes? That early experience became the foundation for campaigns that would go on to sell over $450 million of the Mega Memory course between 1989 and 1993, and later drive a health book to outsell Harry Potter in the year it launched.

“People don’t buy features,” Trudeau says. “They buy the feeling they’ll have after the problem is gone.”

Trudeau built multiple businesses across media, publishing, and e-commerce with no college degree and limited formal training. His method for testing whether a message will work comes down to clarity, not creativity.

The Three-Second Gut Check

Before any marketing piece goes live, Trudeau recommends a simple filter. Read the headline out loud. Then ask: does this allow the customer to picture the solution I provide?

Vague claims like “innovative solutions” or “premium quality” don’t pass. The reader can’t see what they’re getting. Compare that to “remember names after hearing them once” or “sleep through the night without waking up.” Both paint a clear picture of the result.

Most marketers bury the result under layers of explanation. They describe the process, the ingredients, the technology. But the customer doesn’t care how it works until they believe it will work. The headline’s job is to make one specific point that the reader wants to be true.

If the point isn’t clear in three seconds, the message is already lost.

What People Really Buy

Trudeau’s experience selling everything from memory courses to nutritional products taught him that customers don’t buy information. They buy the life they think the information will give them.

A memory course isn’t about mnemonics. It’s about confidence in meetings, not forgetting a name at a party, and feeling sharper than you did last year. A health book isn’t about research. It’s about waking up with energy, avoiding the doctor’s office, and taking control when everything felt out of reach.

The product is the vehicle. The transformation is the sale.

This insight applies whether you’re selling software, consulting, or physical goods. Ask what the customer’s day looks like after they buy. Then put that day in the headline.

Testing the Message Before You Spend

Trudeau used direct mail in an era where every piece cost money to print and ship. That forced discipline. If a headline didn’t pull, you knew within days. The feedback loop was immediate.

Today, digital ads offer the same advantage, but most businesses waste it. They test images and colors instead of testing the core benefit. A weak benefit won’t convert no matter how many times you tweak the button color.

Start by writing five different headlines, each making a different point. Show them to people who match your customer profile, but don’t explain anything. Just ask which one they’d click. The one that gets the most genuine interest is your lead.

Then write the rest of the message to support that single promise. Every sentence should either prove the claim or remove a reason to doubt it. Anything else is drag.

The Role of Proof

A bold point without proof sounds like hype. But proof without a point is boring. The sequence matters.

Trudeau’s approach: lead with the result, then immediately answer the objection. If the headline says “remember names after hearing them once,” the next sentence needs to explain why that’s possible. Not with jargon. With a reason that makes sense to someone who knows nothing about memory techniques.

Testimonials work when they describe the same transformation the headline promised. Numbers work when they’re specific. “Over 450 million in sales” is more credible than “widely popular.” The tighter the proof, the less resistance the reader feels.

When the Message Is Right

You know a marketing message works when people repeat it back to you in their own words. They’ll say, “So this helps me remember names?” or “This is the one that helps you sleep better, right?” They’ve internalized the promise.

If they ask what your product does, the message isn’t clear yet. If they ask how it does it, you’re halfway there. If they ask where to buy, you’ve won.

Trudeau built a career on messages that people understood immediately. No confusion. No second-guessing. Just a clear picture of what life looks like on the other side of the sale.

To read more, visit the website here.

Applying This to Your Next Campaign

Before you launch your next ad, email, or landing page, run it through this filter. Can someone who has never heard of you read the headline and know exactly what they’ll get? Does the promise matter to them? Is the proof strong enough to make them believe it?

If the answer to any of those questions is no, rewrite before you spend a dollar. The best marketing doesn’t need a big budget. It needs a message so clear that the right person can’t ignore it.

Most businesses fail at marketing because they try to say everything. The ones that win say one thing well.