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Advantage Co I IntroductionPosted by: TonyDate: November 25, 2025I turned 70 in 2023, and soon it will be time for me to step aside and leave the Advantage Co to the nextgeneration of leaders and builders. As we head into 2025, I am focusing on what it is I am going to do nowthat my time at the Advantage Co is coming to a close, but before I step aside, I am presenting this year’supdated Annual Profile as a touchstone for the current and future leaders of the Advantage Co.This Annual Profile featuring the Advantage Co’s remarkable portfolio of independently owned andoperated businesses is meant to help define what the Advantage Co is today along with the strategies,resources, and effort needed to bring our future aspirations to fruition.Although we have spent over four decades cultivating our resources to enable and grow a variety of B2Cbusinesses, the Advantage Co's focus has changed dramatically over the past dozen years. As weaggressively invest in the future, our growth strategy is now based on enhancing and expanding oursupport, development, and Ai-infused technology resources for our international B2B ambitions.At the Advantage Co, we have created a robust environment where everyone who is up to the challengehas enormous opportunities for advancement and personal equity - and now the challenge is all for thenext generation and generations to come.https://tonywalkerpost.com/Page 2
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Advantage Co I Mission StatementMission StatementAt the Advantage Co, we continue to help build remarkable value for our portfolio of independently ownedand operated businesses by providing strategic resources, operating guidance, and Advantage GlobalResource’s comprehensive and reliable back-end support. We work collaboratively to ensureadvantageous market positioning, sustainable growth, and, when appropriate, a clear path to exit.With expertise in data governance, cyber security, Artificial Intelligence, cloud architecture, softwaredevelopment, professional technology services, accounting, tax, HR, staffing, design, branding, marketpositioning, sourcing, social benefit, beauty and wellness, and food services, we are uniquely positioned tohelp produce significant financial returns and meaningful social impact for our independently owned andoperated partnerships [along with the fulfillment of each founder’s vision].The Advantage Co has always been a builder of dreams, a builder of families, a builder of friendships, abuilder of careers, a builder of opportunities, a builder of communities, and a catalyst for social good. Andtoday, we are poised to be a builder of almost anything we can reasonably imagine [however, buildingdoes have a cost, and it is paid for in our commitment, determination, courage, and effort].Building a Flexible MatrixTo stay ahead of the competition and to continue our ever-changing and dynamic growth,the Advantage Co helps to develop each business as a flexible matrix that enables, encourages, andensures strategic paradigm shifts through the simple restructuring of elements, providing maximumspeed to benefit and market ascendancy.At the Advantage Co, we never agreed with the “if it’s not broken, don’t fix it” adage. We believe that evenif it is working well, we can still make it more effective [because we know the competition is always hard atwork on something new]. For us, the challenge remains to always stay relevant and ahead of thecompetition by continuously renewing, improving, and reinventing who we are. Grow or wither.“It is not necessary to change. Survival is not mandatory.” — W. Edwards DemingIn the early years of the Stereo Advantage, we remodeled our store every February. For over 30 years, webuilt rooms, walls, counters, offices, or displays only to knock them down and replace them as soon as werecognized we could build something better. As the consumer electronics market evolved from turntablesand 8-tracks to cassette decks to cd’s to VCRs to DVDs to MP3 players to computers to Spotify andiPhones, the Stereo Advantage executed strategic paradigm shifts through the simple restructuring of itscore elements to remain at the vanguard of the industry. And although the Stereo Advantage is gone, ourcommitment to relentless improvement and innovation remains in our DNA. This disruptive approach canbe disconcerting - innovation and renewal often frustrate those who simply do not want to change - but itcontinues to stoke the fire within, accelerate our growth, and secure our future viability.Be big, be a builder.Page 4
Advantage Co I Building PartnershipsIn 1993, I decided to focus on building new businesses with visionary partners. My motivation fordeveloping diverse partnerships was to create, support, and enjoy a variety of business experienceswith an eclectic mix of energetic builders. It has always been my goal to share the vision and provide theresources necessary for the development of partnerships as a business adventure for those willing to takethe full measure of the challenge. This business model has energized our Root Philosophy for over 30years, and it’s been my good fortune to have worked with - and continue to work with - so many who havemet the challenge.“Our partnership model certainly has worked well for me as it surpassed 30 years on September 3, 2023.I gave a speech years ago at the University of Buffalo, and someone asked me what our partnershipmodel was. I told a story I’ve often recounted. Tony and I were at Brennan’s Bowery Bar in the summer of1993 after a round of golf. We had been discussing a possible staffing partnership, and I said, “I’m in50/50. Let’s shake hands.” Tony replied, “51/49, and you’re the 51 percent majority partner. Frank can doup our partnership agreement.” I immediately responded, “Ok great, see you on September 3rd.” Once Igot started, I memorably asked, “What is our secretary’s name? I have a few letters that need to gettyped.” Of course, I soon learned I’d be typing my own letters and learning how important the ‘Save’button was.” – Joe Kreuz, Founding Partner of Kreuz Business DevelopmentCriteria for a Successful PartnershipThe Advantage Co’s independently owned and operated businesses and partnerships each answer to fourkey criteria: Oxygen, Equity, Opportunity, and Lifestyle:● Oxygen is a business’s ability to provide the necessary cash flow and operating profit to sustainand grow the business.● Equity is a business’s ability to provide maximum and enduring value for the partnership.● Opportunity is a business’s ability to provide additional opportunities for everyone involved in thebusiness [the Root Philosophy].● Lifestyle is a business’s ability to provide for and enhance all of its participants' lives.We are fortunate to have so many opportunities that answer soremarkably well to these demanding criteria.The RecessionOver the past 40 years, we have always been well-prepared forperiodic recessions. The last recession in 2008 proved to be theimpetus for one of our most productive decades ever. Ourapproach to every recession has been to be cash-strong andready to build while others are cutting back and bunkering in.Page 5
Since 1993, Joe Kreuz, Mark Pautler, and Tom Thomson have been the founding partners of more than adozen successful Advantage Co independently owned and operated businesses, including APProfessionals of WNY, AP Professionals of Rochester, AP Professionals of Phoenix [with Jerry Tenenbaum],AP Metro, iWolrd Professionals [with Guylaine DiSalvo], APX Global [with Kelly Cultrara], c1 Secure,Autonomic Resources [with John Keese], Capax Global [with Jerry Hawk and John Baiocco], Zantaz DataResources, … along with numerous other ventures.Page 6
Advantage Co I Effective ManagementThe ability to take ownership of an undertaking - and successfully deliver the desired result - is thepremier quality of effective management. As I prepare to move on, I am encouraged by the remarkableand well-seasoned management we have developed throughout the entire Advantage Co Portfolio.Delivering ResultsIn every successful pursuit, there are those that go beyond contribution and actually provide the power toturn our intentions into reality. While dynamic leadership is essential to creating an environment whereeveryone is motivated to give a 100% effort toward the desired result, we rely on management to deliverthe desired result. Effective management is the difference maker. The power to turn intention into realityis what every endeavor requires.“Management has to be accountable for performance. Management exists for the sake of thebusiness’s results. It has to start with the intended results and has to organize the resources ofthe business to attain these results” - Peter F. DruckerFully Aligned, Fully Committed, and Fully EngagedWithout the power of fully aligned, fully committed, and fully engaged management, there is no focusedenergy source - and no chance of success. It is up to management to provide the resources, confidence,direction, and empowerment necessary to achieve our goals.“Every enterprise requires a commitment to common goals and shared values. Without suchcommitment, there is no enterprise; there is only a mob. It must be built on communication andindividual responsibility. The enterprise must have simple, clear, and unifying objectives. Themission of the organization has to be clear enough andbig enough to provide a common vision.Management’s first job is to think through, set, andexemplify those objectives, values, and goals.Objectives are the foundation for designing both thestructure of the business and the work of individual unitsand individual managers. Objectives are alwaysneeded in all key areas. The area without specificobjectives will be neglected. Unless we determinewhat will be measured and what the yardstick ofmeasurement in an area will be, the area itself will notbe seen. Objectives, therefore, have to be set in these eight key areas: Marketing, Innovation,Productivity, Physical Resources, Profitability, Financial Resources, Human Resources, and SocialResponsibility.” - Peter DruckerPage 7
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Advantage Co I PortfolioPast Performance . Present Purpose . Future NeedsAt the Advantage Co, we learn from the past, work in the present, and build for the future. The pastprovides us with precious memories, moments, and a building block for the future. The present is here toboth challenge us and provide enjoyment [and neither meeting thechallenge nor enjoying the moment should ever be delayed until tomorrow].While the future provides us with a chance to be all that we choose/work tobe. Based on the remarkable foundation we have built over the pastseveral years, our future is brighter than at any time in our history.Although various synergies contribute to our success, the Advantage Co’sportfolio of independently owned and operated businesses each has itsown unique destiny with its own future to build.Advantage Co's current portfolio includes five key verticals: InformationTechnology, Professional Services, Beauty & Wellness, Properties, and Food & Beverages. Each verticalprovides a variety of opportunities.Technology Professional Services Beauty & WellnessZantaz Data Resources Advantage Global Resources Katini SkinC1 Secure AP Professionals of Phoenix Lab to BeautyLLM Data Feeder iWorld Professionals Cocoa by CeCeLifetime ServiceProperties Walker Global Solutions Food & BeverageWalker Center Ragusa Executive Solutions Giancarlo’sLTS Center BPX Executive Staffing GrivaniDelta Apartments APX Global Anu Blu Mediterranean KitchenWalker Sports AuditM&L Devine ResourcesThe following is a short profile of several of the Advantage Co’s portfolio of independently owned andoperated businesses, along with our key priorities for 2024:Page 9
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Advantage Co I Advantage Global ResourcesTracy Allen . Ian O’NeillSince 1988, I have believed that the true value of the Advantage Experience was to be realized byproviding a menu of readily available resources for the development and support of an eclectic mix ofindependently owned and operated businesses. Today, Advantage Global Resources [AGR] provides theessential resources for the origination, formation, design, structure, financing, development, growth,reporting, monitoring, analytics, compliance, insurance, health care, HR, legal, security, accounting, audit,and governance of all the various Advantage Co’s business adventures.Chief among our Advantage Global Resources [AGR] support services are accounting, tax reporting,design, money management, and Human Resources. Accordingly, we have paid particular attention tothe advancement and evolution of these resources over the past several years.One of the most poignant and rewarding outcomes of the Advantage Co’s pandemic response has beenthe development of the entire AGR team. Forged by remarkable solidarity during the height of thepandemic and spurred on by a unity of purpose and friendship, the entire AGR team has become one ofour strongest, most reliable, and most enjoyable resources. Apparently, my strategy with AGR to justcave has worked better than anyone expected. 2024 was arguably AGRs best year ever.Office Anywhere ProgramAGR has seamlessly transitioned to a hybrid on-premise and work-from-home [when necessary] officedynamic. This allows everyone to be comfortable, safe, and productive regardless of where they areworking from. [AGR provides each of our staff $1k a year for improving their remote office.]You can count on us.It all starts with a team that is fully aligned, fully committed, and fully engaged - which takes away the needfor continuous oversight and unnecessary intrusion. This leads directly to more personal accountabilityand work satisfaction. Ian is now a well-seasoned manager, and having a team that looks out for eachother has certainly made his job easier. In addition to the satisfaction of AGR growing into a tight-knit andproductive team, we all take great pride in how much the entire Advantage Co appreciates and relies onthe work AGR is doing [for them].Over the past few years, we have had the opportunity to gain a better insight into what AGR must do tocreate the type of support that will continue to provide the foundation, security, and confidence necessaryto enable the enduring prosperity and growth of Advantage Co as a robust business-building resource. Toremain a potent service, AGR will continue to develop and acquire new technologies [e.g. AGR Bridge,Bill.com, Bullhorn, CCH Access Tax, etc.] in order to push us to the vanguard of technological innovation.Sustaining and enhancing our recent success will depend, in large part, on building technologicallyadvanced resources that will enable the creation, development, operation, support, security, andgovernance of a variety of new opportunities, partnerships, and investments.And now we are ready for the future …Page 11
Looking back over 40 years, this was our intrepid crew at the Stereo Advantage at 5687 Main Street in theVillage of Williamsville, NY. It was an amazing group of friends and builders.In no particular order, Crash, Audio Al, Pete, Liz, Butch, Karen, Sprout, Lizzie, Trey, Dave the K [the King ofCar Stereo], Susie, Artie, Gapper, and Joanne. I’ll leave it to you to match the names to the faces. Myapologies to Joe Bake [who got taken out by water damage].Page 12
Zantaz ‘24 Summer Conference I Thank YouA heartfelt thank you to everyone who traveled to Williamsville, NY, for our second Zantaz MarketPlaceInternational Summer Conference. Your contributions, insights, and enthusiasm greatly enhanced thequality of our presentations and discussions throughout the week. Giancarlo's was an ideal venue, and thefood and hospitality provided by Gabriela, Anthony, and their entire team made the event both enjoyableand memorable.Once again, we enjoyed a variety of enthusiastic presentations that were informative, thought-provoking,and often inspiring. The face-to-face interactions facilitated spontaneous exchanges of ideas, whichcontinue to complement our effective international remote work environment.While virtual communication tools are valuable for our global collaborations, they cannot fully replicate therichness and depth of in-person dialogue. As I mentioned at the outset, this year's conference marked theend of our practice phase, and it certainly proved beneficial.Data OptimizationThroughout the week, we showcased our newData Optimizer, set for general release tocustomers worldwide on January 1st.Introducing the Zantaz MarketPlaceThe Zantaz MarketPlace '24 Summer Conferencealso provided a platform to highlight theexceptional opportunities our new ZantazMarketPlace will offer to our burgeoningInternational Network of Authorized Agents andResellers.This week's meetings, presentations, anddiscussions presented a unique opportunity forall attendees to actively participate in shaping ourfuture, which promises significant benefits foreveryone willing to build it.Once again, thank you to everyone who attended the Zantaz MarketPlace '24 Summer Conference. Ourfew days together exceeded expectations, and the future looks incredibly bright.Save the date for next year: Zantaz MarketPlace '25 Summer Conference [possibly in San Sebastian, Spain]from Monday, June 23rd to Wednesday, June 25th.Page 13
Zantaz MarketPlace I IntroductionZantaz MarketPlace aims to empower an International Network of Authorized Agents and White LabelResellers. Our mission is to establish Zantaz MarketPlace as a global resource that providescomprehensive access to exceptional Zantaz Data Resources products and services for our Agentsworldwide. At its core, Zantaz MarketPlace represents a culmination of a 46-year vision to leverage ourresources for greater opportunities, growth, and profitability.Central to our mission is the success of our International Network of Agents. By showcasing a diversearray of remarkable Provider Offerings, Zantaz MarketPlace will equip our Agents with the tools toeffectively meet the needs of commercial, institutional, and government customers worldwide.On October 1st, Zantaz MarketPlace will deliver an easily accessible and useful library of essentialinformation on all our available Zantaz Offerings. Zantaz MarketPlace will facilitate and enhanceopportunities for our International Network of Agents while enabling advantageous and frictionlessintracompany participation. As our Zantaz Offerings grow in our Zantaz MarketPlace, our InternationalNetwork of Agents and their customer opportunities will grow as well.Zantaz MarketPlace is committed to fostering meaningful partnerships and delivering unparalleled valueworldwide to our Agents and Resellers.● Global AccessAgents will have authorized access to a broad spectrum of Zantaz Offerings, streamlining the salesprocess and maximizing revenue potential.● Comprehensive SupportZantaz will provide robust sales support, fulfillment protocols, and exceptional commissionstructures, ensuring our Agents are incentivized and empowered to succeed.● Value PropositionEach Zantaz Offering will be meticulously detailed in a Smart Card to highlight its unique valueproposition, ensuring that Agents can effectively communicate benefits to prospective customers.● Agent EmpowermentThrough Zantaz training, certification programs, and ongoing support, Zantaz MarketPlace willempower Agents to capitalize on opportunities and drive mutual growth.The ideal Zantaz MarketPace Agent has existing relationships as a trusted provider within their market.Leveraging these relationships will enable the Agent to sell Zantaz Offerings, which in turn will strengthentheir customer relationships and provide additional earnings.Commission Note: Agents are responsible for cultivating opportunities through their existingnetwork. If an Agent creates merely an introduction that generates an opportunity for Zantaz, thatAgent will be commissioned appropriately for the resulting paid business.Looking ahead, Zantaz MarketPlace is committed to continuous innovation and expansion. We aim toenhance our platform with new offerings, advanced technologies, and enhanced support services toensure our network remains at the forefront of the technology industry.Page 14
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Zantaz MarketPlace I Zantaz OfferingsThe Zantaz MarketPlace will provide a venue for all of our International Network of Agents by enablingauthorized access to all of our Zantaz Offerings in order to facilitate and enhance their sales opportunitieswith potential customers worldwide.ZantazMarketPlace.comIn order to maximize our selling potential, every Agent needs to know the simple basics of every ZantazOffering. ZantazMarketPlace.com will be an easily accessible and useful storehouse of essentialinformation that will enable advantageous and frictionless Zantaz and Agent participation.ZantazMarketPlace.com will be password protected, and access will be limited to authorized Agents andResellers—this is not a venue for customers. As an exclusive resource, Agents will gain access to a diverserange of Zantaz Offerings, enabling them to cater to their customer's specific needs and dramaticallyexpand their revenue opportunities.Smart CardsWe will begin by identifying all of the Zantaz Offerings we will have available to sell through our Smart Cardformat. The Smart Card will start by introducing the product, service, solution, or resource that Zantaz ismaking available—along with the cost and the ideal customers for a particular offering [and why]. SmartCard information on each Zantaz Offering will include its features, benefits, sales protocol, deployment, andall essential contact and presentation information. This will ensure Agents can confidently engage withpotential customers, backed by comprehensive support from Zantaz.Agent CompensationThe Smart Card will provide the entire benefit and commission structure. Zantaz will be responsible for allof the commissions earned by the Agent. Note: In order to be eligible for compensation, the Agent musthave authorization to present from Zantaz before introducing an offering to a customer.Value = Benefits - CostDetailing the value proposition for each Zantaz Offering is a key component of the Smart Card strategy. Avalue proposition is a promise of value to be delivered along with a firm belief by the customer that thedesired value will be experienced. The customer must understand and believe the value received will besignificantly greater and more rewarding to them personally than the cost associated with its acquisition.The Smart Card will aid the authorized Agent in selling or referring the Zantaz Offering to potentialcustomers by detailing the four most important points that should speak to the direct benefit the customerwill receive.Selling & FulfillmentThe Zantaz MarketPlace will streamline the selling and fulfillment process for its Agents, ensuring aseamless experience for them and their customers. The Zantaz Smart Card will providecomprehensive logistical information, guide Agents on how to refer or sell Zantaz Offerings andfacilitate efficient sales processes and fulfillment. The Smart Card will provide the logistics regardinghow referring or selling a Zantaz Offering is carried out by the Agent in conjunction with Zantaz, as wellas defining the chain-of-custody in regards to the customer and the fulfillment of the sale.Page 16
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Zantaz Data Resources I Writing a New StoryOver 25 years ago, Tom Thomson launched Advantage Systems Professionals in Pittsford, NY, as ourfirst technology partnership. Since then, our propitious success in the tech space has been beneficialto everyone who has had the resolve to invest, adapt, and persevere. Two of our more noteworthytech highlights include being the first to earn the FedRAMP Authority to Operate and the developmentof our market-leading PremCloud Unified Data Platform. Also worth highlighting was our successfulengagement with United Airlines, which led to the successful sale of our Capax Global partnership toHitachi Data Systems. As a long-time Microsoft Partner, Capax Global, under the guidance of foundingpartners Jerry and Jessica Hawk, delivered unbelievably complex and technical solutions to some ofthe world’s largest companies, and their work with United Airlines was no exception. Click here:https://vimeo.com/279288962Zantaz Data Resources development, deployment, and support resources will provide the foundationfor all our current and future tech ambitions. Zantaz Data Resources is buoyed by the fact that theavalanche of Unstructured Data, as well as growing data compliance demands, will increaseexponentially in every enterprise and government that is relentlessly creating a massive amount ofdata that needs to be rapidly and securely identified, archived, stored, disposed of, managed, andutilized … and nothing provides more advanced solutions than Ai Data Companion.Zantaz Data Resources' go-forward strategy is to continue enhancing our Ai-infused Data Comppanionand taking it to market with Zantaz MarketPlace’s International Network of Agents and Resellers..“Zantaz Data Resources built Ai Data Companion to organize data using metadata attributes tofacilitate actionable insights into the data. Our Ai-infused tools connect directly to Unstructured Datarepositories to identify and extract metadata and text from over 1,000 different file types. Unlike otherfile analytics products that limit customers to a singular deployment model, our Ai Data Companioncan deploy on-premises, in public clouds such as Azure or AWS, in a private cloud, or in a hybriddeployment model.” - Will White, President, Zantaz Data ResourcesLogix HostingIt is also our responsibility to make certain that all of our technologies are effectively deployed andsupported with optimal functionality while operating at their maximum performance capabilities. That’swhat Zantaz’s Logix Hosting is all about. Logix Hosting is an Italy-based international team of delivery,hosting, and support experts led by Marco Pizzolo, servicing large enterprise clients worldwide. Wehave over 300 years of combined experience across a broad range of enterprise application solutionscentered around enterprise data management. The Logix Hosting services include:● Managed, Professional, & Hosting Services● Deployment & Training● Support & Maintenance● Solution Engineering● Full Sales Technical Support● Cloud Hosting & Data Center ManagementPage 18
Zantaz MarketPlace I Zantaz Data ResourcesWith each passing day, massive amounts of Big Data arrive in various forms with up to 90% of it beingUnstructured Data. Organizations are generating an overwhelming amount of Unstructured Data at anunprecedented rate [as the amount of data that is being generated in the world doubles every eightmonths], fueled by factors such as increased digitalization, IoT devices, social media, Artificial Intelligence,and customer interactions, as well as challenging distributed workforces and increased utilization of chatand collaboration platforms (MS Teams, Zoom, Slack, etc.). This rapid growth has exposed the damaginglimitations of every organization’s legacy data solutions that leave massive amounts of Unstructured Datain the lurch.Zantaz’s Data OptimizationUnfortunately, we were once stuck in the same predicament, but with our new Ai Data Companion,Zantaz Data Resources is now able to address the avalanche of Unstructured Data that isoverwhelming our customers. Our new AI-infused data tools have been developed to processUnstructured Data at speed and scale [turning Unstructured Data into Actionable Smart Data].Taking Zantaz Data Resources to Market for AcquisitionZantaz Data Resources is an independently owned and operated data technology company thatalready has a rich and remarkable legacy. Over the past 20 years, the foundation of Zantaz DataResources has been laid through the Advantage Co’s license, develop, build, and acquire model tocreate incredible value as the world's premier data archiving and Unstructured Data processingprovider. On January 1, 2025, we will officially bring Zantaz’s Ai Data Companion to market.Logix HostingLogix Hosting empowers Zantaz Data Resources to reach its goal of ensuring that each of itsinternational clients can experience first-hand the power of its new Ai Data Optimization. Logix Hostingalso deploys the Terabyte Tester as a SaaS consumable, proof-of-value tool to demonstrate Zantaz's AiData Optimization's ability to deliver an immediate ROI for its clients.Together, Zantaz and the Logix Hosting team can establish goals for an Ai Data Optimizationengagement and measure the program’s success in reaching those goals within one (1) week. Withthis rapid approach, Logix Hosting can dramatically lower the barrier of entry for all of Zantaz’s clientswith no software to deploy On-Premise, no complex infrastructure to provision, and little trainingrequired.Page 19
Zantaz Data Resources I Our Global ClientsAlder King LLPAMBANK (Malaysia) BerhadAmerican International IndustriesAmpersand Capital PartnersAPTIMArch Insurance Group Inc.Artemide Group SPA [Gruppo Artemide Italy]Ascension HealthAspen PharmacareAvenue Capital GroupAveris Hong KongAveris [Kuala Lumpur & Singapore]AWA Patent ABBank MuscatBarclaysBarings Investment Services LimitedBarratt Developments PLCBayernInvestBentallGreenOak (U.S.) Limited PartnershipBlank Rome LLPBonelliErede (aka. Studio Bonelli)Bonneville Power AdministrationBristol Water PlcBroadcomBruce Power L.P.Burnet, Duckworth & PalmerCaerphilly County Borough CouncilCanadian Dental AssociationCancer Specialists of Northern Florida (used tobe ICON)CENTENE CorporationCentraState Medical CenterCharles Schwab & Co, Inc.Choate, Hall & StewartCIT - West Chester TownshipCity National BankCity of San DiegoCobelfret (dba CLdN IT SA)COCCCodan (Canada) Inc.Compex Legal Services, Inc.Compliance IT Solutions LLCCredit Guarantee Insurance Corp of Africa Ltd.CyberCodersDeGolyer and MacNaughtonDelek USDeloitte (UK & Switzerland)Deloitte General ServicesDepartment of Social ProtectionDkv Mobility Services Business CenterDoehler GmbHEDF Energy PlcEnterprise Bank & TrustEpson Europe BVEssentia Health System (aka SMDC)European Central BankEuropean Fund Administration (EFA)EY Global Services LimitedGovCloud ResourcesFeilden Clegg Bradley StudiosFlorida Dept. of Law Enforcement (FDLE)Foley Hoag LLPGAM (UK) LtdGeller & organization LLCGeneral ElectricGeorgia Department of LawGloucestershire County CouncilGoblet Lavandier and Associes S.A.Goodwin Procter LLPGulf International Bank (UK) LimitedGunderson DettmerHaron Services F.K.A ETHENEAHilco GlobalHogan Lovells US LLPHollingsworth LLPHuntington National BankHunton Andrews Kurth LLP (a. Hunton Williams)IKO IndustriesInspira Health NetworkIslington CounciliStar FinancialITC Holdings Corp.J.M. Huber CorporationJMP Securities LLC, Research DivisionKaleida HealthKansas City Police DepartmentPage 20
Kirkland & Ellis LLPLatham & WatkinsLeonhard Kurz Stiftung & Co KGLloyds Banking GroupLogwin AGLondon Borough of BromleyMarex GroupMannheimer SwartlingMaverick Services, LLCMBDA UK LimitedMcDermott InternationalMcDermott Will & Emery LLPMcKesson CorporationMeketa Investment Group, Inc.Metropolitan Water District of Southern CaliforniaMorgan Stanley Securities - Mitsubishi UFJ(MUMSS)Muckle LLPMUFG Bank [Bank of Tokyo]National Bank of Egypt (UK) LimitedNetwork RailNew Jersey Hospital AssociationNew Zealand Energy Efficiency and ConservationAuthorityNomura International PlcNorth of England P&I Association Ltd NEPIANorthwood UniversityOaktree Capital ManagementOrange County Dept of EducationOregon Department of TransportationPalm Beach CountyParadise CanyonPI Financial Corp AKA Pacific InternationalFinancial CorpPillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLPPNM ResourcesPolytypeProvost & Pritchard Engineering Group IncQuilter PLC (formerly Old Mutual Wealth)Redstone Federal Credit UnionRembrandt IP Management LLCRiemer & Braunstein LLPRolls Royce SolutionsRopes & Gray LLPRosling King LLPSan Diego Police DepartmentSandberg, Phoenix & Von Gontard P.CSandy Spring Bancorp, Inc.Shearman & Sterling LLPShell Int'l Trading Shipping CoSignal EnergySimpson Thacher & Bartlett LLPSirius XM Radio Inc.Software AGSouth Sound 911Southern Health & Social Care TrustSS&C Technologies Inc.Steptoe & Johnson LLP (US)Steptoe & Johnson, LLP (EMEA)Tacoma Pierce County Health DepartmentTDSTelhioTGS-NOPEC Geophysical Organization L.P.ThyssenKruppTorbay CouncilTorys LLPTourism Ireland LimitedTroutman PepperTruworths International LimitedUGL LimitedUnBiasItUnisysUniversity City HousingUniversity of VirginiaViatris (a Mylan Inc.)VodacomW & R Corporate LLCWalsh, Pizzi, O'Reilly, FalangaWillcox and SavageWillett Advisors, LLCWorld Bank GroupZ Legal Data ResourcesZantaz Data ResourcesZoomPage 21
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Zantaz MarketPlace I White-Label ResellersZantaz MarketPlace’s ambition is to empower our International Network of Teaming Partners andWhite-Label Resellers with beneficial access to everything we are bringing to market.Ai Data Companion’s Teaming Partner ProgramAn authorized Zantaz Teaming Partner is eligible for the various commission programs Zantaz DataResources offers to represent its programs, products, solutions, or services. For example, the ZantazTeaming Partner Commission for the sale of its Data Optimization or White-Label Reseller Program Licenseis a remarkable 30% of the License Fee.Ai Data Companion’s White-Label Reseller ProgramZantaz Data Resources offers Ai Data Companion through aWhite-Label Partnership, licensing White-Label Resellers to expandtheir product and service offerings rapidly. White labeling is a businessmodel where one company produces and delivers a product or service,and another company rebrands it as its own. This allows White-LabelResellers to save time and resources on research, development, andimplementation while offering their clients innovative solutions.Zantaz Data Resources’s White Label Reseller License means that a White-Label Reseller has the right toresell the Ai Data Companion Tool Kit under their own branding. This gives the White-Label Reseller fullcontrol and ownership over their customers rather than the customers belonging to Zantaz. Through aWhite Label partnership with Zantaz Data Resources, White-Label Resellers get to market faster, canextend their brand, and can immediately provide their customers with new Ai-Infused solutions.Zantaz’s Ai Data Companion products, solutions, and services are ready-made, fully tailored offerings thatmake rebranding very simple. The Ai Data Companion White Label Program enables White-Label Resellersto quickly expand their offerings, revenue, customer retention, customer acquisition, and equity without theinvestment in time and money to build or acquire new software, products, or services.● White Label BrandingThe White-Label Reseller can rebrand Ai Data Companion as their own, using their own companyname, branding, etc. It appears to the end customers as the Reseller's own offering.● White-Label Reseller License in PerpetuityThe White-Label Reseller License for Ai Data Companion is $1M. The White-Label Reseller has theongoing right to resell Ai Data Companion for 5 years.● Customer OwnershipThe White-Label Reseller has control, flexibility, and ownership of the customer relationships whenselling their branded Ai Data Companion.● Increased CommissionsAdditionally, the White-Label Reseller Commission for the sale of its Ai Data Companion is now50% of the License Fee [and 20% on Renewals]. This is a dramatic increase from the 30% aTeaming Partner earns.Page 26
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Key Benefits of the Ai Data Companion White-Label PartnershipAi Data Companion is a feature-rich platform that includes advanced data analytics, visualization, andreporting capabilities. Through the White-Label Partnership, Resellers can rebrand the toolkit with theirown branding and sell it to their customers as a tailored solution.● Rapid Time-to-MarketMinimal risk of trying a new product. Faster speed to market with new products than developingyourself. White-Label Resellers can immediately add a new, cutting-edge AI-infused data analyticssolution to their portfolio without the need for extensive in-house development.● Scalable Revenue Streams with Added RetentionRecurring revenue with the SaaS model. Expand into more markets/add new revenue streams.White-Label Resellers can rapidly increase their revenue, customer retention, customer acquisition,profit, and equity without the investment in time and money to build or acquire new products orservices. Increase your stickiness factor—the more you do for customers, the more customersbecome dependent on you.● Reduced CostsBy leveraging Ai Data Companion and Logix Hosting’s' existing infrastructure and expertise,Resellers can avoid the overhead associated with building a data analytics tool from scratch. Byusing an already-established product and deployment resource, White-Label Resellers save onresearch, development, delivery, updates, and support.● Branded DifferentiationExpand your brand, build trust and your reputation. Solidifies you as an expert Ai service provider.White-Label Resellers can differentiate themselves in the market by offering a unique,white-labeled data analytics solution under their own brand. Diversify and cross-promote productand service offerings to become a full-service provider.● Ongoing Support and MaintenanceZantaz Data Resources’ Logix Hosting handles all updates, bug fixes, and support for DataOptimization, allowing White-Label Resellers to focus on sales and customer success.Page 28
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Zantaz MarketPlace I LLM Data FeederWelcome to LLM Data FeederLLM Data Feeder is a new AI start-up built on a legacy of success in developing first-to-market technologysolutions. Featuring our extraordinary AI data preparation process to satisfy the voracious demand forlarge data sets by internal LLMs, our technology is deployed into self-contained instances inside yourcorporate network boundary, meaning that it operates entirely inside your security perimeter, data center,or cloud ecosystem of choice, with no dependencies on third-party LLMs or external data transit. LLM DataFeeder rapidly and securely overcomes all of these data acquisition, curation, and management challengesby enabling high-quality, unbiased, and ethically sound LLMs with Actionable Smart Data.Internal LLMsInternal LLMs eliminate the need to send sensitive data to an external provider, reducing the risk of databreaches or misuse. You can ensure that all your data processing and storage happens within your ownsecure environment. With a secure Internal LLM, your data is never exposed to the outside world. LLMData Feeder enables you to validate inputs, monitor outputs for strange behavior, and restrict access tokeep bad data out and protect sensitive information. By implementing a combination of LLM Data Feeder’sadvanced techniques at scale, you significantly reduce the risk of data assimilation on your LLM models.Processing Data at Speed and ScaleDeveloping a comprehensive and high-quality training dataset for large language models [LLMs] can be asignificant challenge. Sourcing large volumes of textual data from diverse and reliable sources is usually atime-consuming and complex task]. Raw textual data often contains errors, inconsistencies, and irrelevantor low-quality content that needs to be identified and removed. Cleaning and preprocessing the data tomaintain high quality and consistency is a complex and labor-intensive task that only LLM Data Feeder cando effectively and rapidly at exabyte scale.Handling Sensitive or Restricted ContentCertain types of content, such as personal information, copyrighted material, or potentiallyharmful content, are carefully identified and excluded from the dataset by LLM Data Feeder.Handling sensitive or personal information within the dataset requires LLM Data Feeder’srobust data privacy and security measures to protect against misuse or breaches. Complyingwith relevant data protection regulations adds another layer of complexity. Navigating legal and ethicalconsiderations around using such data is an issue that LLM Data Feeder allows you to confidently address.Bias and Fairness ConsiderationsProactively addressing and mitigating biases in the data is also a complex and nuanced task. LLM DataFeeder ensures your datasets do not perpetuate or amplify harmful biases, such as those related togender, race, or socioeconomic status.Annotation and LabelingFor certain LLM applications, the data may need to be annotated or labeled with additional metadata, suchas topic, sentiment, or entity information. LLM Data Feeder provides effective and scalable annotationprocesses.Page 30
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Managing Data Securely at Speed and ScaleToday, massive amounts of Big Data are being generated and accumulating in various forms with up to90% of it being an escalating avalanche of Unstructured Data. Your organization is most likely generatingthis overwhelming amount of Unstructured Data at an unprecedented rate, fueled by factors such asincreased digitalization, IoT devices, social media, artificial intelligence, and customer interactions, as wellas challenging distributed workforces and increased utilization of chat and collaboration platforms [MSTeams, Zoom, Slack, etc.].Managing and utilizing Unstructured Data, such as text documents, images, and videos, is particularlychallenging [and beyond current data solutions' speed and accuracy capabilities]. Complicating matterseven more, this escalating Big Data is often metastasizing in scattered systems and departments, leadingto data fragmentation. This fragmentation can make rapidly identifying, accessing, searching, storing,exposing risk, analyzing, and effectively utilizing Big Data difficult while dramatically diminishing theanticipated ROI on your organization’s expensive investment in data generation and AI LLMs. But nowLLM Data Feeder has the solution …Actionable Smart DataLLM Data Feeder has answered this challenge by delivering a solution that can rapidly harness massiveamounts of Unstructured Data at exabyte scale, turning it all into Actionable Smart Data. Although mostorganizations have some solutions to address their escalating avalanche of Unstructured Data, none canperform at the speed or scale of LLM Data Feeder, which can now scan 8 million files per hour [that’s onebillion files per week].LLM Data Feeder is pivotal in transforming any Unstructured Data estate by delivering Actionable SmartData. By turning your escalating avalanche of Unstructured Data into Actionable Smart Data, your data canbe properly routed, stored, secured, and made accessible for deployment into private AI Large LanguageModels [LLMs] and machine learning [to extract valuable insights from properly identified and stored data].This transformation turns static data into dynamic, strategic assets. LLM Data Feeder also strategicallyremoves ROT while actively contributing to business intelligence, significantly boosting operationalefficiency and ensuring compliance.By accessing Unstructured Data and converting it into Actionable Smart Data, LLM Data Feederimmediately delivers ROI, allowing your organization to leverage its escalating avalanche ofUnstructured Data in real time. With advanced search capabilities and scalable architecture, LLM DataFeeder ensures informed decision-making and efficient handling of expanding data volumes,especially for populating your internal LLMs.We now have a new company developed by AGR calledLLM Data Feeder. LLM Data Feeder’s has its own Proprietary Data Stack that features ourextraordinary AI data preparation process to satisfy the voracious demand for large data sets byinternal LLMs [with four key solution steps in the process: Data Connector, Data Preparer, Data Viewer,and Data Router]. LLM Data Feeder has no legacy accounts.Avoid the Risk of AI Exposure From Public and External LLMsLLM Data Feeder provides internal LLMs with massive amounts of fully vetted, safe, and secure data. LLMData Feeder turns an organization’s avalanche of Unstructured Data into Actionable Smart Data to feedtheir LLMs’ growing appetite for data. It not only vets the data populating LLMs, but it can also vet the dataproduced by AI. It is no longer “Who wrote this?” It’s now “What wrote this?”Page 32
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LLM Data Feeder I LLM Data Feeder ToolsLLM Data Feeder features our Data Connector, Data Preparer, Data Viewer, and Data Router tools. LLMData Feeder turns all of your organization’s Unstructured Data [including its troublesome Dark Data] intoActionable Smart Data, and once your organization has Actionable Smart Data, our AI-infused Data Routerdistributes your data to the most appropriate, useful, and cost-effective destination [based on yourorganization's own Policy, Compliance, and Utilization Demands]… the ROT is disposed of, and the remaining data is Re-Tiered as Actionable Smart Data for its mosteffective and cost-efficient storage and utilization [especially for building internal LLMs] - allowing for saferand more effective AI as well as dramatic data storage cost savings, effective cost allocation, elimination ofrisk, full compliance, and recognition of the full ROI potential and utilization of your entire Big Data estate.Private LLMs Offer Significant Advantages Over Public LLMsPrivate LLMs empower organizations to harness the transformative power of large language models whilemaintaining full control, security, and customization. This allows them to unlock value, enhance operations,and build competitive advantage - all without the risks inherent in relying on public AI services. PrivateLLMs are a compelling solution for enterprises seeking to responsibly leverage the AI revolution.Data Privacy and SecurityWith private LLMs, organizations can keep all of their sensitive data and intellectual property within theirown secure infrastructure. This eliminates the risk of data breaches, leaks, or misuse that can occur whenusing public LLMs hosted by external providers. Companies can ensure compliance with data privacyregulations and protect their most valuable information assets by maintaining full control over the trainingdata and model.Zantaz MarketPlace Provider I C1 SecureC1 Secure is known for its remarkable ServiceNow risk and security apps [with industry-leading continuousmonitoring capabilities], and now C1 Secure is breaking new barriers as they proudly introduce Ai DataNow,their groundbreaking ServiceNow Data as a Service tool that provides next-generation data governanceand promises to deliver significant data optimization and storage cost reduction for all participants in theServiceNow ecosystem.Ai DataNow, integrated with ServiceNow, utilizes its DataNow Connect and DataNow Optic tools fromPremCloud's Unified Data Platform to perform a comprehensive scan and cataloging of all storage framesacross the global data storage estate. This initial analysis is critical for understanding the current state ofthe storage infrastructure and identifying areas for improvement.C1 Secure's CISO Sentinel, built upon ServiceNow's integrated risk management and security operationsplatform, revolutionizes continuous monitoring for government cloud service providers and businesses.Page 34
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Cost Table: Estimated Before and After Reduction per Tiered and Overall Storage Cost SavingsData Detect will save GE an estimated $30M- an incredible 60% reduction in storage costs over 3 years.Cost savings on Storage and SearchEstablishing effective policies and frameworks in conjunction with Data Detect’s auto-classificationcapabilities enables your organization to defensibly delete large amounts of irrelevant data and retaincritical data in a searchable repository for compliance and business purposes. This allows yourorganization to reduce storage costs by consolidating storage with less data and preserving essential datain a compressed and encrypted archive for search.Ai Data Companion Router classification adds metadata attributes to your organization’s data. Searchimproves because you can search data by topic, keywords, and content. You can delete uselessdocuments by continuously classifying all data, run faster searches on targeted data volumes, andeliminate costly, time-consuming ad-hoc searches.Data Security and ConfidentialityAfter classifying all data by security and value, your organization can defensibly dispose of data thatrepresents an unnecessary risk to the firm. You can lower the risk of lawsuits and fines by identifyingsensitive or compromising data and moving it from insecure storage to a secure, archived storage repository.Additionally, you can ensure that only the proper personnel in your organization have access to sensitive orclassified data, easily ensuring that you are meeting the rigorous requirements of security controls such asInternational Traffic in Arms Regulations [ITAR].In the event of an investigation or audit, you can quickly retrieve data in response to discovery requests withconfidence they know all of their data has been identified and classified. In addition, you can prove theyhave the tools and systems to address sensitive data compliantly.Page 36
Collectively, we have been building the Advantage Co for over 140 years. Today, Mike DeJoy, Al Walters,and Ron Bellus operate the Advantage Co’s most enduring independently owned and operated business,Lifetime Service & Solutions. Lifetime Service has always had a special place in the history of theAdvantage Co. While always relied on and intrinsically a part of the Advantage Experience, LifetimeService has always kept an optimal distance from the mayhem of the rest of the Advantage Co. Along withsenior managers Joe Switniewski and Jim Berent, they revel in their iconoclastic operation.Page 37
Lifetime Service & Solutions I Repair SolutionsMike DeJoy . Audio Al Walters . Ron Bellus . Joe Switniewski . Jim BerentLifetime Service & Solutions is an ISO/IEC 27001 and ISO 9001:2015 certified organization. We developturnkey solutions to securely handle items with sensitive personal or enterprise data during the recovery,repair, refurbishment, and recycling processes. We help highly regulated industries such as insurance,finance, healthcare, and education mitigate looming cybersecurity risks when handling aging anddepreciated organization-owned devices.Data SecurityOur ISO 9001-certified process controls were the first step in safeguarding devices while under our roof.But the proliferation of data breach news prompted a corporate initiative to set the standard forcybersecurity mitigation in our industry. The ISO/IEC 27001 standard was a natural extension of our corecompetency in process accuracy. From benign streaming passwords on your Smart TV to sensitivepersonal identifiable information [PII] on your tablet or laptop, the need to protect your data is ubiquitous.Over the past 3 years, we have invested heavily in continuous monitoring equipment and software to avoidviruses, malware, network intrusion, and network vulnerabilities. Designing infrastructure based on themove of data to the Azure cloud, adding highly available firewall solutions from Sophos, and monitoringsolutions from Tenable, all have contributed to a successful ISO/IEC 27001 certification and a safeenvironment for our customers.Service OfferingsOf course, we have not left our roots in consumer electronics behind. Amongst the range of services weoffer to the aforementioned verticals and also to electronics manufacturers are:● Technical repair and refurbishment of consumer electronics, computing/printing devices, gamingand VR equipment, music equipment, and drones. In addition to mitigating claims costs for ThirdParty Administrators [TPAs], we extend product lifecycles for manufacturers [OEMs] byeconomically creating salable inventory from their defective and returned items.● Secure management of end-user data throughout the cycle of product involvement on a granularbasis. This is evident by an order accuracy rate that exceeds 99.99%, which is audited by ourcustomers on a weekly basis.● A category-based repair cell structure that separates triage, part installation, testing, and qualitycontrol, giving customers a level of feedback not duplicated in our industry.● A flexible ERP system that provides RTI on a per-unit basis across many platforms.● The ability to create replacement solutions for uneconomical repairs. This first-of-its-kind depotsolution allows our customers to realize internal savings by eliminating an entire level ofadministration. An important by-product is the savings of customer turnaround time, which has ledto a measurable increase in NPS results.● The ability to control vertical markets on key product lines. Lifetime has developed exclusiverelationships with global OEMs, creating depot-level control for our customers, while warehousingand distributing the OEM part supply chain to decrease repair time by up to 90%.● Industry-leading repair turnaround times augmented by the ability to create a reclaimed partsinventory that minimizes repair times.Page 38
SustainabilityIn 2022, our services prevented 2.4MM lbs. of e-waste from reaching a landfill. Responsible devicelifecycle management enables the Circular Economy by prioritizing repair or recycling of electronics toreturn them to the supply chain. We support the Circular Economy with a security-first mindset: helpingcustomers reduce environmental impacts and information security risks by responsibly handling devicescontaining PII, protecting or securely destroying data, reducing waste, and extending device lifecycles.Lifetime Service Center Background and CapabilitiesThe LTS Leadership Team has a history of being a leading-edge technical service provider to the consumerelectronics industry. The company's leadership has combined experience within the industry of over onehundred fifty years. Our management team has demonstrated the ability to build a technically astuteworkforce that is a blend of experience and youth with a culture built around providing high-value-addedcustomer service.LTS has a demonstrated history of success which is built around the development of proprietary intellectualcapital, which, in addition to continuing to run the organic business, is scalable across the whole of theNorth American marketplace. It is this collection of experience, technical, and logistics skills within the LTSorganization that allows the company to differentiate itself. We make the difficult appear easy as well asreliable to our customers.The management of LTS has been approached by its largest customers, with who it enjoys long-termconstructive relationships, to determine how LTS can enhance its capabilities across the country in order toaccelerate those customers [who are market leaders] newly developing growth strategies. This presents anopportunity for LTS to build upon its positive legacy relationships with a defensible long-term strategiccapability. These same customers have approached Lifetime regarding expanding our model to additionalcategories while also expressing a need for us to add locations.Page 39
AP Professionals of Phoenix I Executive StaffingJerry TenenbaumSince its inception in 1993, AP Professionals has delivered staffing solutions to a wide array of Fortune 500corporations and privately held businesses in the Accounting, Finance, IT, Engineering, Healthcare,Operational Excellence, Sales, Marketing, Human Resources, Legal, and Administrative disciplines. APProfessionals is a national company with a regional focus.Our industry specialists, paired with our hands-on approach, enable AP to provide the best possiblestaffing solutions. We value our reputation for excellence and the relationships we have built betweenclients and candidates. Our goal is to build relationships that last a lifetime. We strive to meet this goal byproviding exceptional service to both our Clients and Candidates.“We are now halfway through our 24th year. Last year, we hit 406 placements, which was astonishing. Ithought it would be the record that stood forever. Wrong again. Halfway through 2022, we are at 189placements, and historically, our second half has always been better than the first six months. And wehave $765k in perm placement business, which is about $200k more than we ever had in a full year.”- Jerry Tenenbaum, Managing Partner, AP Phoenix July 11, 2022iWorld Professionals I Tech StaffingGuylaine DiSalvoBy developing iWorld Professionals from our original Advantage Systems Professionals partnership,Guylaine DiSalvo has created a remarkable worldwide staffing resource. For the last two decades,Guylaine has successfully filled strategic roles for some of the largest and most successful companiesaround the world, and over that time, we’ve built strong relationships with talented professionals that nowcomprise iWorld’s Professionals deep and powerful candidate pool and bench of consulting talent.Guylaine and her team have placed countless candidates successfully in positions ranging from IT,Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, and other disciplines. Today, the need for experienced talent inprofessional, technical, and executive positions has never been greater.iWorld Professionals has redefined the value proposition received through our unique recruiting andprofessional staffing and placement services. Guylaine’s iWorld Professionals team provides a customizedapproach for each and every client and candidate interaction that integrates their goals and the way theywork. Throughout the entire engagement process, clients receive a personalized experience that ensuresthat their goals are met with every step of the recruiting, selection, and hiring process. iWorldProfessionals’ clients rely on our pre-screened and qualified candidate database and our world-classrecruitment capabilities to quickly and accurately secure the right talent to fit each specific job requirement.Page 40
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APXGlobal.org I Building an International AgencyOur MissionAt APX Global, we are dedicated to creating an inclusive and effective global network that aligns with thevalues of our clients while promoting growth and profitability. Our mission is to deliver exceptional globalstaffing and human resource services while fostering collaborative relationships that contribute to ourclients' success. APX Global aims to be a leading international staffing and human resource providerspecializing in connecting clients with top-tier talent worldwide.Our APX Global team comprises seasoned professionals with extensive knowledge and experience in theexecutive staffing industry. We understand the ever-evolving market dynamics and leverage our expertiseto stay ahead of the curve and deliver outstanding results for our Partners and clients.APX Global Executive Staffing Partner ProgramOne of the key offerings of APX will be the APX Executive Staffing Partner Program. APX Global’sExecutive Staffing Partnership Program is a mutually beneficial arrangement that will allow APX to leverageexternal Partners for global market access while providing Partners with the opportunity to extend theirmarket reach, provide additional resources to their clients, grow top-line revenue, and increase profits.APX Global PartnershipsAPX Global’s Executive Staffing Partnership is a dynamic and innovative program with a strong vision toconnect organizations and candidates worldwide with the best executive staffing and human resourcesolutions.With a focus on building powerful international relationships, APX Global aims to empower a multi-nationalnetwork of clients, recruiters, staffing firms, and trusted advisors to unlock new opportunities and generatenew revenue streams with the introduction of our APX Global Partnerships.Through the APX Global Partnerships, participants will gain direct access to our extensive resources,helping them unlock new opportunities, diversify their service offerings, expand their market reach, anddevelop additional revenue streams that can easily be built on their current client relationships andbusiness models.This program will be made available to staffing and human resource providers, as well as trusted advisorsin various sectors, including accounting, insurance, wealth management, financial advisory, and legalservices. An APX Global Partnership will provide these service providers, professional firms, andauthorized agents [“Partners”] with permanent, temporary, and contract staffing solutions, along with arange of additional human resource services.With no upfront costs, our Contingency-Fee APX Global Executive Staffing Service allows our Partners tomeet their clients’ staffing needs while focusing on providing high-quality candidates. We workcollaboratively with our Partners and their clients to facilitate the recruitment and direct placement ofqualified executives, ensuring prompt results that support the effectiveness of their leadership teams.Page 42
APXGlobal.org I Staffing ServicesAPX Global excels in talent acquisition by leveraging our extensive network and industry knowledge toidentify and attract exceptional candidates for our clients. We understand the importance of finding theright talent to drive business success, and we employ targeted strategies to match our clients with themost qualified professionals. APX Global prioritizes the reliability of the candidates we provide our clients.1. Comprehensive Candidate ScreeningAPX conducts thorough candidate screenings to assess their qualifications, experience, skills,veracity, and cultural fit. This process involves initial interviews, resume evaluations, and in-depthassessments tailored to specific job requirements. By carefully evaluating candidates, we continueto ensure that only the most qualified and fully vetted individuals are presented to our clients.2. Reference ChecksAPX conducts diligent reference checks to verify the candidates' employment history,performance, and professional reputation. By reaching out to previous employers, APX gathersvaluable insights that help validate the candidates' abilities and ensure their suitability for thedesired roles.3. Behavioral and Skills AssessmentsAPX Global Executive Testing [APX Testing] provides custom-designed personality assessments tohelp organizations with a variety of key staff, customer, and supplier functions and relationships.Our proprietary assessment tools are tailored to each client's unique needs and objectives,whether that's identifying top talent for key roles, developing high-potential employees, managingorganizational change, building teaming partnerships, or aligning teams for maximumeffectiveness.No two organizations are exactly alike, so we work closely with each client to developpersonalized assessment solutions that align with our client's specific hiring, development,business relationship, and management needs.By deeply customizing every aspect of the assessment process, APX Testing is able to deliver atruly bespoke solution that is perfectly aligned with each client's unique talent, relationshipmanagement priorities, and organizational culture - and we provide expert interpretation andactionable insights to guide people decisions. This level of customization is a key differentiatorof our services.4. Employer Branding and MarketingOur team will assist businesses in enhancing their employer brand and effectively marketing theirjob opportunities to attract high-caliber candidates. Through strategic online platforms, videointerviews, social media campaigns, and targeted networking, we ensure our clients' job openingsreceive maximum exposure to the right talent pools.5. Temporary and Contract StaffingAPX will offer flexible staffing solutions for businesses with short-term or project-based needs.Page 43
With an extensive pool of pre-screened candidates, we are able to quickly identify and deployqualified professionals who can seamlessly integrate into our clients' teams.6. Compliance and Legal SupportAGR understands the complexities of managing employment compliance across differentcountries. With AGR, APX will provide expert guidance on labor laws, employment contracts, andcompliance requirements, ensuring our clients operate within legal frameworks and mitigate risks.7. Industry ExpertiseAPX provides experienced recruiters and industry specialists with in-depth knowledge of varioussectors. Our expanded expertise allows us to understand the specific skills, qualifications, andattributes required for different positions. This knowledge enables us to identify candidates withthe requisite expertise and industry-specific knowledge.8. Global Network and DatabaseBy building an extensive global network and an up-to-date database, APX Global will have accessto an even larger pool of talented professionals. We will leverage this international network anddatabase to identify and engage with candidates who meet our client's unique requirements.9. Ongoing Evaluation and FeedbackAPX will maintain a continuous feedback loop with our clients to assess the performance andcompatibility of the candidates we place. This feedback will help us monitor the effectiveness ofour candidate selection process and make any necessary adjustments to ensure client satisfaction.10. Industry Reputation and Track RecordAPX has built a reputation for delivering high-quality talent solutions. Our track record ofsuccessful placements and satisfied clients attests to our commitment to excellence. Our clienttestimonials and case studies serve as indicators of our ability and success.11. Visa and Immigration SupportNavigating the complexities of visa and immigration procedures can be daunting. APX and AGRoffer comprehensive visa and immigration support services. We will guide businesses through theintricacies of international hiring and ensure compliance with relevant regulations. AGR will handlethe paperwork, streamline the process, and minimize legal risks for our clients.12. Cross-Cultural TrainingWe recognize the significance of cultural competence in today's global work environment. Ourcross-cultural training programs will empower businesses and employees to understand and adaptto different cultural norms, fostering effective collaboration and communication across borders.13. Executive Search and HeadhuntingFor critical leadership roles and specialized positions, APX will provide executive search andheadhunting services. With APX, we already have a proven track record of identifying andattracting top-tier talent from around the world, helping businesses secure exceptional executiveswho can drive growth and innovation.Page 44
14. Advantage Global ResourcesBacked by a wealth of support resources and expertise, APX Global leverages its vast internationalnetwork to provide comprehensive and tailored staffing solutions. With Advantage GlobalResources, we have developed a robust infrastructure to support both temporary and permanentexecutive staffing engagements on a global scale.Advantage Global Resources astute backend support of its international clients has positioned usto realize the opportunities as a fully functional support resource for a variety of businessoperations, providing APX Global’s partnerships with the resources and opportunity to expandexponentially.In addition to our exceptional executive staffing solutions, APX Global goes beyond expectationsby offering a range of value-added services. We collaborate with Advantage Global Resources inareas such as accounting, insurance, wealth management, financial advice, and legal expertise toprovide comprehensive support for our teaming partners, authorized agents, and clients.15. Personalized SupportAt APX, we understand that each individual has unique career aspirations and requirements.That's why we provide personalized support throughout the job placement process. Ourdedicated team of recruiters and advisors take the time to understand the skills, preferences, andgoals of each candidate referred by our participating agents. We strive to match them with themost suitable job opportunities, ensuring a high level of satisfaction and success.16. Nurturing Professional RelationshipsAPX Global values the importance of fostering long-lasting professional relationships. When aparticipating partner refers a candidate for a job placement, we not only prioritize theirimmediate placement needs but also invest in building a lasting connection. By maintainingongoing communication and support, we aim to be a trusted partner for both the referring partnerand the placed candidate, fostering a sense of loyalty and collaboration.17. Streamlined ProcessesOur cutting-edge technology and streamlined processes enable us to deliver efficient andseamless staffing solutions. From the initial candidate referral to the final placement, we leverageautomation and digital tools to simplify the recruitment process, saving time and ensuringaccuracy. This allows our participating agents to focus on what they do best – connecting talentedindividuals with rewarding job opportunities.18. Continuous Learning and DevelopmentAPX Global is committed to the professional growth and development of our partnerships. Weprovide access to ongoing training programs, industry insights, and best practices to help partnersenhance their skills and stay at the forefront of the staffing industry. By investing in our partners’growth, we ensure that they are equipped with the knowledge and tools necessary to excel in theirrole as talent connectors.Page 45
APXGlobal.org I Expanded Human Resource ServicesAt APX, we are committed to providing comprehensive solutions tailored to meet the unique needs of ourclients. As part of our commitment, APX Global is excited to announce the expansion of our HR services.Our new offerings are designed to streamline HR processes, enhance workforce management, andsupport our clients in achieving their business objectives. We are committed to being a trusted partner inour clients’ HR journey, helping them to navigate the complexities of today’s workforce landscape.Expanded Human Resource ServicesBy expanding our human resource services, APX Global aims to provide our clients with a holistic approachto workforce management. Our comprehensive offerings are designed to enhance operational efficiency,improve employee satisfaction, and support our clients in achieving their strategic goals.1. Recruitment Process Outsourcing [RPO]We can now manage the entire recruitment process for our clients, from sourcing candidates toonboarding.Benefits:○ Reduced time-to-hire○ Access to a larger talent pool○ Cost-effective recruitment solutions2. Employee Onboarding SolutionsAPX delivers comprehensive onboarding programs that facilitate the smooth integration of newhires into the organization.Benefits:○ Enhanced employee retention rates○ Improved new hire productivity○ Streamlined onboarding processes3. Performance Management SystemsAPX can help develop and implement performance management frameworks that align individualgoals with organizational objectives.Benefits:○ Continuous feedback mechanisms○ Enhanced employee engagement○ Data-driven performance assessments4. Training and Development ProgramsOur customized training solutions will address skill gaps and foster professional growth.Benefits:○ Improved employee skill sets○ Increased job satisfaction and retention○ Tailored learning paths for various roles5. HR Compliance and Risk ManagementPage 46
APX and AGR provide support in navigating complex HR regulations and compliance issues,including labor laws and workplace policies.Benefits:○ Reduced legal risks○ Up-to-date compliance practices○ Peace of mind for management6. Compensation and Benefits ConsultingAPX provides a global perspective to the analysis and design of competitive compensationpackages and employee benefits programs.Benefits:○ Attraction and retention of top talent○ Enhanced employee satisfaction○ Alignment of compensation strategies with market trends7. Employee Engagement and Retention StrategiesWith our customized cognitive and conative testing, we can dramatically improve employeeengagement and success while reducing turnover.Benefits:○ Increased employee morale and productivity○ Better workplace culture○ Long-term retention of valuable talent8. Workforce Planning and AnalyticsStrategic workforce planning services that utilize data analytics to forecast hiring needs andoptimize staffing levels.Benefits:○ Data-driven decision-making○ Proactive talent management○ Alignment of workforce strategies with business goals9. Outplacement ServicesWith our customized cognitive and conative testing, we can support organizations undergoinglayoffs or restructuring, providing resources and guidance to affected employees.Benefits:○ Compassionate transitions for employees○ Enhanced company reputation○ Support for affected workers in finding new opportunities10. Diversity and Inclusion InitiativesConsulting services to help organizations create inclusive workplaces and promote diversity inmeritorious hiring practices.Benefits:○ Enhanced company culture○ Improved innovation and creativity○ Broader talent poolPage 47
BPX Executive Staffing I Making a DifferenceKatherine RagusaBPX Executive Staffing is the first pillar of the BPM mission to change the color of executive suites andboardrooms in America and around the world.. BPX Executive Staffing is built on the premise that if we cansecure the opportunity to fill an executive opening for an organization with the best Black candidate, wewill begin to change the color of the executive suite while enhancing the aspiration of everyone of colorwithin the organization.While most major organizationsare dismantling their diversityand inclusion programs, manyare now left with nothing morethan placating rhetoric and noclear path forward to fulfill theirpromises. Fortunately, BPMoffers organizations immediateresources to demonstrate realaction and immediate andsubstantive results.With BPM, our representativesand teaming partners areknocking on open doors. BPMis in the right place, at the righttime, with the right solutions.Every organization can benefitfrom BPM's instant staffingsolutions to effectuateimmediate change in the colorof its executive level. Nothingwill give them more positivereturns throughout theirorganization, community, or marketplace than the timely inclusion of more Black executives.BPX Executive Staffing Partnership ProgramAs mentioned above, most large organizations are addressing their racial bias issues, but despite theirefforts, they still lack something that effectively creates immediate, productive, and visible impact [basedon merit], like our BPX Executive Staffing Program.With no up-front costs, our Contingency-Fee BPX Executive Staffing Service enables organizations toachieve their staffing goals with an intentional focus on providing exceptional Black candidates to the poolfrom which to select. BPX Executive Staffing works with organizations collaboratively to recruit anddirect-place qualified Black candidates with at the executive level. BPX Executive Staffing focuses explicitlyon delivering immediate results to support the diversification of an organization's executive suite.Page 48
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Advantage Legal & Fiduciary I Attorney NetworkMission StatementIn memory of Frank, Advantage Legal & Fiduciary will eventually be developed as a consulting servicesorganization that will provide access to strategic legal representation with comprehensive oversight andfinancial review for our clients worldwide. We will provide our clients with the most advantageousrepresentation available for them through our worldwide network of legal and financial resources.In order to meet our mission goals, the cornerstone of everything we do will be based upon and completedwith an eye toward the best possible client services, with a forecast toward the most efficient and effectiveresolution possible, taking into consideration the expectations of the client to meet those needs along theway.Key to our oversight and protection we will provide is having a fully engaged and proactive legal resource.This includes making referrals and providing access to clients and partners for legal services that requireunique and specialized attention from practitioners who are elite in their field.From the very beginning, Frank Gaglione [pictured on previous page] and I envisioned Advantage Legal &Fiduciary as a local, regional, national, and international clearinghouse and broker of appropriatebest-of-class legal and financial services. Our goal was to attract potential clients - and then deliver themost advantageous legal and financial resources specific to their needs. Today, I hope to build AdvantageLegal & Fiduciary on Frank’s vision and legacy of excellence.As a consulting services organization, Advantage Legal & Fiduciary will provide access to strategic legalrepresentation with comprehensive oversight and financial review for our clients worldwide. We willprovide our clients with the most advantageous representation available for them through a worldwidenetwork of legal and financial resources.This unique approach will allow us to effectively provide access to appropriate legal representation for allkinds of law. Advantage Legal & Fiduciary’s primary service will be as a clearinghouse, broker, gatekeeper,and reviewer of legal and financial services for our clients.Additionally, Advantage Legal & Fiduciary will provide a much-needed [and often lacking] financial reviewand oversight for all of our client's legal considerations. In most cases, an accountant provides outsourcedservices to clients in support of claims and litigation - and this, more often than not, is inadequate. The factis that most legal issues are financial, and Advantage Legal & Fiduciary will provide access to the type offiduciary services our clients require for maximum financial results.Page 50
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Ragusa Executive Solutions I Strategic ServicesAlison Ragusa . Juliana Ragusa . Katherine RagusaAt RxS, we are architects of transformation, shaping the future of business innovation. Our creative andcollaborative network of teaming partners and resource agents is the bedrock of our success. We are notjust connectors; we are solution providers. The RxS network embodies unique expertise that enables us tocater to a variety of business needs. Your growth is our mission, and our network is the catalyst.As founding partners of RxS, Alison, Katherine, and Juliana’s creative approach, innovative perspective,and insightful guidance help organizations transform and stay ahead of the competition. Our natural abilityto devise original solutions to challenges sets us apart.At RxS, we specialize in executive recruiting solutions centered on Character Strength competencies andtalent development. Our dedication is to connect organizations with leaders who embody robust CharacterStrength attributes, fostering their continual growth and advancement. Additionally, RxS offers unparalleledaccess to strategic C-level executives on a part-time or advisory basis. This forward-thinking approachenables businesses to harness executive leadership and experience without the constraints of a full-timecommitment, unlocking new possibilities for growth and success.In the realm of Brand Development, we are visionary creators, breathing life into concepts and forgingmarket-defining brands. With a decade-long immersion in the clean beauty sector, we've mastered the artof navigating regulations and compliance, ensuring our brands shine in an era where quality and puritymatter most. We have facilitated brand positioning at: Bergdorf Goodman, Whole Foods Market, ErewhonMarket, Wegmans, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Revolve, Barneys New York, Fontainebleau Miami,Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, Douglas Cosmetics (Germany, Netherlands, Italy, and Poland), LaneCrawford, Amazon, TMall, etc.RxS continues to adeptly cultivate premium beauty brands across renowned retail landscapes in the UnitedStates, Europe, and Asia, but now, we are turning much of our focus to the forefront of data innovation,where we are dedicated to bringing PremCloud's revolutionary Ai Data Detect tool to the market.Welcome to the world of data empowerment. Recognizing data as a precious asset, we excel inmodernizing archives, curing dark data, and bridging the gap to next-generation data management.Moreover, we present opportunities for potential acquirers and investors seeking valuable tech companies.Alison RagusaWith a steadfast dedication to wellness, Alison is also a Global Wellness Institute Ambassador and aCertified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach with an Advanced Alumni degree from the Institute forIntegrative Nutrition. Her continued education includes 'Lifestyle Medicine' from Harvard, 'The Science ofWell-Being' from Yale, and 'Positive Psychology and Well-Being' from Stanford. Her dynamic journey spansculinary excellence as a chef in Florence, Italy, entrepreneurship as the founder of premium clean beautybrands, and recognition at prestigious events including FounderMade [Thought Leader, “How To Build anInnovative Beauty Brand,” Moderated by Forbes], Neiman Marcus [Meet the Founders + Experts Event],NewBeauty [Featured Expert], Luxury Meets Cannabis Conference [Visionary Founder], and Barneys NewYork [One 2 One Designer Event, featuring leading new designers].Page 52
Black Progress Matters I Business IncubatorThe third pillar of our BPM mission is our Business Incubator Program. The BPM Founding Partners havepledged BPM’s entire profits to this ambitious program. Already, BPM is engaged in the incubation andfinancing of several significant start-ups, including UnBiasIt, Katini Skin, Cocoa by CeCe, Walker SportsAudit, Black Progress Alliance, and BPM College Advisory Program.Most importantly, all of the profits from BPM’s share of these partnerships go entirely to fund even moreBPM incubated businesses. The potential of our BPM programs and start-ups is limitless. Each opportunitywill encourage additional investment, but we are confident that the profits of BPM will provide substantialstart-up funding, but the real success will come from the full engagement and business energy provided bythe minority ownership.BPM Business Incubator Mission StatementAt BPM, we create remarkable value for our portfolio of incubated businesses by providing strategicinvestment and operating guidance. We work collaboratively to ensure advantageous market positioning,sustainable growth, and a clear plan for funding and development while producing outstanding,risk-adjusted returns for all stakeholders.BPM advises our incubated businesses on a full range of liquidity transactions ranging from early-stagegrowth capitalization [which blends the best elements of venture capital and private equity] to a minoritysale to a majority recapitalization with a financial sponsor. Additionally, BPM has the resources to structurethe most advantageous exit, whether it be a full sale to a financial or strategic acquirer, a merger, or an IPO.With expertise and investments in data management, cloud architecture, professional services, socialbenefit, and beauty and wellness, BPM is uniquely positioned to create significant financial returns andmeaningful social impact for each of our incubated businesses, as well as the fulfillment of their founder’svision.At BPM, we recognize that most organizations possess an entrepreneurial zeal to create a business orsocial dynamic that transcends monetary value while unavoidably accepting the financial requirements ofturning their vision into reality.Often, a vision has value well before it generates revenue or profits. Accordingly, everyone at BPM worksto unlock the inherent and full value of our incubated businesses throughout the entire life cycle - frominitial development to purposeful funding to ongoing productivity to a potential exit strategy.Page 53
M&L Devine Resources I BPM Incubated BusinessCalvin Blackmon“Recruiting has afforded me the opportunity to build lifelong relationships with some extraordinary people.From corporate recruiting to recruiting a player to play college athletics to placing some of the topexecutives in c-suite roles, the journey has been amazing.’ - Calvin Blackmon, Founding PartnerThe partnership with Calvin has been one of the year's highlights. Not only has Calvin been instrumental inopening new accounts, ie. McGraw Hill and PwC, but through our partnership with him, we are creating atemplate for future BPX Teaming Partners. Additionally, Calvin has been busy building out his network ofteaming partners for M&L.M&L Devine Resources is committed to finding the next great leader who will take your organizationand transform it into a powerhouse.Executive SearchWhen you're looking for a new leader, we have the experience and expertise to find that perfect fit. We'llwork with each candidate from the beginning until completion, so there's no need to worry about anythingelse but getting results.Professional SearchOur recruitment services help you pinpoint the best candidate for your business. Our team of experts willhelp you identify which professional is most likely to be successful long-term with your company based ontheir specific skill set.Functions We ServeCorporate Affairs . Financial Officers . Human Resources . Legal . Sales & Marketing .Logistics . Supply Chain . Transportation . Technology OfficersIncubated by BPMM&L Devine Resources has received its initial funding as a BPM Incubated Business.Page 54
UnBiasIt I BPM Incubated BusinessDean Haynesworth . Katherine RagusaClick here: https://www.unbiasit.com/UnBiasIt was built to be the world's most advanced technology company. Dean's vision was to focusentirely on the technology that UnBiasIT would own - and we did. PremCloud delivered UnBiasIt theirCustom-Built Unified Data Stack for $4.5M and an equity position in the company. Ronan Curran and theentire PremCloud Resources development team worked purposely to deliver the most advanced datatechnologies in the market with a demanding attention to eliminating bias in communication and datastores.UnBiasIt utilizes proprietary data management, monitoring, and compliance solutions designed to fullyenable an organization to recognize and eliminate inherent bias and misconduct throughout theirenterprise - as well as transform their distended data into a resource that can easily and accurately bedrawn upon when needed for the critical information governance that is increasingly demanded of everyenterprise.Additionally, we engaged Robert Keus and his BRTHRS team from the Netherlands for the development ofthe UnBiasIt Writing App and the Zantaz team for the development of the UnBiasIt Alert. The UnBiasIt Alertis built on Zantaz's Supervisor technology which provides communications monitoring and compliance thatallows you to proactively review and interrogate any electronic message to ensure regulatory compliance,mitigate risk, and maintain internal standards of behavior.Put it all together, and we are confident that we have delivered on Dean's vision. And now, Dean is lookingfor a strategic partner who can successfully bring these remarkable technologies to market. Accordingly,we have begun to take UnBiasIt to market for acquisition.AcquisitionUnBiasIt has been specifically built and positioned to sell to a strategic buyer who appreciates the value ofour market position as well as the significant value of our proprietary IP.Page 55
Walker Sports Audit I BPM Incubated BusinessDoug Whaley . Mary Beth Lydon . Katherine RagusaYou know who’s watching your money, but who is watching them?Embezzlement, theft, damage, and destruction come from all directions in a constant storm. It seems likeeveryone has their hand in the cookie jar. Through our third-party reviews and audits, Walker Sports Auditensures you are receiving performance from your trusted advisors that you can knowingly trust.In short, we watch the people watching your money and investments.Walker Sports Audit is an independent third-party audit and recovery service that autonomously evaluatesyour entire portfolio of endorsements, contracts, investments, compliance, insurance, and tax reporting fora fixed and/or contingency fee. No Walker Sports Audit service provider will ever be allowed to beengaged by our clients beyond our WSA engagement and will never solicit clients beyond our audit,review, recovery, and monitoring services. WSA simply offers our clients very necessary third-partyservices with a critical degree of separation that ensures no compromising agenda or misplaced loyalties.Although WSA will initially be addressing athletes and celebrities, we feel our independent review, audit,recovery, and continuous monitoring services will also prove valuable to clients who have considerableestates with little limited business acumen or experience. Estates acquired through inheritance or divorceare particularly at risk from unscrupulous or indifferent fiduciary oversight.There are four main components of our WSA services: Independent Forensic Review & Audit, Advacovery’sRecovery of Funds, Continuous Financial Monitoring, and WSA Advisor Rating.Walker Sports Audit has created its Retirement Preparatory Review in conjunction with the NFL to provide afull optic and comprehensive review of a player’s current financial position prior to or during retirement.This past November, Troy Vincent set us up with Tracy Perlman, SVP of Football Communications andMarketing, to launch our WSA Retirement Prepatory Review with 10 NFL Legends. Mary Beth Lydon hasbegun the RPR program with 5 of the 10, and we look forward to continuing to grow this relationship withthe NFL.Page 56
Katini Skin I BPM Incubated BusinessKatini Yamaoka“Selfcare is an essential part of life. By caring for ourselves, we can go out into the world and mirror thatlove and tenderness with others - this is why I created Katini Skin. To provide a space for people todiscover nature's luxuries. So we can all enhance and nourish our lives while being gentle to the planet.” -Katini Yamaoka, Founder, Katini SkinKatini Skin was founded by Katini Yamaoka. Katini’s cultural heritage and upbringing are interwoventhrough Japan, Africa, and Australia. Raised plant-based from birth and educated at a neo-humanisticschool, Katini was gifted with an understanding of natural healing from a very young age. Going from thedense Australian rainforest to the cosmopolitan metropolis of New York as a working artist has given Katinian intrinsic understanding of wellness and design.Katini’s dedication to her artistry has allowed her to travel the world performing for organizations such asForbes 30 Under 30 to the United Nations Australia. Katini resides in New York and is dedicated torepresenting empowerment through her voice and platform.Katini Skin is committed to a responsible and sustainable path. Nature provides, so we have to protect andsupport the natural world with ethical best practices. We choose suppliers based on their sustainabilitycredentials, that are fair-trade certified, vegan, and cruelty-free. We seek wild-harvested ingredientswhenever possible. Katini Skin is deeply committed to positively impacting the natural world and believesevery step must be carefully placed, from sourcing, production, and packaging, to ensure we have asustainable strategy. Katini Skin is also a committed partner of BPM.Page 57
Katini Skin launched this past February with Saks Fifth Avenue. Katini and the team hosted a verywell-attended launch party at NeueHouse in late February and, from there, built up an incredible lineup ofpress from Allure, Vogue, Marie Claire, Byrdie, Elle, and more. In the year's second half, Katini secured herfirst round of investment from Chris Stadler, which she closed in mid-September. During this time, we alsolaunched at Bergdorf Goodman. To close out the year, Katini began a relationship with Maison Mkt, a greatdigital marketing firm, and opened Neiman Marcus as a new account which will formally begin at the startof 2023. All in all, the brand could not be more well-positioned.“Each oil has been carefully crafted using some of the world's most powerful flora. From indigenous plantsin Australia to delicate flowers in Japan. Katini Skin is focused on sustainability and high design, ourelegant packaging will unfold the pure essence of nature's luxuries.” – Katini Yamaoka, Founder/CEOCocoa by CeCe I BPM Incubated BusinessCeCe OlisaCeCe Olisa is taking her body positive messaging and platform and bringing it to the world of beauty.“In my experience, confidence doesn’t build my daily routine; my everyday routine builds my confidence.Women often ask me, how do I love my body? I believe that love is a verb – it’s an action word. So thebest way to begin loving your body is to start taking care of it. I created the Doll Butter to celebrate theroutine of self-love and self-care – beneficial for both the skin and the soul.” - CeCe Olisa, FounderIn 2008, CeCe launched her blog about fashion, fitness, dating, and living in New York City from a curvygirl’s perspective. When speaking about her journey, CeCe states, “From the beginning, I’ve had acommunity of passionate and insightful women who have come along with me on my journey.” With herever-growing following, CeCe’s passion led her to work with industry leaders including NIKE, LOFT,Bloomingdales, Olay, Secret Deodorant, Royal Caribbean Cruises, Amazon, and so many more.Named one of the “Top 10 New York Fashion Bloggers” by WhoWhatWear and a “person who proves youcan be fit at any size” by MTV.com, CeCe Olisa is co-Founder of theCURVYcon, a convention celebratingbody positivity and plus size fashion during New York Fashion Week.For her next chapter, CeCe switches lanes from fashion influencer to beauty entrepreneur, partnering withBPM to launch her brand Cocoa By CeCe. CeCe’s mantra to build confidence and empower women to feelbeautiful is instilled in the DNA of Cocoa By CeCe.CeCe celebrated a successful launch event in Brooklyn, NY, this past Mother’s Day and launched hersecond product, the Self-Love SZantazr Scrub, this past November at Penske Media’s highly anticipatedLA3C festival.Page 58
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Giancarlo’s I Buffalo News ReviewAnthony Giancarlo Ragusa . Gabriela Ragusa https://www.giancarlossteakhouse.com/At Giancarlo's Sicilian Steakhouse, a first-class brigade holds the fort.Buffalo News Review . Andrew Galarneau . August 2, 2022 . All photos by Minh ConnorsFor the last few months, I’ve been wondering if the era of squadron service in glitzy surroundings had gonethe way of the buggy whip. Watching the crack team at Giancarlo’s Sicilian Steakhouse perform their balletdes tables smoothly while delivering plates of well-crafted cuisine convinced me that I feared too soon.Anthony Ragusa and sister Gabriela have been running a restaurant in a Williamsville plaza since 2011. Atmy first visit in 2012, I enjoyed my steak as best I could, perched on a chair at one of three high-top tables.That restaurant was the glimmering of an idea, wedged between two other concepts, a sports bar and acoffee counter.It took me a decade to return. On my revisit, the Ragusas’ full-hearted plunge into fine dining was alreadywell underway and doing boffo crowds. Housemade pasta – even gluten-free versions – andhigh-performance entrees veer far off the Italian-American stereotypical menu. There’s still a bar for comfycocktails, but a raw seafood bar, too, and one of the best-situated patios in Williamsville.None of that would matter if the battalion behind them was weak, though. Plenty of places budget more fortheir decorator and television commercials than retention bonuses for line cooks. I can taste the lack ofcommitment in the food. Sometimes, the people stuck serving it to me look like they would rather beanywhere else.Not at Giancarlo’s, where our server was so effortlessly engaging I kept wondering if there were hiddencamera food television auditions afoot. The table setting didn’t include a tablecloth, but it did offer tablecards introducing you to your server, with full-color portraiture and a Tiger Beat-like getting-to-know-youbiography box. Giancarlo’s introduced them during the mask-wearing pandemic period since customerscouldn’t really see their server’s face.Page 60
General Manager Fred Palmer with a bottle of Italian wine, and head chef Nicholas Cee with some of thepasta made daily at Giancarlo's Sicilian Steakhouse.Genevieve, a five-year employee with a University at Buffalo degree working on becoming a sommelier,ably guided our table through a menu chockablock with pleasant detours. Asking the right questions, quickwith apt suggestions, she helped us have our best meal.Fluffy housemade focaccia with butter and beguilingly sweet-tangy red pepper agrodolce are highlysnackable, but you might want to save ammo.Noodles rule at this steakhouse, given the work of chef Nicholas Cee, a nine-year employee, and hisflour-dusted pasta crew. Corn and crab ravioli [$22.90] was a breath of summer by the sea in a pastapackage tender as a love letter. Smoky-sour citrus chipotle sauce added a racy dimension.Servers wear buzzers and headsets to coordinate their deliveries. So a half-dozen oysters [$19.90] show upshortly after shucking. G’s antipasti [$22.90] presents as golden crumb-coated artichoke hearts still crispy,not wilted. The prosciutto-wrapped parcels of milky fresh mozzarella griddled to oozy and crisp-edged, onarugula with dabs of chopped tomato bruschetta, doesn’t hurt its case, either.Page 61
Giancarlo's Sicilian Steakhouse includes an oyster bar with fresh seafood.Calamari [$19.90] arrived in whisper-thin coating, rings and tentacles each with their textural payoffs. Moreof that red pepper agrodolce was a welcome vacation from marinara.Salmon tartare includes lemon, capers, olives, tzatziki, pita, and pine nuts at Giancarlo's.Page 62
Giancarlo’s Salmon tartare [$19.90] takes a voyage to the Greek isles. Yogurt sauces the fish, not olive oil,its lactic tenderizing power resulting in ultra-lush bites of raw salmon. Bites arranged on wedges of grilledpita bread, anointed with lemon, the briny pop of capers, pine nuts, and the yogurt-garlic-dill dip calledtzatziki, got people nodding. If you’re considering taking the dive, this is an effective gateway to eatinguncooked fish.Ali Babba brick oven pizza at Giancarlo's Sicilian Steakhouse includes crushed tomatoes, artichokes, freshmozzarella, arugula, cherry tomatoes, and shaved fennel.Our Ali Babba pizza [$22.90], decked with cherry tomatoes, artichokes, fresh mozzarella, shaved fennel,and arugula, did well as a vegetarian entrée, ideal salad-pizza hybrid. Its corniciones, too crispy to throwaway, found more of the red pepper sauce. Meatier versions include a Buffalo chicken [$22.90], steak withbanana peppers [$24.90], and pepperoni [$22.90], drizzled with hot chile honey.A plank of properly pan-seared sea bass [$44.90], creamy at the core, came perched on risotto that wasnotable for both what was present [bay shrimp and chopped artichoke] and what was missing [grainscooked to characterless mush]. Giancarlo’s got the rice right.Page 63
The Godfather is a 32-ounce bone-in ribeye at Giancarlo's Sicilian Steakhouse.The steaks delivered, too, like the 17-ounce strip steak [$59.90] that arrived expertly charred without, rosywithin. But this is one steakhouse where your hunger could head in many directions.Lamb chops [$42.90] were another Greek pitch that landed squarely, sporting crispy fried garbanzo beans,spice-dusted frites, along with tzatziki that every lamb chop lover secretly craves.Desserts included Key lime pie [$14.90], cannoli [$9.90], and crème brulee [$14.90], but as is often the case,the zeppole [$13.90] stole my table’s hearts. What’s better than a warm clutch of doughnuts begging to bedunked?At this restaurant, there’s just one name on the sign. But remember: Restaurants are made of people. AtGiancarlo’s Sicilian Steakhouse, like a Super Tuscan, its excellence begins with a whole bunch ofnoteworthy grapes.Giancarlo’s Sicilian Steakhouse5110 Main St., Williamsville [giancarlossteakhouse.com, 716-650-5566]Hours: 5 to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 4 to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Closed Sunday.Prices: appetizers and salads, $14.90-$22.90; entrees, $22.90-$89.90.Parking: lotAtmosphere: urban bustleWheelchair accessible: yesGluten-free: housemade pasta and moreOutdoor dining: yes, lotsPage 64
Advantage Co I Reading ListOver the years, I have researched, read, written about, andembodied these fundamentals. I believe in my Root Philosophy.I believe in the merchant harvest. The books on this list all haveone thing in common - their clarity. For me, the search for clarityis where knowledge begins:The Essential Drucker by Peter Drucker - He defines thepurpose of business and management better than anyonebefore him or since.The One Minute Manager – build loyal employees [we’re allmanagers]. The One Minute Salesperson – build a salesstrategy and loyal customers.The Art of War – build a competitive strategy and win. Bydefining a winning strategy, Sun Tzu’s classic on waging waremerges as one of the greatest strategic essays of all time.The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli - What Sun Tzu is to war,Niccolo is to politics - hardcore and undeniable.Built to Last – build a Core Ideology and a business that lasts.One Page Management – how to manage well.Finance & Accounting for Non-Financial Managers – handlingyour finances.The Mansions of Philosophy – Will Durant wrote this in1929 as a story of human life and destiny, or, as the subtitlepromises, an attempt at a consistent philosophy of life. It hasbeen a chisel on my life. This is nourishment for the mind.An Incomplete Education – the basics for a well-roundededucation.Siddhartha – Hermann Hesse's great little story for the soul.Lapsing Into a Comma by Bill Walsh - Although you may havethe Tweeter lingo down pat, it may help if you learn how toactually write skillfully.Tracy Allen Advantage Co Human Resources DirectorPage 65
Advantage Co I A Williamsville LandmarkThe Walker Center opened as the gateway to Williamsville, NY, in 1994, and for nearly 30 years, it has beenthe preeminent business, office, and fine dining center in WNY. Anchored by the nationally acclaimedGiancarlo’s Sicilian Steakhouse & Pizzeria, the Walker Center has transitioned into a vibrant tech centerwith several market-leading data solution tenants like PremCloud Resources and c1 Resources [servinginternational enterprise clients such as Lloyd’s Bank of London, Network Rail of the UK, Bloomberg, Latham& Watkins, GE, Zoom, etc.].Since its inception, the Walker Center has also been the worldwide headquarters of the Advantage Co.And this coming August, the Walker Center will welcome the Buffalo Bills new Virtual Stadium Center.https://twitter.com/i/status/1585711163450572808Ron Raccuia, executive vice president and chief operating officer of theBuffalo Bills, told News 4.“The Walker Center in Williamsville will play host to the facility, and the Billscall the location “central to Western New York. Every fan that has a seat inthe new stadium will come through the Sale Center. They’ll experience it from a virtual reality standpoint, a360 viewing standpoint. They’ll be able to sit in their seats. They’ll be able to design where they want tosit, where they want to park and tailgate,”Page 66
Advantage Co I The Root Keeps Growinghttps://tonywalkerpost.com/root-philosophy/From the very beginning in 1978, it has been my goal to provide the vision, resources, andconfidence necessary for the development of the Advantage Co as a business experiencefor those willing to take the full measure of the challenge. This approach has energized ourRoot Philosophy for over 40 years, and it has been our good fortune to build a number ofworld-class businesses.Note: The Advantage Co is not an operating entity; it is simply an informal name that hasevolved over 40 years to reference the eclectic mix of independently owned and operatedbusinesses and partnerships that I am involved with in some manner. Likewise, there is noTony Walker. It is also a legacy name that has evolved over the years as my nom de plume,starting with my authorship of The Third Factor [The Advantage Co Handbook].Here is a list of the independently owned and operated businesses we have started orhelped to start over the years. [176 and counting]. The businesses in italics are partnerships.The businesses in bold are currently operational. Each one has been visited by success andfailure. Some businesses never really got off the ground, while others have been thriving fordecades. One of these nights, I’ll start filling in the stories. The really good news is that over50 of the businesses we have helped to launch are thriving enterprises.All told, we estimate there have been over 8,000 participants in the building of theseopportunities. If you have a backstory for any of them, why not share it with me? I’ll take thegood with the bad [they all have their share]. It is never meant to be easy, but it is alwaysmeant to be rewarding.A man who says he never had a chance is a man who never took one. Be big, be a builder.Page 67
Advantage Co Businesses1. Advantage Brands Group2. Advantage Catalog3. Advantage Computer Co.4. Advantage Global Resources5. Advantage Home Theater6. Advantage Outlet7. Advantage Properties8. Advantage TI9. Advantage Trade Group10. Advacovery11. Aussie T Co12. Bogavia13. Brinkley Builders14. Chuggs15. Computer Head Start16. Giancarlo’s Sicilian Steakhouse17. Grivani Cafe & Bakery [returning]18. Grivani Corporate Gift Giving19. Grivani20. Grivani Wine Cellar [returning]21. Grivani Wine [Distributing]22. House of Cotton23. Forrestel Clothing Co24. iFul25. iSport26. iWorldFundraising.org27. iWorld Shopping Center28. King Finley29. Lab to Beauty30. Leave It To Alison**31. Lifetime Service32. Love Pink & Green33. Luxuri Link34. Merwin & Payne35. Modern Luxuri36. MyWarehouse.org37. Nantucket Clothing38. Naples Properties39. Osaka Speakers40. PALM Investments41. Piece Apparel42. Pioneer Home Theater43. Prato Way Management44. Pure + Fresh45. Scotch Boots of Holland46. Smart Car Store47. Smart House Cafe**48. Smart Squad Design49. Smart Squad Install*50. SmartLinks51. Sneaker Advantage52. SONY Home Theater53. Stereo Advantage54. Stereo Advantage [Olean]55. JVC Home Theater56. Taplin Marketing57. Tiny Walker58. Touche’59. TW Outlet [Niagara Falls]**60. TW&Co61. Walker Center62. Walker Kids Trust63. Walker Global Parts64. Walker Global Solutions65. Wehrle Properties66. White Box ServicesPage 68
Advantage Co Partnerships1. ABX Professionals2. Advantage Business Exchange3. Advantage Investment & Development4. Advantage Legal & Fiduciary5. Advantage Marketing & Incentives6. Advantage Systems Professionals7. Advantage Woodshop*8. American Wireless9. AP Charlotte10. AP Cincinnati11. AP Cleveland12. AP Denver13. APHQ14. AP Metro**15. AP Phoenix16. AP Rochester [sold to Matt Taylor]*17. AP Solutions18. AP Syracuse19. AP Tampa20. AP Washington DC21. APX Executive Staffing22. At Your Service23. Aussie Outfitters24. Autonomic Resources [sold to CSC]*25. Beacon Global Resources26. Bellus Development27. BizHop [support only]28. Black Progress Matters29. BPX Executive Staffing30. BPM Business Incubator31. BP College Advisors32. Butler Chemical33. Cascade Point**34. c1 Advantage35. c1 Secure36. Carolina Clothing Co37. Capax Alpha38. Capax Global [sold to Hitachi]*39. Capax India40. Capax Resource Management*41. CARES Act ADVISORY42. Chiampou Travis Besaw & Kershner*43. Christeus44. Cleary & Sullivan45. Cleary Travel46. Cocoa by CeCe47. Consilium148. Cross Pointe**49. Delta Road Properties50. Duke Fund**51. FedCLOUD Resources52. Free Trade Consultants53. Gauntlet Design54. Greenview Landscaping*55. GRW For Hair56. Hudson Walker57. Images & Graphics58. Inspired Global Resources*59. Irwin Lazarus60. iWorld Professionals61. JALMAR Graphics62. JNorman & Co63. KATINI Skin64. King Finley65. Kizer Data Solutions66. LeCleanse Officiel67. LD World Resources68. Lifetime EndPoint Resources69. LLM Data Feeder70. Logix Hosting71. M&L Devine Resources72. Manzella Productions [support only]73. My Personal Advisor74. Mode*75. One Global Culture76. Outback Paging [AdTel Worldwide]77. Pacific Data Resources78. Panther Data SolutionsPage 69
79. Phroket80. Pizza Shoppe81. PremCloud Resources82. Ragusa Executive Solutions83. Real Properties Services84. Sceven85. SmartGov Data Technologies86. SmartLink [Bailey & Kensington]87. SmartLink [Main Place Mall]88. Sozae89. Stereo Advantage [Phoenix]90. Stereo Shops [3 Rochester stores]**91. Strategic Finance92. Taplin Design93. Tony Walker Golf Club [4 locations]94. Total Health & Fitness95. Trend Depot96. TW Charter Stores [92 Aussie Outfitters]97. UnBiasIt98. UnCarbonIt99. Zantaz Capital Ventures100. Walker Sports Audit101. Watch Commander Data Resources102. Watch Commander Staffing103. Wellingtin Resources104. White & Co105. White Welsted McGrath106. Wynnovation Labs107. Zantaz EAS [Capax Discovery LLC]108. ZiDOL Resources109. Zantaz Data Resources110. Zovy CloudComing Soon [Maybe]1. AGR Bridge2. Ana Blu Mediterranean Kitchen3. Arcivium for Azure4. APX Global5. Aussie T Co [Retro]6. 2 Girls 1 Deal7. 2×4 Office Anywhere8. Balance Bra9. Beach to Beauty10. Bedtime Monster Spray11. Christian Co-Op12. Church of the Good Looking13. Clean Your Closets For Kids14. College Rep Program15. CopDrop16. DataDisposal.ai17. Data Detect + Connect18. The Fantasy League19. FedDrop20. FedSecure Data Centers21. FedCloud Vault22. Forrestel Clothing Co [Retro]23. Giancarlo’s Boutique Hotel24. GoToCloud Express25. Greenskeeper Co-Op26. International Transfer Pricing27. iWorld Accounting28. Life Source Insurance29. OffShore Secure30. PickleBall Retractable Fencing31. Scrubs32. Walker University* No longer involved in this partnership.** Ended successfullyPage 70
Advantage Co I There Is Still A Lot To BuildThroughout my career, I have had the privilege of helping to launch over 100 companiesand partnerships. Whether they originated from my ideas or from the visionary partners wehave collaborated with, each venture has been both enjoyable and rewarding. Success orfailure was inevitably part of the journey, but it was always the challenge that brought theseprojects to life—and it is that very challenge that continues to drive me.There are several businesses I definitely want to launch before my career winds down. For one reason oranother, they have all stalled somewhere along the way - but now that I have the resources - and hopefullythe time - I want to see these 12 ambitions, in particular, come to fruition:1. Zantaz MarketPlaceFor 50 years, I have wanted to launch some version of this business exchange concept that bringsproviders and sellers together in a robust international community. This global community willinclude Zantaz-authorized Agents, White Label Resellers, and Teaming Partners whose customerswill benefit from the various Zantaz-authorized Provider offerings.2. APX GlobalI have wanted to build an international staffing resource with trusted advisors globally for over 30years. I also want to take it well beyond typical staffing. APX Global’s Executive StaffingPartnership will be an innovative program connecting organizations and candidates worldwide withthe best executive staffing and human resource solutions. With a focus on building powerfulinternational relationships, our APX Global Partnerships aim to empower a multi-national networkof clients, recruiters, staffing firms, and trusted advisors to unlock new opportunities and generatenew revenue streams.3. AGR BridgeThis comprehensive accounting, tax, audit, HR, sales, CRM, reporting, analytics, investment, review,and management solution is an essential component necessary to establish AGR as an enduringresource for the development and support of an endless array of independently owned andoperated Advantage Co incubated businesses for generations. We need to remain at the forefrontof technology, and PremCloud Resources is key to our ongoing ascendancy.4. Grivani Corporate Gift-GivingAlthough I have always thought of myself as a merchant more than anything else, this is as close asI want to get to retail. I want to build a tasty Grivani Corporate Gift Shop at the Walker Center [andpotentially locations in Naples, Florida, and Florence, Italy] as the cynosure for a global gift-givingnetwork for individual and corporate gift-givers. The stores will be a showcase with products onlyas samples for ordering - not for purchase. We can also tie this in with Pam’s purchasingresources, and I think Paul Schintzius [now that he is retired] might want to participate. Juliana isalready sourcing some great premium Grivani-branded gifts for this Christmas.5. Giancarlo’s Boutique HotelThis will be a premier tenant. It will further establish the Walker Center as the elite destination inWNY. We’ll need to build an elite staff. Niagara University offers a great hospitality talent.Page 71
6. Grivani Cafe & BakeryAlong with a roaster and a small shop of curated goods, this will be one more key destination pointfor the Walker Center, and, along with Ana Blu, has franchising potential.7. iWorld FundraisingZero Fee Fundraising. What about this isn’t great? iWorldFundraising.org is a free web-enabledfundraising program designed to help nonprofit organizations raise money and create awareness for theircause, all without the challenges and risks of traditional fundraising solutions and their fees.iWorldFundraising.org charges absolutely zero fees.8. Clean Your Closet for KidsThis will be a component of iWorld Fundraising. The proceeds from everything you sell onPoshmark, eBay, etc, would go to Children’s Hospital as a donation.9. Monster Bedtime SprayI remember that Paul Newman made his salad dressing a huge success by pledging all the profitsto charity. Along with Clean Your Closets for Kids, I want to pledge all of the profits from MonsterBedtime Spray to Children’s Hospital.10. Christian Co-OpPurchasing agents for schools, churches, charities, foundations, etc., are overwhelmed when itcomes to making large purchases from computers to new buildings. I want to provide a servicethat allows them to vet their pricing.11. Church of the Good LookingThis one is for Father Sturm. He said we were born beautiful - but the world works on our vanity,fear, ambition, insecurity, and competitiveness to convince us we aren’t in order to sell us on all theunnecessary crap we burden ourselves with. The Church of the Good Looking will provide youwith a direct connection to your God. It will be just a C-corp with no tax exemption bullshit and100% transparency.12. Advantage Legal & FiduciaryWhile the Church of the Good Looking honors Fr. Sturm, this one will be for Frank. It will work withZantaz and APX Global to network attorneys and legal and financial services for clients globally.All we need is the right attorney to partner with us - and that may just never happen.There are other opportunities I’d like to pursue, like iWorld Auto, Offshore Data Safe Haven, the BalanceBra, Walker University, the Fantasy League Bar & Grill, and Pickleball Retractable Fencing, to name a few,but the dozen above are very important to me. So that’s what I will be working on next as I wind down myparticipation in Zantaz Data Resources, PremCloud, Logix Hosting, Ai Data Companion, and C1 Secure.Of course, new ideas and partnership opportunities present themselves every day - which will inevitablysteal away my attention [not to mention the incredible array of businesses and partnerships we alreadyhave that are still enjoyable to help build]. All in all, it should keep me busy for the rest of my life.As for possibly retiring, I tried that back in ‘91, and we all know how that went. History tells me that retiringor investing in the stock market is clearly not for me. Be big, be a builder.Page 72
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