Highlighting Our Latter-day Saint Musicians—Nathan Pacheco

The first time Maurine and I really came in contact with Nathan Pacheco was at the Rome Italy Temple dedication in March 2019 as he sang to the youth at the devotional that Saturday evening. He sang with such passion I could hardly breathe. And from my vantage point as a press photographer in the audience I could see that Sister Wendy Nelson was very moved by his singing. I wanted to know more about Nathan!

It was very exciting for us to learn that he spent his youth in Northern Virginia and graduated from Oakton High School—not far from where we raised the younger end of our family for 11 years.

As it says in his own official page: “Nathan Pacheco is a classically trained tenor who has a passion for reaching out and uplifting people through music. He has been featured globally in live performances, including touring the United States, Canada, and Mexico with Yanni; performing with Latin singing sensation Olga Tañon; touring England, Scotland, and Wales with Katherine Jenkins and the National Symphony Orchestra; performing for Prince Charles in conjunction with the British Forces Foundation and the USO; and performing with orchestras and symphonies around the US…

“Nathan produced and arranged his first sacred songs album, Higher, which was released in February 2017 and was ranked #1 on Billboard for best classical and classical/crossover album.” Nathan is of Brazilian origin and has been blessed with a remarkable, passionate, powerful tenor voice. He is so approachable as a person and therefore his voice and music can penetrate the deepest reaches of your soul.

Nathan has spent a great deal of time in Italy, performing with the Opera Festival of Lucca and studying the language. In his travels around the world, he has strived to learn the languages he performs in. He can speak and compose in English, Portuguese, Italian and Spanish.

Nathan served for two years in the Campinas Brazil Mission. He and his lovely wife, Katie, have three children, two boys and a girl.

Before you watch the incredible piece “Forever” below, read what others have said about him: “An extraordinary vocal talent…” –Disney Music Group. “…the voice of our century.” –Yanni “Nathan possesses a voice as powerful as any in opera, yet at the same time he sings with all the warmth and accessibility of the great pop artists.”—Newcastle Chronicle “…a rising star with a golden voice and two PBS specials.” –San Diego Symphony “…one of the rising stars of the classical crossover world, marrying operatic power with pop.” –Liverpool Echo

Please, please take five minutes and let the music below bless your day today. I have listened to this piece ten times in a row and it just keeps moving me.

Stand Against Racism 2022 – Recap

Thank you to everyone who joined us for YWCA Spokane’s annual courageous conversation.

Last Thursday, April 28th, we held Stand Against Racism 2022 and discussed Housing and Income Inequality. Participants had the option of joining us in person or attending virtually. We opened the event with a blessing, followed by performances of song and spoken word by local artists, and heard from a panel of community experts. The panelists shared perspectives from their professions and their lived experiences as they unpacked the local housing crisis.


View & share the Step Into Action flyer

Step Into Action

Attending this year’s Stand Against Racism is an incredible show of support for critical issues affecting our community and nation. However, for true and lasting change to take effect, each and every one of us will need to maintain our commitment to continuous action.

Below are action steps you can take to keep the momentum going.

1. Take The Stand Against Racism Pledge

2. Sign Up For YWCA’s Stand Against Racism Challenge

3. Get Involved With Local Organizations & Events

Consider reaching out to family, friends, and co-workers to ask them to step into action with you as we take a stand against racism together. Make sure to share on social media with #SARspokane. Thank you!

STEP INTO ACTION


Photo Gallery


Support This Work

At YWCA Spokane, we commit ourselves to the work of racial equity and social justice. We envision a world of equity, opportunity, and human decency. We will get up and continue to do the work until injustice is rooted out, until institutions are transformed, and until the world sees women, girls, and people of color the way we do: Equal. Powerful. Unstoppable.

This work takes courage, it takes compassion, it takes you! Let’s continue moving forward.

SUPPORT THIS WORK


Thank You To Our Valued Sponsors

This free, public event would not be possible without the incredible support of this year’s sponsors. If you or your organization would like to talk with us about sponsoring YWCA Spokane’s racial and social justice events or activities please contact Erica Schreiber, Director of Community Engagement, at 509-280-2616 or email [email protected]. Thank you!

Event Sponsor & Mission Partner

VIDEO SPONSOR


Thank You To Our Valued Partners


Thank You To Our Amazing Committee

Members of our dedicated Stand Against Racism Event Committee have spent countless hours to ensure the success of this year’s event. We appreciate your commitment to YWCA Spokane’s mission of eliminating racism and empowering women!

Thank you to the entire Racial and Social Justice Committee for educating, advocating, and promoting racial justice in our community!
Co-Chairs: Anna Franklin and Nicole Jenkins-Rosenkrantz
Existing Committee Members: Annie Murphey, Briana Berner, Brit Wilson, Carmen Pacheco Jones, Christina Kamkosi, Dr. Claudine Richardson, Dr. Deborah (Deb) Svoboda, Erica Schreiber, Jeanette Hauck, Jemma Riedel, Kiana McKenna, Laura McAloon, Laura Vickers, Liz Backstrom, Rachel Dannen, Tynan Black
Welcome New 2022 Committee Members: Alethea Dumas, Caroline Mark, Cynthia Jara Arroyo, Edward Renouard, Emily Arneson, Haley Abrahamson, Heather Schmitt, Jennee Pool, Jennifer Compau, Jessica Johnson, Judy Noel, Julie Hudson, Karla Trejo-Bernal, Kassa Brock, Kathryn DePaolis, Kristina Ralls, Ryan Simmons, Steve Lloyd, Tamika LaMere

Cardinals Minor League Notebook – May 19, 2022 | The Cardinal Nation

photo: Matt Koperniak (Springfield Cardinals)

The St. Louis Cardinals system went 1-3 on Wednesday. The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day is LF Matt Koperniak, who went 4-for-5 with a steal and run scored in Springfield’s extra inning loss. Other standouts include Alec Burleson, L.J. Jones, Edwin Nunez and Wade Stauss.

Results from games played Wednesday, May 18.

The Memphis Redbirds were edged by the Gwinnett Stripers in a one run game on Wednesday night. Recently sent down by St. Louis, Jake Woodford took the mound for Memphis. The right hander pitched three innings, gave up two runs on four hits and walked two.

Angel Rondon relieved and surrendered one run in two innings pitched. James Naile threw the sixth and seventh innings and allowed one run. Zach McAllister tossed a scoreless eighth. Naile took the loss, his second of the season.

Gwinnett took a 2-0 lead in the second inning, then increased the lead to 3-0 in the fourth. Memphis finally answered with a three-run home run by Alec Burleson in the sixth to tie the game at 3-3.

Game tying @IntlPaperCo HR for Burleson (7th)

The Stripers regained the lead with one run in the seventh. The Redbirds were unable to respond.

Nolan Gorman went 3-for-4, all singles. Burleson was 2-for-4 with three RBI. The offense scored three runs on six hits, struck out 12 times and was 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position.

On the base paths, Burleson stole his second base of the season. In the field, Scott Hurst had an outfield assist at third base.

Memphis has a record of 21-17 and is in third place in the International League West, five games back of first place Nashville.

Thursday’s game:  at Gwinnett, Zack Thompson LHP (2-0, 3.86) vs. Huascar Ynoa RHP (1-2, 6.41) 6:05 CT.

The Double-A Cardinals suffered a heartbreaking walk off loss to the Wind Surge in an extra innings road contest on Wednesday night. Edgar Escobar started for Springfield. The right hander pitched four innings, gave up two runs on six hits and fanned five.

Tyler Pike surrendered two runs in the fifth. Grant Black added two scoreless innings. Kevin Marnon hurled a scoreless eighth. Johan Quezada allowed two run in his two innings pitched. Freddy Pacheco gave up the walk off home run in the 11th and took the loss, his third of the season. Pacheco was also tagged with a blown save.

Wichita got on the board first with two runs in the first inning. The Cardinals tied it up 2-2 in the third on a long ball by Jordan Walker.

The Wind Surge regained the lead with two scores in the fifth. Wichita held a 4-2 lead until the ninth when Springfield knotted it up despite not getting a hit. Delvin Perez led off with a walk, and Jonah Davis reached on an error. Jordan Walker drew a walk to load the bases. Moises Gomez was hit by a pitch and Perez scored. Davis came home on a bases loaded walk.

Neither team scored in the 10th. In the top of the 11th, Irving Lopez, who started the inning on second base, came home on a double play ball from Walker. Gomez then hit a solo home run to put the Cardinals up 6-4. It was his 17th of the season.

In the home half of the 11th, Pacheco could not protect the two-run lead. Via a walk and a three-run home run, Wichita walked it off 7-6.

Leadoff man and left fielder Matt Koperniak went 4-for-5 with a run scored and his sixth stolen base of the season. Nick Dunn was 2-for-5. Walker and Gomez each drove in two. The Cards fanned 14 times, went 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position and stranded 12.

Springfield is 14-21 and is in last place in the Texas League North, eight games back of first place Wichita.

Thursday’s game:  at Wichita, Connor Lunn RHP (2-3, 4.70) vs. Simeon Woods Richardson RHP (2-1, 2.20) 7:05 CT.

The Peoria Chiefs could only scratch one run out of six hits in a loss to the Sky Carp in Beloit. Starter Logan Gragg pitched 5 1/3 innings, gave up two runs on five hits and struck out three. Gragg took the loss, his fourth of the season.

Nathanael Heredia surrendered two runs in 1 2/3 innings of relief. Wilfredo Pereira tossed a scoreless eighth.

The Chiefs scored their only run in the fourth inning. Mike Antico began with a triple. Thomas Francisco was hit by a pitch. L.J. Jones singled to plate Antico.

In the sixth, Beloit posted three runs to take the lead. The Sky Carp added a fourth run in the seventh.

Jones went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Tommy Jew and Masyn Winn doubled.

On the base paths, Jew stole his 10th base of the season. In the field, Winn made a throwing error. Matt Chamberlain had an outfield assist at third base, and Jew had an outfield assist at home.

Peoria is 14-21 on the season and stands in fourth place in the Midwest League West, 10 games back of first place Cedar Rapids.

Thursday’s game:  at Beloit, Michael McGreevy RHP (2-1, 2.52) vs. LHP Dax Fulton 6:35 CT.

Edwin Nunez threw two scoreless innings to earn his first win. The righty struck out four, yielded no hits and walked just one. Bryan Pope tossed two scoreless innings and was awarded his first save.

The Beach Birds scored first. In the second inning, Jeremy Rivas reached on a fielding error. Aaron McKeithan singled, and the runners advanced on a sac bunt by Wade Stauss. Ramon Mendoza grounded out to third and Rivas scored.

Bradenton plated a run in the fourth to tie the game and took a 2-1 lead in the fifth. The Cardinals answered in the sixth with two to take a 3-2 lead. Osvaldo Tovalin led off with a single. Rivas followed with a walk. McKeithan singled to load the bases. Stauss drove in two on a double.

Palm Beach added a fourth run in the eighth. Brady Whalen singled and stole second base. Whalen scored on a throwing error on a pickoff attempt.

The Cardinals scored four runs on seven hits. McKeithan went 2-for-4. Stauss drove in two.

On the base paths, Rivas stole his fifth base of the season. Whalen swiped his second base. In the field, Mendoza made a fielding error.

Palm Beach is 13-22 and is in last place in the Florida State League East, 11.5 games back of first place St. Lucie.

Thursday’s game:  vs. Bradenton, Carlos Guarate RHP (0-3, 5.40) vs. TBA 5:30 CT.

Exclusively for members of The Cardinal Nation

Now Available – 2022 Cardinals Prospect Guide

The Cardinal Nation 2022 Prospect Guide is back for its fifth year. It includes 276 pages of in-depth commentary about the very best St. Louis Cardinals minor leaguers, including dozens of color photos. Order your PDF or printed book copy today!

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Join The Cardinal Nation for the most comprehensive coverage of the St. Louis Cardinals from the majors through the entire minor league system.

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Save 25% on your first year’s subscription to The Cardinal Nation – just $59.95 when you also purchase The Cardinal Nation’s 2022 Cardinals Prospect Guide in printed book form.

This is our best-ever subscription price! You receive $120.00 of value for $99.90! This offer ends when the supply of Prospect Guides is exhausted – so don’t wait!

© 2022 The Cardinal Nation, thecardinalnation.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Violet the Pilot in Hawaii – Review

Violet the Pilot in Hawaii – Review

Violet the Pilot in Hawaii is the 3rd publication of a youngsters’s collection composed by writer Bettina Bathe. Among the extremely initial striking facets of this publication is the illustrator’s use brilliant tinted fish and also birds, a flowery helicopter, exotic landscapes and also farming within the Hawaiian Island area. The pictures by Barbara Fortin (www.bellocchioillustration.com) likewise disclose rich woodland as well as wild animals scenes consisting of a myriad of animals that stay in the waters bordering the islands.

This journey starts when 2 Hawaiian young people, Kimo as well as Malia, demand a beautiful trip flight in Violet’s purple helicopter. As constantly, security precedes for Violet, and also they invest a couple of minutes going over air currents and also checking out maps prior to starting.

Violet and also her travelers are gone along with by as they fly over exotic woodlands, a gorgeous falls, farming areas and also intriguing volcanoes. Many thanks to Violet’s certain pilot abilities as well as her faithful pet as well as insect pals, the scared whale is returned to her husk. As well as later on, they are captivated by Hula Dancers and also Violet plays her Ukulele.

The last web page has a picture with all 3 of the flags from the nations Violet has actually functioned in so much. Violet the Pilot in Hawaii uses even more than amusement and also education and learning – the writer has actually likewise devoted a part of the sales of this publication to the Canadian Red Cross.

ISBN #: 0-9738290-1-X
Writer: Bettina Bathe
Illustrator: Barbara Fortin
Author: Violet the Pilot Enterprises, Inc
. Released: January 2006

Violet the Pilot in Hawaii is the 3rd publication of a kids’s collection created by writer Bettina Bathe. Violet as well as her travelers are gone along with by as they fly over exotic woodlands, a lovely falls, farming areas and also fascinating volcanoes. Many thanks to Violet’s positive pilot abilities as well as her devoted pet and also insect pals, the anxious whale is returned to her shell. Violet the Pilot in Hawaii provides even more than enjoyment as well as education and learning – the writer has actually additionally committed a section of the sales of this publication to the Canadian Red Cross.

A Medical Condition That Truly Blows My Mind. #shorts

In this video we will explore the phenomenon of the Two-Headed Boy of Bengal, a boy who lived in India in the 18th century and was famous for having a rare medical condition called Craniopagus parasiticus.

Tagged:

2022 NFL draft by round

The NFL draft was conducted April 28-30, 2022

Pick Tm Pos Round 1 School
1.01 JAC DE Travon Walker Georgia
1.02 DET DE Aidan Hutchinson Michigan
1.03 HOU DB Derek Stingley Jr. LSU
1.04 NYJ CB Ahmad Gardner Cincinnati
1.05 NYG DE Kayvon Thibodeaux Oregon
1.06 CAR OL Ickey Ekwonu NC State
1.07 NYG OT Evan Neal Alabama
1.08 ATL WR Drake London USC
1.09 SEA OT Charles Cross Miss St
1.10 NYJ WR Garrett Wilson Ohio State
1.11 NO WR Chris Olave Ohio State
1.12 DET WR Jameson Williams Alabama
1.13 PHI DT Jordan Davis Georgia
1.14 BAL S Kyle Hamilton Notre Dame
1.15 HOU G Kenyon Green Texas A&M
1.16 WAS WR Jahan Dotson Penn State
1.17 LAC G Zion Johnson Boston College
1.18 TEN WR Treylon Burks Arkansas
1.19 NO OT Trevor Penning Northern Iowa
1.20 PIT QB Kenny Pickett Pitt
1.21 KC DB Trent McDuffie Washington
1.22 GB LB Quay Walker Georgia
1.23 BUF CB Kaiir Elam Florida
1.24 DAL OL Tyler Smith Tulsa
1.25 BAL C Tyler Linderbaum Iowa
1.26 NYJ DE Jermaine Johnson FSU
1.27 JAC LB Devin Lloyd Utah
1.28 GB DT Devonte Wyatt Georgia
1.29 NE OG Cole Strange Chattanooga
1.30 KC DE George Karlaftis Purdue
1.31 CIN S Daxton Hill Michigan
1.32 MIN S Lewis Cine Georgia
Pick Tm Pos Round 2 School
2.01 TB DE Logan Hall Houston
2.02 GB WR Christian Watson North Dakota St.
2.03 TEN CB Roger McCreary Auburn
2.04 NYJ RB Breece Hall Iowa State
2.05 HOU S Jalen Pitre Baylor
2.06 ATL DE Arnold Ebiketie Penn State
2.07 CHI CB Kyler Gordon Washington
2.08 SEA DE Boye Mafe Minnesota
2.09 SEA RB Kenneth Walker III Michigan St.
2.10 MIN CB Andrew Booth Jr. Clemson
2.11 NYG WR Wan’Dale Robinson Kentucky
2.12 HOU WR John Metchie III Alabama
2.13 BAL OLB David Ojabo Michigan
2.14 DET DE Josh Paschal Kentucky
2.15 WAS DT Phidarian Mathis Alabama
2.16 CHI S Jaquan Brisker Penn State
2.17 NO CB Alontae Taylor Tennessee
2.18 NE WR Tyquan Thornton Baylor
2.19 PHI C Cam Jurgens Nebraska
2.20 PIT WR George Pickens Georgia
2.21 IND WR Alec Pierce Cincinnati
2.22 KC WR Skyy Moore Western Michigan
2.23 ARI TE Trey McBride Colorado State
2.24 DAL DE Sam Williams Ole Miss
2.25 TB OG Luke Goedeke Central Michigan
2.26 ATL LB Troy Andersen Montana State
2.27 MIN OG Ed Ingram LSU
2.28 CIN CB Cam Taylor-Britt Nebraska
2.29 SF DE Drake Jackson USC
2.30 KC S Bryan Cook Cincinnati
2.31 BUF RB James Cook Georgia
2.32 DEN LB Nik Bonitto Oklahoma
Pick Tm Pos Round 3 School
3.01 JAC C Luke Fortner Kentucky
3.02 MIN LB Brian Asamoah Oklahoma
3.03 NYG OG Joshua Ezuedu North Carolina
3.04 CLE CB Martin Emerson Mississippi St.
3.05 TEN OT Nicholas Petit-Frere Ohio State
3.06 JAC LB Chad Muma Wyoming
3.07 CHI WR Velus Jones Jr. Tennessee
3.08 SEA OT Abraham Lucas Washington St.
3.09 IND TE Jelani Woods Virginia
3.10 ATL QB Desmond Ridder Cincinnati
3.11 HOU LB Christian Harris Alabama
3.12 BAL DT Travis Jones UConn
3.13 IND OT Bernhard Raimann Central Michigan
3.14 CLE DE Alex Wright UAB
3.15 LAC S JT Woods Baylor
3.16 DEN TE Greg Dulcich UCLA
3.17 NYG CB Cordale Flott LSU
3.18 ATL LB DeAngelo Malone Western Kentucky
3.19 PHI LB Nakobe Dean Georgia
3.20 PIT DE DeMarvin Leal Texas A&M
3.21 NE CB Marcus Jones Houston
3.22 TEN QB Malik Willis Liberty
3.23 ARI DE Cameron Thomas San Diego St.
3.24 DAL WR Jalen Tolbert South Alabama
3.25 BUF LB Terrel Bernard Baylor
3.26 LV G Dylan Parham Memphis
3.27 TB RB Rachaad White Arizona State
3.28 GB G Sean Rhyan UCLA
3.29 SF RB Tyrion Davis-Price LSU
3.30 CAR QB Matt Corral Ole Miss
3.31 CIN DT Zachary Carter Florida
3.32 IND S Nick Cross Maryland
3.33 DET S Kerby Joseph Illinois
3.34 WAS RB Brian Robinson Jr. Alabama
3.35 CLE WR David Bell Purdue
3.36 ARI DE Myjai Sanders Cincinnati
3.37 NYJ TE Jeremy Ruckert Cincinnati
3.38 MIA LB Channing Tindall Georgia
3.39 KC LB Leo Chenal Georgia
3.40 LAR OG Logan Bruss Wisconsin
3.41 SF WR Danny Gray SMU
Pick Tm Pos Round 4 School
4.01 TB TE Cade Otton Washington
4.02 HOU RB Dameon Pierce Florida
4.03 CLE DT Perrion Winfrey Oklahoma
4.04 SEA CB Coby Bryant Cincinnati
4.05 BAL OT Danniel Faalele Minnesota
4.06 NYJ OT Max Mitchell Louisiana
4.07 NYG TE Daniel Bellinger San Diego St.
4.08 WAS S Percy Butler Louisiana
4.09 NYG S Dane Belton Iowa
4.10 DEN CB Damarri Mathis Pitt
4.11 DEN DE Eyioma Uwazurike Iowa State
4.12 NYJ DE Michael Clemons Texas A&M
4.13 MIN CB Akayleb Evans Missouri
4.14 BAL CB Jalyn Armour-Davis Alabama
4.15 CAR LB Brandon Smith Penn State
4.16 NE CB Jack Jones Arizona State
4.17 LV RB Zamir White Georgia
4.18 LAC RB Isaiah Spiller Texas A&M
4.19 CLE K Cade York LSU
4.20 MIA WR Erik Ezukanma Texas Tech
4.21 LV DT Neil Farrell Jr. LSU
4.22 NE RB Pierre Strong Jr. South Dakota St.
4.23 BAL TE Charlie Kolar Iowa State
4.24 DAL TE Jake Ferguson Wisconsin
4.25 BAL P Jordan Stout Penn State
4.26 TEN RB Hassan Haskins Michigan
4.27 GB WR Romeo Doubs Nevada
4.28 TB P Jake Camarda Georgia
4.29 SF OT Spencer Burford UTSA
4.30 KC CB Joshua Williams Fayetteville St.
4.31 CIN OT Cordell Volson North Dakota St.
4.32 NE QB Bailey Zappe Western Kentucky
4.33 PIT WR Calvin Austin III Memphis
4.34 BAL TE Isaiah Likely Coastal Carolina
4.35 GB OT Zach Tom Wake Forest
4.36 BAL CB Damarion Williams Houston
4.37 LAR CB Decobie Durant South Carolina St.
4.38 TEN TE Chigoziem Okonkwo Maryland
Pick Tm Pos Round 5 School
5.01 WAS QB Sam Howell North Carolina
5.02 KC OT Darian Kinnard Kentucky
5.03 NYG LB Micah McFadden Indiana
5.04 NYG DT DJ Davidson Arizona State
5.05 BUF WR Khalil Shakir Boise State
5.06 WAS TE Cole Turner Nevada
5.07 HOU DE Thomas Booker Stanford
5.08 ATL RB Tyler Allgeier BYU
5.09 DEN S Delarrin Turner-Yell Oklahoma
5.10 SEA CB Tariq Woolen UTSA
5.11 JAC RB Snoop Conner Ole Miss
5.12 DAL OT Matt Waletzko North Dakota St.
5.13 CLE RB Jerome Ford Cincinnati
5.14 TB CB Zyon McCollum Sam Houston St.
5.15 SEA DE Tyreke Smith Ohio State
5.16 IND DT Eric Johnson Missouri State
5.17 LAC DT Otito Ogbonnia UCLA
5.18 NO LB D’Marco Jackson App. State
5.19 DEN WR Montrell Washington Samford
5.20 TEN WR Kyle Phillips UCLA
5.21 LAR RB Kyren Williams Notre Dame
5.22 MIN DE Esezi Otomewo Minnesota
5.23 CIN S Tycen Anderson Toledo
5.24 DAL CB DaRon Bland Fresno State
5.25 CHI OT Braxton Jones Southern Utah
5.26 MIN RB Ty Chandler North Carolina
5.27 HOU TE Teagan Quitoriano Oregon State
5.28 DEN C Luke Wattenberg Washington
5.29 SF CB Samuel Womack Toledo
5.30 NYG OG Marcus McKethan North Carolina
5.31 CHI LB Dominique Robinson Miami-OH
5.32 LV DT Matthew Butler Tennessee
5.33 DAL LB Damone Clark LSU
5.34 DET TE James Mitchell Virginia Tech
5.35 DAL DT John Ridgeway Arkansas
5.36 GB LB Kingsley Enagbare South Carolina
Pick Tm Pos Round 6 School
6.01 BUF P Matt Araiza San Diego St.
6.02 PHI LB Kyron Johnson Kansas
6.03 NYG LB Darrian Beavers Cincinnati
6.04 NE RB Kevin Harris South Carolina
6.05 MIN OT Vederian Lowe Illinois
6.06 BUF CB Christian Benford Villanova
6.07 CHI OT Zachary Thomas San Diego St.
6.08 SF OT Nick Zakelj Fordham
6.09 DET LB Malcolm Rodriguez Oklahoma St.
6.10 CAR LB Amare Barno Virginia Tech
6.11 ATL OG Justin Shaffer Georgia
6.12 MIN WR Jalen Nailor Michigan St.
6.13 IND TE Andrew Ogletree Youngstown St.
6.14 DAL LB Devin Harper Oklahoma St.
6.15 NO DT Jordan Jackson Air Force
6.16 LAC OG Jamaree Salyer Georgia
6.17 BAL RB Tyler Badie Missouri
6.18 JAC CB Gregory Junior Ouachita Baptist
6.19 PHI TE Grant Calcaterra SMU
6.20 CAR OG Cade Mays Tennessee
6.21 NE DT Sam Roberts NW Missouri St.
6.22 ARI RB Keaontay Ingram USC
6.23 CLE WR Michael Woods II Oklahoma
6.24 CHI RB Trestan Ebner Baylor
6.25 TEN S Theo Jackson Tennessee
6.26 HOU OT Austin Deculus LSU
6.27 DEN DT Matt Henningsen Wisconsin
6.28 CHI C Doug Kramer Illinois
6.29 PIT FB Connor Heyward Michigan St.
6.30 BUF OT Luke Tenuta Virginia Tech
6.31 NE OG Chasen Hines LSU
6.32 LAR S Quentin Lake UCLA
6.33 LAR CB Derion Kendrick Georgia
6.34 ATL TE John FitzPatrick Georgia
6.35 LAC CB Ja’Sir Taylor Wake Forest
6.36 ARI OG Lecitus Smith Virginia Tech
6.37 IND DT Curtis Brooks Cincinnati
6.38 DET LB James Houston Jackson State
6.39 TB TE Ko Kieft Minnesota
6.40 TEN LB Chance Campbell Ole Miss
6.41 SF DT Kalia Davis UCF
6.42 SF CB Tariq Castro-Fields Penn State
Pick Tm Pos Round 7 School
7.01 JAC CB Montaric Brown Arkansas
7.02 CLE DE Isaiah Thomas Oklahoma
7.03 MIA LB Cameron Goode Cal
7.04 PIT LB Mark Robinson Ole Miss
7.05 CHI OG J’Atyre Carter Southern
7.06 MIN TE Nick Muse South Carolina
7.07 GB LB Tariq Carpenter Georgia Tech
7.08 SEA WR Bo Melton Rutgers
7.09 WAS OG Chris Paul Tulsa
7.10 BUF LB Baylon Spector Clemson
7.11 DEN CB Falon Hicks Wisconsin
7.12 SEA WR Dareke Young Lenoir-Rhyne
7.13 GB DT Jonathan Ford Miami
7.14 LAR LB Daniel Hardy Montana St.
7.15 LAC CB Deane Leonard Ole Miss
7.16 DET CB Chase Lucas Arizona State
7.17 LV OT Thayer Munford Ohio State
7.18 IND DB Rodney Thomas Yale
7.19 WAS CB Christian Holmes Oklahoma St.
7.20 PIT QB Chris Oladokun South Dakota St.
7.21 CAR CB Kalon Barnes Baylor
7.22 KC CB Jaylen Watson Washington St.
7.23 ARI CB Christian Matthew Valdosta St.
7.24 NE OG Andrew Stueber Michigan
7.25 CLE C Dawson Deaton Texas Tech
7.26 MIA QB Skylar Thompson Kansas State
7.27 TB DE Andre Anthony LSU
7.28 GB OT Rasheed Walker Penn State
7.29 LV RB Brittain Brown UCLA
7.30 KC RB Isaih Pacheco Rutgers
7.31 CIN DE Jeffrey Gunter Coastal Carolina
7.32 LAR S Russ Yeast Kansas State
7.33 CHI S Elijah Hicks Cal
7.34 CHI P Trenton Gill NC State
7.35 ARI LB Jesse Luketa Penn State
7.36 ARI OG Marquis Hayes Oklahoma
7.37 GB WR Samori Toure Nebraska
7.38 KC S Nazeeh Johnson Marshall
7.39 LAC FB Zander Horvath Purdue
7.40 LAR OT AJ Arcuri Michigan State
7.41 SF QB Brock Purdy Iowa State

‘PFL 3: 2022 Regular Season’ results: Kayla Harrison vs Marina Mokhnatkina in Arlington, Texas

  • promotion: Professional Fighters League (PFL)
  • title: “PFL 3: 2022 Regular Season
  • venue: Esports Stadium Arlington, Arlington, Texas, United States
  • date: May 6, 2022

COUNTRIES REPRESENTED

  1. Brazil: Carlos Leal Miranda, Larissa Pacheco, João Zeferino, Gleison Tibau, Vanesa Melo
  2. Canada: Rory MacDonald
  3. Czech Republic: Martina Jindrova
  4. Ireland: Myles Price
  5. Jordan: Harrah Al Silawi
  6. Kazakhstan: Zamzagul Fayzallanova
  7. Mexico: Abigail Montes
  8. New Zealand: Genah Fabian
  9. Russia: Marina Mokhnatkina, Nikolai Aleksakhin
  10. Sweden: Sadibou Sy
  11. Ukraine: Helena Kolesnyk
  12. USA: Kayla Harrison, Ray Cooper III, Anthony Pettis, Brett Cooper, Dilano Taylor, Julia Budd

.

WEIGH-INS/FACE-OFFS

.

FIGHT CARD

.

FIGHT RESULTS

BOUT # WIN LOSS DETAILS
PRELIMINARY CARD
1 Martina Jindrová
Czech Republic
Vanessa Melo
Brazil
Method: Unanimous Decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–27)
Time & Round: 5:00 of Round 3
Referee: Kerry Hatley
Weight: Women’s Lightweight
2 Helena Kolesnyk
Ukraine
Abigail Montes
Mexico
Method: Split Decision (30–27, 28–29, 29–28)
Time & Round: 5:00 of Round 3
Referee: Keith Peterson
Weight: Women’s Lightweight
3 Jarrah Al Silawi
Jordan
Gleison Tibau
Brazil
Method: Split Decision (30–27, 28–29, 29–28)
Time & Round: 5:00 of Round 3
Referee: Gary Copeland
Weight: Welterweight
4 Sadibou Sy
Sweden
Nikolai Aleksakhin
Russia
Method: Split Decision (29–28, 30–27, 29–28)
Time & Round: 5:00 of Round 3
Referee: Kerry Hatley
Weight: Welterweight
5 Genah Fabian
New Zealand
Julia Budd
Canada
Method: Unanimous Decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–28)
Time & Round: 5:00 of Round 3
Referee: Keith Peterson
Weight: Catchweight (161lbs)
6 Dilano Taylor
USA
João Zeferino
Brazil
Method: Split Decision (29–28, 28–29, 29–28)
Time & Round: 5:00 of Round 3
Referee: Gary Copeland
Weight: Welterweight
MAIN CARD
7 Larissa Pacheco
Brazil
Zamzagul Fayzallanova
Kazakhstan
Method: Technical Knockout via Punches
Time & Round: 1:25 of Round 1
Referee: Kerry Hatley
Weight: Women’s Lightweight
8 Rory MacDonald
Canada
Brett Cooper
USA
Method: Submission via Rear-Naked Choke
Time & Round: 2:23 of Round 1
Referee: Keith Peterson
Weight: Welterweight
9 Anthony Pettis
USA
Myles Price
Ireland
Method: Submission via Triangle Choke
Time & Round: 4:17 of Round 1
Referee: Gary Copeland
Weight: Lightweight
Co-Main Event
10 Carlos Leal Miranda
Brazil
Ray Copper III
USA
Method: Unanimous Decision (30–26, 30–27, 29–27)
Time & Round: 5:00 of Round 3
Referee: Kerry Hatley
Weight: Catchweight (177 lbs)
Main Event
11 Kayla Harrison
USA
Marina Mokhnatkina
USA
Method: Unanimous Decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–27)
Time & Round: 5:00 of Round 3
Referee: Keith Peterson
Weight: Women’s Lightweight

The Four Pillars of Technology Brand Design: Building a Secure and Memorable Online Presence

Welcome to the world of technology brand design, where creativity meets innovation to create memorable online experiences. In today’s digital landscape, building a secure and impactful online presence is more important than ever. From startups to established companies, every brand in the tech industry needs to establish a strong brand identity that engages users and builds trust. In this article, we will explore the four pillars of technology brand design and how they can help you achieve just that.

So, whether you are a tech startup looking to make your mark in the industry or an established company aiming to revamp your online presence, this article will provide you with valuable insights on how to effectively design and optimize your brand for success. Let’s dive in and discover the secrets behind building a secure and memorable online presence!

Understanding the Importance of Brand Design in the Tech Industry

In today’s digital age, where technology is constantly evolving, having a strong and memorable online presence is crucial for any business. And when it comes to the tech industry, brand design plays a vital role in establishing trust, credibility, and differentiation in a highly competitive market. In this section, we will delve into the significance of brand design in the tech industry and how it can elevate your business to new heights.

Defining Brand Identity and Online Presence

Brand identity refers to the visual and verbal elements that define a brand and set it apart from its competitors. It includes aspects such as logos, colors, typography, imagery, and messaging.

Online presence refers to the footprint a brand has on the internet, including its website, social media profiles, and other digital platforms. A strong online presence allows businesses to connect with their target audience, establish authority, and generate leads.

In the tech industry, where innovation and cutting-edge solutions are highly valued, a strong brand identity and online presence are crucial for several reasons:

  1. Differentiation: With so many tech companies out there, having a unique and recognizable brand sets you apart from the competition. It helps consumers identify and remember your business amidst the noise and clutter of the online world.
  2. Credibility and Trust: A well-designed brand communicates professionalism and expertise. It builds trust with potential customers, who are more likely to choose a brand that appears established and credible.

The Role of Design in Building Trust and Credibility

Aesthetic appeal and intuitive design are paramount in the tech industry because consumers associate user-friendly and visually pleasing experiences with trustworthiness and reliability. Here’s why design plays a crucial role in building trust and credibility:

  1. User Experience: A well-designed website or application creates a positive user experience by making it easy for users to navigate, interact with, and understand the product or service. This creates a sense of trust and confidence, making users more likely to engage with your brand.
  2. Consistency: Consistency in design across all brand touchpoints, such as your website, social media profiles, and marketing materials, is key to creating trust. Consistent branding builds recognition and familiarity, reinforcing your brand’s credibility over time.
  3. Professionalism: Well-executed design elements convey professionalism and attention to detail. They give the impression that your brand is serious about delivering high-quality products or services, which further enhances trust.

In conclusion, brand design plays a pivotal role in the tech industry. It helps businesses differentiate themselves, build trust and credibility, and create a memorable online presence. Investing in strong brand design is an investment in the long-term success and growth of your tech business. So, ensure that your brand design accurately reflects your values, appeals to your target audience, and sets you apart from the competition.

Pillar 1: Consistent Visual Branding

In the world of technology, visual branding plays a crucial role in creating a strong online presence. It not only helps your brand stand out from the competition but also builds recognition, trust, and credibility among your target audience. Consistent visual branding is the first pillar of technology brand design, and it encompasses various elements such as logo design, color palette, and typography. Let’s explore each of these elements in detail:

Logo Design and Visual Identity

Your logo is the face of your brand. It is the first thing that users notice and associate with your company. A well-designed logo should be memorable, representative of your brand’s values, and scalable across different platforms and devices. When creating a logo for your technology brand, consider the following:

  • Keep it simple and unique: A cluttered or generic logo can easily get lost in the sea of competition. Opt for a simple design that reflects your brand’s identity.
  • Choose appropriate colors: Colors have a significant impact on brand perception. Research the psychology of colors to select hues that align with your brand’s values and evoke the desired emotions.
  • Incorporate relevant symbols or imagery: If applicable, include icons or symbols that are relevant to your industry to create a visual connection between your brand and the technology sector.

Color Palette and Typography

Consistency in your color palette and typography is essential for maintaining a cohesive visual identity across all your online platforms. Here are some tips for selecting and utilizing these elements effectively:

  • Choose a color palette that aligns with your brand personality and target audience. Use colors consistently across your website, social media channels, and marketing materials to create a harmonious visual experience.
  • Select fonts that are legible and reflect your brand’s tone. Aim for a combination of fonts that create a hierarchy and establish a clear visual hierarchy on your website and marketing collateral.

Consistency Across Platforms

Consistency is key when it comes to visual branding in the tech industry. Your brand’s visual elements should remain consistent across all online platforms to create a seamless and recognizable user experience. Here are some strategies for achieving consistency:

  • Create brand guidelines: Develop a set of guidelines that outline the proper usage of your logo, color palette, fonts, and other visual elements. This document will serve as a reference for your team, ensuring that everyone follows the same branding guidelines.
  • Use templates: Develop templates for your marketing materials, email newsletters, social media posts, and website pages to maintain a consistent look and feel across all platforms. This will make it easier for your team to create content that aligns with your brand’s visual identity.
  • Regularly audit your visual presence: Conduct regular audits to ensure that your visual branding is consistent across all platforms. Check your website, social media profiles, and any other online channels to identify any inconsistencies and make necessary adjustments.

By implementing consistent visual branding, you can create a strong and recognizable online presence for your technology brand. Remember that visual branding is just the first pillar of technology brand design. Let’s move on to the next pillar – usability and user experience.

Pillar 2: Usability and User Experience

When it comes to building a strong online presence for your technology brand, usability and user experience are key factors that can make or break your success. In today’s fast-paced digital world, users expect websites and apps to be intuitive, user-friendly, and responsive. They want seamless navigation, easy access to information, and quick loading times. To ensure you provide a positive user experience and keep visitors engaged, here are some important aspects to consider:

Responsive Web Design

One of the first things to focus on when it comes to usability is responsive web design. In a world where people access the internet from various devices, including smartphones and tablets, it’s crucial to ensure that your website is optimized for different screen sizes. Responsive design allows your website to adapt and provide a consistent and user-friendly experience across all devices. This not only improves the user experience, but it also helps with search engine optimization (SEO), as search engines like Google favor mobile-friendly websites.

Intuitive Navigation and Information Architecture

Good navigation is essential for a seamless user experience. Visitors should be able to easily find what they’re looking for on your website without having to click through multiple pages or search for information. Intuitive navigation and well-organized information architecture can greatly enhance usability. Consider implementing clear and logical navigation menus, providing search functionality, and using breadcrumbs to help users understand their location within your website.

Optimizing Loading Speed

In today’s fast-paced digital world, users have become increasingly impatient. If your website takes too long to load, chances are visitors will bounce and look for alternatives. Optimizing the loading speed of your website is crucial for keeping users engaged and improving their experience. Some strategies to achieve faster loading times include optimizing image sizes, minifying CSS and JavaScript files, leveraging browser caching, and using a content delivery network (CDN).

So, why does usability and user experience matter for your technology brand? Well, it’s all about creating a positive and memorable experience for your users. When users have a smooth and enjoyable experience on your website or app, they are more likely to engage with your brand, stay longer on your site, and even convert into customers. Additionally, a good user experience can lead to positive word-of-mouth recommendations and repeat visits.

Did You Know? According to research, 88% of online consumers are less likely to return to a website after a bad user experience.

By focusing on usability and user experience, you can improve customer satisfaction, generate more leads, and ultimately drive business growth for your technology brand. So, take the time to analyze and optimize your website or app to ensure it meets the highest standards of usability and provides an exceptional user experience.

Pillar 3: Security and Privacy

In today’s digital landscape, where cybersecurity threats are on the rise, ensuring the security and privacy of your technology brand’s online presence is of utmost importance. Customers want to feel safe and protected when interacting with your brand, especially when it comes to sensitive information and transactions. By focusing on the pillar of security and privacy, you can build trust with your audience and establish your brand as a reliable and secure option in the tech industry.

Implementing Data Encryption

One of the key aspects of security for your technology brand is implementing data encryption. This involves encrypting data at rest and in transit, so even if it gets intercepted, it will be unreadable to unauthorized individuals. Encryption helps protect sensitive information such as customer data, login credentials, and payment details. By adopting encryption protocols such as SSL/TLS, you can create a secure connection between your website and your customers’ browsers, ensuring that data transmission is protected.

Ensuring Secure Payment Transactions

If your technology brand offers products or services that involve payment transactions, ensuring the security of these transactions is crucial. Implementing secure payment gateways that comply with industry standards, such as PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard), can help protect your customers’ financial information. By displaying trust indicators such as SSL certificates and secure payment logos, you can instill confidence in your customers and increase conversion rates.

Protection against Cyber Threats

In a world where cyber threats are becoming more sophisticated, it’s essential to have robust security measures in place to protect your technology brand and your customers’ data. Here are some crucial steps to consider:

  • Regularly update and patch your software to fix vulnerabilities that may be exploited by attackers.
  • Implement a strong firewall and intrusion detection system to monitor and block suspicious network traffic.
  • Conduct regular security audits and vulnerability assessments to identify and address potential weaknesses.
  • Provide ongoing security training to your employees to prevent social engineering attacks, such as phishing and ransomware.

By taking proactive measures to protect your technology brand from cyber threats, you can demonstrate to your customers that their security and privacy are your top priorities.

“Ensuring the security and privacy of your customers’ data is not just a legal requirement; it’s a fundamental way to build trust and credibility in the tech industry.”

Remember, security breaches can have severe consequences, including reputation damage, loss of customer trust, and legal implications. By prioritizing security and privacy in all aspects of your technology brand’s online presence, you can demonstrate your commitment to protecting your customers and their valuable data. This will help differentiate your brand in a crowded marketplace and build a loyal customer base that values security and privacy.

In the next section, we will explore the final pillar of technology brand design: engaging content and brand messaging.

Pillar 4: Engaging Content and Brand Messaging

When it comes to building a strong online presence for your tech brand, engaging content and brand messaging play a vital role. Your content is what helps you connect with your audience, establish trust, and differentiate yourself from your competitors. In this section, we will explore the key elements of engaging content and brand messaging that you should consider for your technology brand.

Creating Compelling and Informative Content

To attract and retain the attention of your target audience, your content should be both compelling and informative. Here are a few tips to achieve this:

  1. Know your audience: Understanding your target audience’s needs, pain points, and preferences will help you create content that resonates with them. Conduct thorough research, analyze user data, and create buyer personas to gain insights into your audience’s demographics and psychographics.
  2. Provide value: Your content should offer real value to your audience. Whether it’s through educational blog posts, informative how-to guides, or insightful case studies, make sure your content answers their questions, solves their problems, and provides solutions.
  3. Use visuals: Incorporate visuals such as images, infographics, and videos into your content. Visual elements not only make your content more engaging but also help in conveying complex information in a more digestible format.
  4. Optimize for SEO: Implementing SEO best practices in your content ensures that it reaches a wider audience. Conduct keyword research and optimize your content with relevant keywords, meta tags, and headings.

Storytelling to Engage Users

Storytelling is a powerful tool that can captivate your audience and leave a lasting impression. By telling compelling stories, you can connect with your audience on an emotional level and build a stronger brand identity. Here’s how you can incorporate storytelling into your content:

  1. Find your brand story: Identify the unique aspects of your brand, its origins, and the values that drive it. Use storytelling techniques to communicate your brand’s story in a compelling and relatable way.
  2. Use customer stories: Share stories of how your technology has made a positive impact on your customers’ lives or businesses. This not only helps in building trust but also showcases the real-world applications and benefits of your products or services.
  3. Use narratives in your marketing campaigns: Craft narratives that take your audience on a journey. Use narratives to tell a story of transformation, problem-solving, or innovation that aligns with your brand values and resonates with your target audience.

Building a Strong Brand Voice

Your brand voice is the personality and tone with which you communicate with your audience. It helps in creating a consistent and recognizable brand identity. Here are a few tips to develop a strong brand voice:

  1. Define your brand voice: Determine the characteristics and attributes that define your brand voice. Is it casual and friendly, or professional and authoritative? Define your brand voice guidelines to maintain consistency across all communication channels.
  2. Be authentic: Your brand voice should be authentic and aligned with your brand values. Don’t try to imitate other brands or use a voice that doesn’t resonate with your target audience.
  3. Stay consistent: Consistency is key when it comes to brand messaging. The tone, language, and style of your content should remain consistent across all platforms, whether it’s your website, social media channels, or email marketing campaigns.

Remember, engaging content and brand messaging are not only important for attracting new customers but also for fostering loyalty and retaining existing ones. By creating compelling content, incorporating storytelling techniques, and building a strong brand voice, you can create a memorable and impactful online presence for your tech brand.

“Content is king.” – Bill Gates

Conclusion

In today’s competitive tech industry, building a secure and memorable online presence is crucial for success. By following the four pillars of technology brand design – consistent visual branding, usability and user experience, security and privacy, and engaging content and brand messaging – you can establish a strong and trustworthy brand that stands out in a crowded marketplace.

Effective brand design goes beyond simply having a visually appealing website. It is about defining your brand’s identity and creating a cohesive online presence that resonates with your target audience. By consistently using visuals, colors, and typography that reflect your brand’s personality, you can create a memorable impression and build brand recognition.

Usability and user experience are key factors in keeping your visitors engaged and satisfied. With responsive web design, intuitive navigation, and optimized loading speeds, you can ensure that users have a seamless and enjoyable experience on your website. This will not only increase customer satisfaction but also encourage repeat visits and conversions.

Addressing security and privacy concerns is paramount in gaining the trust of your customers. By implementing data encryption, ensuring secure payment transactions, and protecting against cyber threats, you can establish your brand as a reliable and safe option for users. This will give them peace of mind and confidence in interacting with your website.

Finally, engaging content and brand messaging are essential for creating a connection with your audience. By creating compelling and informative content, using storytelling techniques, and building a strong brand voice, you can engage users and build a loyal customer base. Your content should not only educate and entertain but also align with your brand values and messaging.

Remember, brand design is an ongoing process that requires constant evaluation and refinement. Stay updated with the latest trends and technologies, and continuously analyze user feedback to make improvements to your brand’s online presence.

By following these four pillars and investing in technology brand design, you can differentiate yourself from competitors, build trust and credibility, and attract and retain loyal customers. So, take the time to assess your brand’s online presence and make the necessary improvements to ensure your success in the dynamic world of technology.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What are the four pillars of technology brand design?

    The four pillars of technology brand design are: 1. Clarity – conveying a clear message about the brand’s purpose and value, 2. Consistency – maintaining a consistent look and feel across all brand elements, 3. Trust – building trust with customers through reliable and secure online experiences, and 4. Innovation – staying ahead of the curve and continuously adapting to technological advancements.

  2. Why is building a secure online presence important for technology brands?

    Building a secure online presence is crucial for technology brands to protect customer data, prevent cyber threats, and maintain a trustworthy image. It also helps in building customer confidence, establishing credibility, and avoiding potential legal and financial risks.

  3. How can technology brands create a memorable online presence?

    To create a memorable online presence, technology brands should focus on delivering exceptional user experiences, incorporating visual branding elements that resonate with their target audience, providing valuable content and interactive features, and engaging with customers through social media and other digital platforms.

  4. What role does branding play in technology companies?

    Branding plays a significant role in technology companies by helping differentiate them from competitors, creating a strong brand identity, establishing emotional connections with customers, and fostering loyalty. It also aids in attracting top talent, securing partnerships, and driving business growth.

  5. How can technology brands stay ahead of the curve in a rapidly evolving industry?

    To stay ahead of the curve, technology brands should prioritize continuous innovation, embrace emerging technologies, invest in research and development, anticipate market trends, listen to customer feedback, and foster a culture of learning and adaptability within the organization.

Konecta-Comdata Merger Creates a Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) Giant – What Does it Mean for the CXM Market?

The planned merger announced last month between Konecta, the leading provider of Spanish-speaking Customer Experience solutions, with Italy-based customer management provider Comdata will create the sixth-largest player by revenue in the customer experience Management (CXM) BPO sector. This consolidation will intensify competition in the attractive CXM market, with the combined entity commanding close to €2 billion in revenues and €300 million in EBITDA. Read on to find out what this big deal will mean.

Creation of a global champion

Comdata

Global CXM provider Comdata offers end-to-end management solutions (acquisition, retention, customer service, technical support, and credit collection) in 30 languages across four continents and 21 countries with its network of 50,000-plus agents. Headquartered in Milan, it served more than 670 clients in 2021, generating revenue of approximately €980 million.

Konecta

Konecta, acquired by Pacheco together with the company’s management team in 2019, is a leading tech-enabled end-to-end CX BPO player in the Spanish-speaking markets. It has successfully integrated different companies such as the Brazilian Uranet and the Spanish Rockethall group, reinforcing the company’s leadership in Artificial Intelligence, digital marketing, and big data solutions. In 2021, it generated revenue and EBITDA of approximately €918 million and €148 million, respectively.

Combined entity

Subject to approval by authorities, the merger is expected in the third quarter of 2022, creating a global CXM leader capable of providing the “best shoring solution” to local, regional, and global clients in 30-plus languages across industries such as finance and insurance, technology, telco, retail and e-commerce, utilities, and healthcare.

The combined entity will be headquartered in Madrid (Spain), jointly chaired by the CEOs of Konecta and Comdata. It will serve more than 500 large corporations across Europe and America, leveraging the expertise of 130,000-plus employees. According to a statement by the companies, “the new group has a solid financial structure and will take advantage of its position in Spain, Latin America, Italy, and France to deploy all its commercial and operational capacity in its strategic markets. In addition, it will have additional capabilities to fuel its growth in the North American market and throughout Europe.”

Key drivers of the merger

The advantages of this deal are:

  • Expansion in Latin American and Spanish markets: The combined entity will become the market leader in Spain and Italy with a strong presence in Latin American domestic markets such as Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, Peru, Guatemala, Argentina, and Chile. It will have over 500 large corporate clients in Europe and Latin America. The new company will enjoy the advantage of Konecta’s strong dominance in the Spanish market, where Konecta has been aggressively expanding in the past few years, especially by acquiring four different Spanish companies that were part of the Rockethall Group in 2020. In these markets, the joint company will have a significant role in telecom, BFSI, utilities and energy, the consumer goods sector, and several big tech and new economy global brands
  • Enhanced delivery capabilities in Latin America: Labor-cost pressures, the talent shortage in onshore North America, and the desire to relocate some offshore operations closer after the pandemic have increased Latin America’s attractiveness for nearshore delivery capabilities. Some of the latest examples include Transcom’s re-entry in Colombia; new sites opening in Trinidad and Tobago by Teleperformance, iQor, and Valenta BPO; and itel’s acquisition of Emerge BPO with employees in Guyana and Honduras. The combined entity will have strong nearshore delivery capabilities to support US clients, including 20 sites in Colombia and seven in Mexico, offering a multi-country delivery model across the entire LATAM region
  • Differentiated customers: Both Konecta and Comdata are leaders in their respective local markets. The majority of Konecta’s revenue comes from Spain, Portugal, and Latin American regions, with Comdata having a strong presence in Italy, France, and some Latin American countries. Overall, the client overlap between both service providers is very limited, reducing the revenue loss due to cannibalization
  • Operational synergies: Buyers’ preferences when outsourcing CXM have evolved from the traditional levers of cost and scale to now prioritizing digital CX capabilities, end-to-end integration, and value-added services in their portfolio. This merger will allow the sharing and cross-selling of certain specific CX transformation capabilities such as Comdata’s C-suite tools, expertise in Voice of the Customer (VOC), and consulting and operational redesign services with Konecta’s content and performance marketing and conversational commerce offerings. Through its Uranet subsidiary in Brazil, Konecta also owns platforms for customer journey orchestration, knowledge management, and contact center infrastructure

Competition among other global providers

With US$2 billion in revenue and 130,000 agents, the combined entity gives tough competition to other global CXM providers such as Teleperformance, Sitel, and Concentrix. Below is a look at the capabilities of these global providers in comparison to the combined entity.

Teleperformance Sitel Concentrix Konecta+Comdata
Revenue US $8.4 billion US $4.3 billion US $6 billion Approx. US $2 billion
FTEs 420,000+ 160,000+ 290,000+ 130,000+
Languages 265+ 50+ 70+ 30+
Countries served 170 40 40+ 24

Considerations for buyers

Although organizations have the best intentions to use mergers and acquisitions to supplement their organic efforts, they generally underestimate the risks such as failure to achieve synergies, lack of due diligence, and security and integration challenges. Business leaders have often recognized people, culture, change management, and communication as the top reasons for integration failure. Lack of adequate change management policies can affect the organization’s governance and accountability structure, cause stress and uncertainty for employees, and decrease productivity for businesses, ultimately impacting service quality and timely delivery.

Future outlook for the CXM market

With Sitel’s acquisition of Sykes and Webhelp’s acquisition of OneLink BPO and Dynamicall in 2021, the trend of consolidation among CXM market players is gaining traction. Consolidation enables service providers to work with large clients across multiple delivery countries and end markets, a capability that is rising in importance for CX clients. It also enhances service offering portfolios and technology capabilities by serving as a one-stop-shop for buyers for all CXM needs.

This deal also represents an opportunity for buyers to reexamine their vendor portfolio since certain service providers might now be better positioned to support their clients across multiple locations and processes, representing an opportunity to optimize their portfolio with fewer providers to achieve operational and cost efficiencies.

To discuss the CXM market landscape, please reach out to David Rickard, Vice President, BPS, [email protected], Divya Baweja, Senior Analyst, BPS, [email protected], or contact us.

You can also learn how expanding and developing businesses are attracting technology-focused workers to help execute existing and evolving digital transformation, adopt new processes, and innovate. Join our webinar, How to Effectively Attract and Drive Productivity within the Tech Workforce.

Family arrived at Newport for holiday – then found they were in wrong country – Grimsby Live

A family faced a £1,000 bill after they turned up at Newport on the Isle of Wight for a holiday – only to discover they’d actually booked a stay in Newport in South Wales. Louise Turner, 37, spent £1,000 on a guesthouse she claims was listed for the island but she and her family were dismayed to realise it was 130 miles away.

This meant Louise and her husband Jose Pacheco, 46, were forced to stump up £1,000 for somewhere to stay – and are now looking for a refund. The mum-of-two says the mistake was made because the Welsh city was listed incorrectly online – under the Isle of Wight section.

Booking.com said it was sorry to hear of the family’s disappointment, but it “would urge all customers to thoroughly check all details before confirming any reservation”. And it insisted its details on the website were correct.

Louise, who lives in Norwich, Norfolk with Jose and their two children, said: “Despite the accommodation mix up and our horrible new hotel, we still had a nice holiday. I just wish this hadn’t happened to us, it’s not fair.

“It was this big rigmarole and now we are £1,000 down for the new accommodation. That’s money we don’t have and Booking.com aren’t giving us our money back.”

Louise Turner and her son on their holiday to Newport - Isle of Wight

Louise, who does not work due to a disability, booked a cottage for their first week of their trip in summer 2021. She said she had also secured guesthouse for their second week in Newport – finding both by searching the area on Booking.com.

Leaving their first cottage in the morning of July 31, the family couldn’t book into the guesthouse until 4pm that afternoon – so enjoyed a day walking around the island. Climbing into their car after a fun day of exploring, Louise entered the postcode from her booking confirmation – and was shocked when it directed her to Wales.

Louise said: “I totally freaked out. ” She claims Booking.com admitted it was an error on the site by putting it in the wrong Newport area however the firm has since said its details were correct.

“It was late in the day, it was the middle of high season, we were just scrambling for somewhere to stay. But we were on a tight budget and Booking.com kept saying they’d refund us but not doing it,” she said.

“We ended up borrowing money from my dad to stay in this horrible hotel which charged us £1,000 to stay for six nights. It was disgustingly dirty.

“There were cobwebs behind the couch, there was rusty cutlery in the drawer, and it smelt so bad that we had to eat out for every meal because we couldn’t eat in there. But we were just desperate for somewhere to stay.”

Louise has since been in talks with Booking.com, which she says has since changed the guesthouse to accurately appear in the Newport, Wales section. She added: “We only borrowed the money from my dad because we thought we were getting a refund from Booking.com but they’ve never done anything.

“They changed the listing on the website really quickly but they have never given us our money back, it’s so wrong. We have never received a refund from either Booking.com or the guesthouse. It was this big rigmarole and now we are £1,000 down for the accommodation and more for the meals we had to eat out because the room smelt so bad that we did manage to find.”

Jose Pacheco and his son on their holiday to Newport - Isle of Wight

A spokesperson for Booking.com said: “At Booking.com our overarching aim is always to facilitate a smooth and enjoyable travel experience for our customers. We have looked into the reservation in question and have checked that all address details in the original listing were correct, including all of the information sent in the customers confirmation email, which confirmed the property details and location via a map.

“Though we were sorry to hear of the customers disappointment, we would urge all customers to thoroughly check all details before confirming any reservation.”

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