CIO Bulletin | 10 Most influential companies 2019

1. . 10 Most Influential Companies 2019 Google Rousing Up For AR Era/pg 8 October 2019 www.ciobulletin.com Manufacturing Made Simple Dynamic Blending Gavin Collier, CEO & Co-Founder Jordan Erskine, President & Co-Founder

2. Vivial:Growth augmented by easy-to-use and affordable local marketing technology “Your business. It’s what we’re all about.” T tomers in real-time. They require innovative and groundbreaking solutions to reach their customers with ease. Vivial has been helping such businesses with its solutions for over a century to achieve this. echnology and customer behaviors continue to evolve with the changing times. This is making it hard for the small businesses to make direct connections with cus- and help businesses find, reach, and build loyalty with customers. “Ultimately, we work behind the scenes so that our clients can focus on running and growing their business,” says Chairman and CEO of Vivial, Jim Continenza. vices. But such businesses usually partner with one or two agencies to boost their marketing efforts. The Vivial Marketing Platform makes this possible for them as it can manage their online, mobile, and social marketing. Moreover, Vivial’s on-demand service team is always ready to provide the right tools along with the needed service so that businesses can ef- fectively manage their marketing. The company has quintessentially changed the game for the local businesses by streamlining the complete marketing process. Digital marketing is not a one size fits all experience. Each business is built on a unique business model and has different marketing needs. Vivial’s full range of marketing solutions, including content marketing, social media management, text messaging service, mobile-friend- ly websites, and the latest local search products ensure high rankings on Google and other search engines. These products and services meet each client’s specific needs and budget. Vivial was founded in 1910 and has been one of the very few companies on the globe to have been in the marketing space for over 100 years. Being an innovator in the space, Vivial has been providing the latest solutions and services to local businesses which help them connect with their consumers. One of the key reasons for Vivial’s success is that the company has stayed true to its mission since they began over a century ago. The company has always looked to help our customers grow their businesses, through easy-to-use and affordable local marketing technology, and also through custom marketing campaigns. Helping local businesses In 2016, as the marketing technol- ogy industry was emerging, grow- ing and shifting in response to new customer behaviors, Vivial took the opportunity to establish a new category in the ad tech industry. The company became known as a community of the best-of-breed technologies and talented people working to simplify the process Local business owners are always busy. They need to focus on the task at hand – running their busi- nesses and servicing customers. These business owners though have to deal with dozens of calls every month for advertising ser- Focus on Excellence A major differentiator between companies in this space is the team that is behind the products. Jim Continenza says, “While we

3. | 10 Most Influential Companies 2019 Meet the leader extraordinaire Jim Continenza, Chairman and CEO Mr. Continenza is responsible for the strategic vision of Vivial and as the leader; he heads a team of over 1,000 individuals across 20 markets. He is widely known as an innovator in marketing technology (martech) industry. He began his career as a sales representative and rose through the ranks in multiple technology and telecommunications compa- nies to gain expertise. Today, he serves on several boards. He is the Chairman of Board of Merrill Corporation, LLC and Sorenson Communications LLC. He also serves on the board of directors at Nextel International, Inc. strive each day to provide seamless, turn-key digital marketing solutions to our clients and partners, what really sets us apart is our dedicat- ed account team who works around the clock to provide human support to the businesses we work with every day.” Jim Continenza Chairman & CEO ” This means that the business owners have a dedicated account coordinator who oversees the entire program, from monthly perfor- mance monitoring to project management. “Each business we service is unique, and its marketing needs vary so we match our products and services to meet a client’s specific needs. Offering this individualized support is a true differentiator,” says Continenza. We help businesses of all types increase their visibility using turn-key solutions, allowing our customers to get back to running their business while we work behind the scenes to get them results. The company has offices located throughout the U.S. and prioritizes having an exceptional culture for the employees. Vivial provides a stimulating and fun environment for its work- force wherever they are. Besides, the company also offers a comprehensive benefits and com- pensation plan to encourage their employees. Such fantastic initiatives to keep the employ- ees happy during their journey at Vivial are something that has got the company many plaudits. They have been announced as the Best Place to Work multiple times by the Dayton Business Journal, St. Louis Business Journal, Hartford Business Journal and the Hawaii Business Magazine for their offices in each location. ”

4. Greet the luminary Win Weber spent his initial years in the consumer products industry building an impressive record of achievement with major consumer products companies, including senior sales executive positions and president of two sales corporations. Since entering management consulting thirty-four years ago, Win has consulted for CPG manufacturers, retailers, wholesalers and industry associations. He has gained a worldwide reputation as one of the original architects of category management and an expert in translating the principles of category management from theory to prac- tical application. He recently introduced, in collaboration with the Food Marketing Institute and Deloitte Consulting, the new beyond category management business model referred to as Shopper-Centric Retailing. He has a B.A. degree from Syracuse University. Win is member and former Chairman of the Board of Visitors, College of Arts and Sciences, Syracuse University. He is also a member of the Food Marketing (FMI) Institute Industry Collaboration Council and Promotion Optimization Institute (POI) Education Board. “We have extensive industry experience and expertise with both retailers and manufacturers.”

5. | 10 Most Influential Companies 2019 We offer more than the typical consulting firm Winston Weber & Associates W mentable solutions. The company is known for providing more value and client return on investment than very large consulting firms staffed mostly by junior consultants with minimal business experience and those loose consortium consultancies, staffed by independent contractors, who typi- cally experience inconsistent quality control. More value and client return on investment means an uncompro- mising emphasis on quality and trust, a “say it as we see it” approach and the ability to consistently exceed client expectations. We got an opportunity to converse with Win Weber, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Founder inston Weber & Associ- ates (WWA) was founded in 1985. Its goal has always been to have a independent contractors, who typi- cally experience inconsistent quality control. More value and client return on investment means an uncompro- mising emphasis on quality and trust, a “say it as we see it” approach and the ability to consistently exceed client expectations. These qualities and our dedication to providing leading edge thinking with implementable solutions has helped us to achieve our goal… this is our reputation today. trading partner collaboration in the late 1980’s, Category Management in 1990 and most recently the intro- duction of the new beyond category management Shopper-Centric Retail- ing business model. Many throughout the industry value our leadership thinking and practical application. global perspective and provide lead- ership thinking with practical, imple- We are also viewed as having an unparalleled understanding of the interrelationship between retailers and their supplier partners. Our senior consultants average over 30 years of business experience in general management, retail management, sales management, brand management and supply chain management in the consumer prod- ucts industry. They bring a unique blend of skills, expertise and a “real world” business perspective to each client assignment and are ideally suited to deal with companies trying to leverage leadership positions in the marketplace as well as turnaround situations. Importantly, whatever the situation, we have an in-depth appreciation for the need to focus on running the business while changing the business. This ensures the achieve- ment of near-term performance targets while change is taking place. What challenges is your industry facing and how do you plan to capitalize on the opportunity? Amazon is a major disruptor who will change how “brick and mortar” retailers, particularly super markets, mass merchants, dollar stores, chain drug stores and department stores go-to-market in the future. We are also dealing with the most dynamic change in decades with expanding food lifestyles, shoppers wanting solutions tailored to their lifestyles, digital connectedness, social media, on-line shopping, delivery options and increasing generational complexities. What is WWA’s modus operandi? We are a small “boutique” consulting firm with a worldwide reputation. Our goal has always been to have a global perspective and provide leadership thinking with practical, implementable solutions. We are known for providing more value and client return on investment than very large consulting firms staffed mostly by junior consultants with minimal business experience and those loose consortium consultancies, staffed by In the supermarket industry, we are leveraging these trends by focus- ing on the shopper and enhancement of the shopping experience through implementation of our new beyond category management Shopper-Cen- tric Retailing business model, apply- ing enhanced analytic capabilities to support this model and implementing advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology with the capability of pre- dicting and mitigating out-of-stocks. Companies can come and go with the times, but only some companies have the capacity to change the world for the best. What qualifies you to be one of them? Winston Weber & Associates has been instrumental in driving industry change through the introduction of 5|October-2019

6. Redefining the future of Claim management Action Claim Service, Inc W hat we do The uncertainty of life can some- times heavily impact the way we live, so as a buffer to such un- planned events we started using insurance. And this back up plan has now been implemented in various verticals of our life. But anyone who has ever tried to claim insurance knows how tedious the task can be, in order to avail it. Action Claim services promises to simplify the whole process and make your life easier, wherever it’s remotely related to compensation, restitution, reparation, or any other remedy for financial loss or breach of contract. The company quotes, “All our programs are custom-made to deliver the best services for the need of our clients and our claims philosophy focuses on understanding how “We” as a team can forge a program that will yield the results we desire on the goals we set. And our philosophy will remain intact in every step we take throughout the program.” The foundation stone In the year 2004, this brainchild of Michael and Amanda Mann came to existence, Action Claim Service, Inc. (ACS); the company has remained operational with the only goal of providing the most efficient and professional claim service possible. From a 2 person office performing multi- line adjusting in a single state, the business grew to over 50 adjusters and administrative staff in more than twenty-two states by constant commitment, expertise and quality of work. Michael Mann, CEO And in 2012, they branched out to form Action Claims Administrators (ACA) to further broaden ACS’s com- October -2019 |6

7. | 10 Most Influential Companies 2019 prehensive claims management mech- anism and third-party administration services with the same goal intact. ACA considers each client as a business partner with unique needs and offer custom tailored boutique program rather than the conventional way of forcing the client into a cook- ie-cutter TPA program. The ACA’S executive team stands unmatched in terms of expertise and the combined resumes showcase over 85 years of industry experience. • Community involvement – Make a difference in the communities where we live and work. Commitment to safety – Put safety first for yourself and others. on a few key points when asked about what makes the companies great, • • • • • Strong and positive leadership Staying focused on strengths flexibility keeping up with technology and culture “We occupy a space where we are exposed to countless problems, issues and catastrophic circumstances every day, and we love problems, because it opens a wide range of opportunities that we can utilize to update and maintain our infrastructure to be the most effi- cient, cost-effective and reliable solution in the marketplace,” says the company. How ACS differs Action Claim services runs on the motto Proven, Proactive, and Professional and have reflected these on every action they have took over the years. Their composed form of working is by learning your business and building a program tailored to your needs with no additional cost is truly a benchmark in the industry. How it is done Success is a subjective term that can only be defined by its owner. – Michael Mann, CEO The company operates by developing relationships that are built on trust and it differs from the rest by com- mitting the full scope of its services attuned to the needs of the client in the most efficient and professional way than the rest of the industry can provide. Casting impact on the industry by unique standards ACS works on a set of principles and is aware of the impact of every ripple it causes, therefore it strictly follows the organization and client best prac- tices and service instructions without fail. And this formula has proven to be successful as it reduces the claim duration, unnecessary treatment, litigation rates, loss time work cases, settlement values, and permanent impairment. And this extraordinary journey has won them several accolades: The company’s core values are: • Action Claim Service was awarded Claims Company of the Year by the Professional Insurance Agents of Arkansas (PIAAR) at the recent- ly held 74th annual PIA confer- ence in Fayetteville • Integrity – Do the right thing ev- ery time, ethically and honestly. Stewardship – Safeguard all that is entrusted to us. Deliver the best – Strive for ex- cellence in all we do. Positive relationships – Be respectful; promote collaboration, partnerships and lasting relation- ships. • • • Action Claims Administrators selected as Top 10 Third Party Ad- ministrator by HR TECH Outlook Magazine • Words of wisdom Michael Mann, Founder/CEO stressed Meet the Brainiac Michael Mann set out into the insurance industry after graduating, Summa Cum Laude in BS Marketing from the university of Arkansas and launched his career as a Large Loss Adjuster with a National adjusting firm. A decade later Michel Mann established a customer service driven property and casualty independent adjusting firm in 2004 and marked the beginning of Action Claim Service (ACS). Since then it has grown into a fully fledged premier independent adjusting firm of the Southeast with more than 50 adjusters and administrative staff. The consistent growth of ACS is rooted in exceptionalism and professionalism of our adjusters and staff says the CEO. “We are Fast, Friendly, Right the First Time.”

8. T and market intelligence. Both sides need to meet at a common ground to make business happen. VORTAL with its comprehensive e-Sourcing and e-Procure- ment solutions connects these businesses. VORTAL: Leading e-Procurement and e-Sourcing Platform he world of business is rife with buyers and suppliers. While the buyers focus on savings, risk management, spend visibility and increasing transparency, the suppli- ers look for more business opportunities Leading the company from the front is the CEO of VORTAL, Miguel Sobral, who is an authority when it comes to Product Strategy and network driven business models We interviewed him to know more about the company and how VORTAL has preserved its position as a leader in the e-Procurement and e-Sourcing space. Tell us about your company’s journey till date. VORTAL was founded in 2000 as a technology company which offered a platform for construction industry, but quickly expanded to other sectors. The company today offers e-Sourcing and e-Procurement solutions for companies and public bodies which are small or large, in the construction industry, in the health sector, public administrations, regional governments, and many more. The company has grown really fast. The number of clients has increased; the number has gone up especially among the public bodies. VORTAL was a global pioneer in this area. We are constantly growing, attracting Miguel Sobral, CEO & Board Member Meet the leader Miguel Sobral, CEO and Board Member He has extensive experience in Product Strategy and network driver business models and has been credited for the growth of SaaS businesses around Europe and the world. He has led VORTAL’s entry into the global markets by securing contracts with international organizations. It is under his leadership which positioned the company as an industry leader in e-Sourcing and e-Procurement. He holds a degree in Economics, an Executive MBA from the ISCTE Business School and AMP from INSEAD. He also is member of the EXEP– Expert Group on E-Procurement of the European Commission and president of EUPLAT.

9. | 10 Most Influential Companies 2019 new buyers and suppliers into an ever-evolving business network. In terms of geographical expan- sion, we have grown in different European countries, especially Spain, Germany, Italy as well as in Latin America. We also have nationwide projects like the National implementations in Colombia, Dominican Republic and Honduras. In one way or the other, impact can be measured. How has VORTAL positively influenced other companies? “ technologies and the potential applications in partnership with universities and research institu- tions. We implement and act fast regardless of the geographical location of our customers as we can adjust to the legal frame- work of each country effortlessly. Instead of being generic, VORTAL builds on top of experiencein specific markets and hosts a supplier network which is able to address the main market needs internationally. How has VORTAL sustained its reputation in the marketplace for so long? “ VORTAL is a part of a generation of companies which has trans- For almost two decades, VORTAL has made business- es easier, better and faster. We have connected buyers to suppliers all over the world and have enabled collaboration. The com- pany became a world leader in electronic sourcing & procurement over time. VORTAL has delivered over 3000 successful public and private sector successful imple- mentations. It has something to do with our ability to under- stand customer needs and translate them into products and services.User experience is a continuous concern and an investment in our roadmap. We monitor user behavior in real time to identify constraints and act on them. We use artificial intelligence tools to facilitate a user’s actions and decisions. What are the qualities that make VORTAL stand out in the space? Services for Buyers combined with services for Suppliers that attract more suppliers. More competition but also more oppor- tunities. And also interoperability because we see a exciting opportunity there. -formed the digital economy of the world. It has contributed to the technological development in its business area by promoting transparency and better practices in governance, investment, innova- tion, efficiency and savings. We provide an international helpdesk and support our clients of any profile or market where we have operations. At this moment, we cover several time-zones and multiple languages in Europe and Americas so that our clients can call us in their local business hours. There are hundreds of thousands of companies with millions of dollars in revenues and competition is at its peak. In this scenario, how canstartups/budding companies build their way to success? What is your firm’s modus operandi? We understand the needs of our customers and develop solutions to fulfill their expectations. We try to anticipate problems and exceed the expectations. VORTAL always monitors customer experience and their behavior. Our employees are provided the necessary training to support our customers in the best way possible. Moreover, we research the latest Promotion of the companies in their lead generation efforts and access to market intelligence supporting better decision. Either small or large, startups or mature companies. 9|October-2019