Influential Business Leaders to Follow | Rich Feola - Solar Exclusive | Cover Story

FEBRUARY 2024

ISSUE – 02

IN – FOCUS TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP: LESSONS FROM MAX LEWIS IN – FOCUS AI REVOLUTION: UNLOCKING SAVINGS ACROSS US INDUSTRIES IN – FOCUS LIVING VEHICLE: REINVENTING LIVING

InfluenTIAL BUS I N E S S L EA DE R S T O F O L LO W

Rich Feola

Navigating Success with Solar Exclusive

Embracing Excellence 600 N Broad St 5 Middletown, DE 19709, United States +1 (302) – 569 – 9387

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CONTENTS

12 RICH FEOLA

CONTENTS

28 MAX LEWIS

CONTENTS

42 SERGE ROBICHAUD

COVER STORY

Rich Feola Navigating Success with Solar Exclusive

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COVER STORY

influential leader is not merely defined by financial or popularity milestones but by the transformative impact they bring to their domain and beyond. Rich Feola, the visionary behind Solar Exclusive, exemplifies this very definition of an influential leader. By seamlessly blending strategic acumen, foresight, and an unwavering commitment to excellence, Rich has established Solar Exclusive as one of the leading marketing agencies in the solar space. Fittingly, Rich Feola features on the Cover of Exeleon Magazine's Influential Business Leaders to Follow in 2024 issue. Herein, we delve into his leadership philosophy, the rise of Solar Exclusive, and his journey as a leader.

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EARLY LESSONS At the age of only 6, Rich had already developed a keen understanding of what it meant to be an entrepreneur. He recalls, “My dad was teaching me how to do some manual labor outside in our yard, because we had a large property and there was a lot of upkeep.”

He distinctly remembers telling his dad, “I won't need to learn this, I'm going to just pay people money to do this for me.” W W W. E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E . C O M

Little did he know that this early inclination towards delegation and focusing on strengths would become the cornerstone of his entrepreneurial success. Today, as the architect behind a 9- igure advertising agency, Rich emphasizes the art of delegation and focusing on his own unique strengths.

SOLAR EXCLUSIVE'S METEORIC RISE

Since being established in 2017, Solar Exclusive has positioned itself as an industry leader by delivering

over two million leaders across 286 markets.

Navigating the intricacies of the solar industry, Solar Exclusive became the top advertising agency in its niche. The team's strategic investment in ad campaigns across platforms such as Google, Facebook, and YouTube have been a key driver in reaching viable leads. Rich's emphasis on compiling data rapidly to target higher-quality candidates showcases the company's commitment to staying ahead in this competitive market. 15

COVER STORY Talking about the success of his company, Rich mentions “It's been amazing to see how we've become the top advertising agency in solar, while so many others have come and gone, or don't seem to make an imprint in the industry.”

Re lecting further, Rich acknowledges the fortuitous timing of entering the solar industry during a period of substantial growth. However, he attributes the company's sustained success to providing something special to clients, maintaining a cutting-edge team, and embracing a dynamic approach informed by irsthand industry insights.

EXCLUSIVE LEADS IN AN EVOLVING LANDSCAPE

Talking about the exclusive nature of lead generation services oﬀered by Solar Exclusive, Rich shares that new laws and regulations are being passed that are forcing companies to only oﬀer exclusive leads.

However, Solar Exclusive's seven years' experience in providing exclusive leads has already positioned the company as an undisputed market leader. “The new regulation as of 2024 will not impact us, because we've been doing things this way since our very inception,” he points out.

This foresight and commitment to providing exclusive leads have been a key driver in the company's consistent growth over the years. 16

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“It’s been amazing to see how we’ve become the top advertising agency in solar, while so many others have come and gone, or don’t seem to make an imprint in the industry.”

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COVER STORY

“Grow Your S with Solar

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Solar Business r Exclusive.”

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Exeleon Shorts One Book Entrepreneurs must read – 10X is Easier Than 2X, by Benjamin Hardy and Dan Sullivan

granted how much God has blessed me and get so enveloped in my own cares and worries, that I don't help others.

One Productivity Tool / App that you use – CommitAction

One Marketing Strategy that you Follow – “Whoever is willing to pay the most to acquire a customer wins “– Dan Kennedy

One Quote that Motivates you the most – “What does it proﬁt you, if you gain the whole world, but lose your own soul?” My main motivation for my entrepreneurial journey is to help others. We've donated over $1,000,000 to overseas humanitarian and church building eﬀorts in Asia and Africa. I never want to take for

One Movie / Podcast / Show you recommend – Russell Brunson endorsed my agency coaching program, and he has a great podcast/subscription called the “Secrets of Success,” which is kind of like an Audible app for 19th and early 20th century success books and teachings.

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COVER STORY MULTIPLE HATS, ONE GOAL As the Founder, CEO, and Chief Marketing Of icer of Solar Exclusive, Rich Feola plays a multifaceted role in the company.

In a role that spans leadership, strategy, and marketing, he has found a delicate balance. "I oversee our C-suite team and make sure they have everything they need to lead every aspect of the business." He is also actively involved in overseeing all marketing contents and planning vision for new initiatives.

Despite being the Founder and CEO, Rich operates as the CMO of the company. He explains, “Being a marketing company I always need to make sure I am being the best marketer I can be, both for our clients, and for our own company.”

Rich also runs a coaching program, wherein he teaches advertising agencies on how to reach 7 igures per month in revenue. His program emphasizes the importance of building a robust sales team for scaling marketing agencies.

He explains, “I always say that probably the biggest mistake marketing agencies make is that they don't focus on building a robust sales team. Most agencies have one or two salespeople, or the founder does all the sales themselves.”

“You will never be able to grow to 9 igures without realizing that you are a sales organization irst, and just happen to oﬀer digital marketing services second,” he continues.

HIGH-VALUE LEADS

A pivotal element of Solar Exclusive's strategy involves consolidating operations into a single account, managing ads on Facebook, Google, and YouTube. This streamlined approach, operational for the past six years, speaks volumes about the company's reliability. Rich Feola emphasizes the importance of timely payments, recognizing their signi icant value for platforms like Google, enabling Solar Exclusive to scale up progressively.

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The technical prowess of the Solar Exclusive team is evident as their ads consistently rank as the most viewed on Google and YouTube for the past three years. With a market share of 26%, double that of their closest competitor, Solar Exclusive's ability to maintain a similar cost per lead even with a hypothetical quadrupling of spending underscores their dominance in the market.

Moreover, another standout oﬀering from the company is the utilization of a dedicated call center, provided free of charge to clients during their trial period. This call center empowers partner companies to schedule appointments with exclusive leads.

VISION AHEAD

Rich envisions Solar Exclusive as a one-stop shop for solar lead campaigns in any market and with any target demographic across the country. This vision is a testament to his commitment to continuous growth, marked not only by dominance in the solar market but by venturing into adjacent ields.

The team's focus on launching other marketing companies in roo ing, pest control, security, and debt consolidation showcases the expansive vision of Rich Feola.

Moreover, he is excited to help large solar organizations build their own marketing divisions that bring in eﬀective results.

“We are planning in 2024 to announce that we will begin sourcing, hiring, and training digital marketing experts and placing them into solar businesses so they can be independent, because we will have established their own department inhouse for them,” he concludes saying.

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S I M P LY S C A N A N D S U B S C R I B E

EXELEON EXCLUSIVE

AI Revolution In a groundbreaking move, Bank of America recently unveiled a signi icant AI tech upgrade aimed at enhancing customer experiences and streamlining services for both clients and staﬀ. However, BofA is not alone in this venture, as a recent report from GetResponse sheds light on the multitude of companies across the United States making substantial strides in their digital journey by integrating AI and blockchains into their banking operations.

GetResponse has sent out a press release highlighting the potential savings for various industries in the US through the right implementation of AI. This topic has become even more intriguing in the wake of Bank of America's announcement, signaling a broader trend towards AI adoption in the business landscape. INDUSTRIES PRIMED FOR SAVINGS

McKinsey estimates that AI has the potential to increase corporate pro its by a staggering $4.4 trillion. The GetResponse report delves deeper into the speci ics, focusing on the top ive industries poised for signi icant savings in 2024:

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EXELEON EXCLUSIVE

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RANK

Sector

Monthly savings per business

Annual savings per business

Automotive

$4123.77

$49485.2

Commercial Services

$4021.8

$48261.4

Architecture, Engineering & Building

$3720.36

$44644.3

Finance

$3600.32

$43203.85

Hair & Beauty

$3533.3

$42399.6

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EXELEON EXCLUSIVE STATEWISE IMPACT Utilizing Census data on the number of companies within these sectors across each US state, the report unveils the potential annual savings for the top ive industries. California leads the way, with total savings reaching a staggering $10.8 billion in 2024, distributed across the automotive, commercial service, architecture, engineering & building, inance, and hair & beauty sectors. Here's a snapshot of the top 10 states and their respective total annual savings:

Commercial Services ·

Architecture, Engineering & Building ·

1. California: $10,897,891,153

2. Florida: $7,885,228,589 3. Texas: $7,105,578,445

6. Pennsylvania: $3,689,997,647 7. Georgia: $3,073,438,679

8. New Jersey: $3,064,841,759

9. North Carolina: $3,047,600,831 10. Ohio: $2,820,439,881

INDUSTRIES ON THE VERGE OF TRANSFORMATION The potential savings across these industries extend beyond mere numbers. The implementation of AI could revolutionize various aspects of each sector: Automotive ·

Predictive Maintenance: AI can analyze vehicle sensor data, predicting maintenance needs to reduce downtime and prevent costly breakdowns. It can also optimize logistics, ensuring ef icient inventory management and cutting costs.

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Design Optimization: AI algorithms optimize building designs for energy ef iciency, costeﬀectiveness, and sustainability. It can assist in project scheduling, resource allocation, and risk management, reducing delays and cost overruns.

Finance ·

4. New York: $6,931,987,168

5. Illinois: $4,152,942,308

Customer Service Automation: AI-powered chatbots handle routine queries, freeing up resources for more complex tasks. It can predict trends, enhancing decision-making and resource allocation.

Fraud Detection: AI analyzes transaction data to identify fraudulent patterns, preventing inancial losses. It can also analyze real-time market data, optimizing investment portfolios.

Hair & Beauty ·

Personalized Recommendations: AI analyzes customer preferences and skin/hair types, providing personalized product recommendations. It can track stock, and demand forecasting optimizes inventory levels, reducing wastage and costs.

Additionally, AI can signi icantly reduce administrative costs and processing times across all sectors, spanning bookings, emails, queries, and more.

As industries embark on this transformative journey, the potential for savings is immense, promising not only inancial gains but also increased ef iciency and improved customer experiences. For more details, you can explore the comprehensive report on AI productivity on GetResponse's of icial site.

In the era of AI-driven innovation, the business landscape is evolving, and those at the forefront of technological integration stand to reap the rewards of a more streamlined and ef icient future.

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Transformational Leadership: Lessons from Max Lewis

n the dynamic world of business, transformational leadership stands out for its ability to inspire change, foster innovation, and cultivate a culture of empowerment.

This leadership style, characterized by the ability to motivate and encourage followers to exceed their own expectations, is essential for me in any business that I personally operate, and vividly illustrated in my book. Transformational leadership can not only drive business success but also profoundly impact personal growth and community development.

THE ESSENCE OF TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP At its core, transformational leadership

involves four key components: in luence, inspirational motivation (make it fun), intellectual stimulation (also make it fun), and individual consideration (put yourself in their shoes, always).

It's extremely important to embody these elements through your journey as a leader and to oﬀer a blueprint for those within your organization to follow as well. As visionaries, we often have a very clear picture of what we are trying to accomplish but fall-short when it comes down to communicating that vision. As a young entrepreneur, I often experienced confusion and frustration when dealing with employees that just “didn't get it” which was rather annoying until I realized what was missing- a motivationally charged, clearly de ined objective.

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Take the time to explain exactly what you're trying to accomplish and why it's important to them, you, the organization as a whole and your mission. Getting your team's direction and culture in order before making any attempts at growth is paramount. When everyone clearly understands what the objective is and how they play a part in it, growth becomes easy, eﬀortless even. INFLUENCE

In luence, the component that embodies the leader's ability to act as someone they respect. Someone they can talk to if they need help or guidance. Someone who will be proud of them and acknowledge all the hard work they've put in. And lastly, someone they wouldn't want to let down. As a leader myself, I always do my best to earn the respect and trust of those around me. The culture needs to gel. If I fall short, I correct it. If there's a team member that continually becomes disagreeable, maybe it's time to replace that person. Don't let a sourpuss take up too much of your time, aﬀect your energy or that of your team. Remember, rebels will drain your energy and impede whatever you're trying to create, regardless of what their role is or what level they are at in your organization. So, above all else- protect your culture!

INTELLECTUAL STIMULATION THROUGH PROBLEM-SOLVING Intellectual stimulation can be achieved by challenging the status quo and giving your team the freedom and faith to experiment with their own creative problem-solving. I love this approach to business. Transform

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challenges into fun projects for your team to work towards and through. When you have breakthroughs, and you will have breakthroughs, make it a point to celebrate those wins together! Have an impromptu huddle-up to share the good news and clap it up for those involved or maybe buy pizza for the entire staﬀ on Friday and before anyone takes a slice, say a little something to the whole team and demonstrate your pride and appreciation for the work being done. INDIVIDUALIZED CONSIDERATION: UNDERSTANDING AND EMPATHY

Attention to the needs, aspirations, and personal development of everyone in the organization. Fostering a nurturing environment where individuals feel valued, understood, and acknowledged. I try my absolute best to make everyone know and feel that they are an important part of our success.

From the CEO to the janitor, let everyone know how important they are and that you've noticed their hard work. i.e. To the janitor: ”Hey John, I've noticed how spotless the loors have been lately and how clean and streak free the windows are. I can't thank you enough for doing such a great job with that. It's important because it makes us look really good whenever we have visitors here and gives the employees a sense of pride to work at such a clean and professional place. So, thank you for doing such a great job with that! Lastly, always have something for them to look forward to. I think we can all resonate with that.

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Author Bio: Max Lewis is an American entrepreneur, investor, and author with over 20 years of business experience and an excess of $100 million in cumulative sales.

In 2002, Max began exchanging propane barbecue tanks as a startup business. By the age of 23, he was a millionaire through his startup and his investments in real estate. As the sole owner of his company, Max grew his exchange business into the largest independent operation of its kind in the state of Florida. He sold it for $37 million in 2017.

After retiring at the young age of 36, Max set roots in the Florida Keys, where he shares a home with his girlfriend and fourlegged fur-children. In his free time, he enjoys racing cars, traveling the globe, and ishing.

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LIVING VEHICLE REINVENTING LIVING

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While the pandemic impacted travel in adverse ways, particularly with respect to lying, it also empowered people to rede ine the concept of road trips and nomadic living. With more employers adopting working remotely policies, many took to the road – some even permanently.

Perched on the life mantra “experience is the best teacher,” Matthew and Joanna Hofmann founded Living Vehicle (LV) in 2017. They married their mutual passion for freedom with good living and turned it into a reality, and not just a hope for the future.

Today, with Living Vehicle, their mission is to increase sustained oﬀ grid capability for all life's needs, including water recycling, waste management, and water generation, which enables endless travel on the road. With the advent of electric tow vehicles, the short-term vision is to store solar energy and then charge the same truck that pulls the trailer, bringing the concept of a fuel-free world one step closer. In an Exclusive Interview, Joanna and Matthew share their journey of living on the go! W W W. E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E . C O M

What according to you makes one a transformational leader? How do you integrate the same thought into your leadership? Joanna: When I think about the concept of transformational leadership, my mind goes to how true a leader is to the path and the dedication to the focus required to execute. Transformation is explicitly grounded in execution – the actions that elicit change are the drivers that bring progress towards that goal. Great businesses are surrounded with countless opportunities. I remember a quote by Steve Jobs that describes innovation as “not about saying yes to everything. It's about saying NO to all but the most crucial features.” Being true to yourself and having the fortitude to pursue that goal with tremendous focus is what I consider transformational. It is the translation of that focus into the execution of a team. That is what I consider transformational leadership. How did this idea come about of forming Living Vehicle? What were the pain points that you both wanted to address in the market? Joanna: Prior to founding Living

Vehicle in 2017, we lived and traveled full time in a travel trailer while traveling across the country. During this time, we learned what worked and didn't work for full time mobile living. After designing models for ourselves, we started to provide design services for clients and renovate more than 400 custom mobile projects together. Living Vehicle was created to solve the problems that we faced daily, like compromising life's luxuries to it into a mobile space, as conventional trailer design is fundamentally a short-term product, which in the end, is why they are called recreational vehicles. We architecturally designed Living Vehicle to suit the needs of everyday living such as a kitchen with ample pantry space, extra storage for hobbies and exercise gear, a functional closet with room for hanging clothes, and a spa-like bathroom.

Matthew: I am a tall guy, over 6 feet, so one of the key design factors that I look for in an RV is a bathroom that doesn't feel small, a classic problem to have when considering mobile home options. Living Vehicle's spa-style bathroom was designed with inspiration from real life with features including a spacious 32” x 36” shower with 35

IN – FOCUS rainfall showerhead, walnut inishes, and natural, exceptionally durable materials for touches of luxury. While I tend to look at the world from an architectural lens, Joanna brings a practical perspective to the aesthetics of Living Vehicle trailers to make each vehicle special, functional, and comfortable for every day.

Give us some background to mobile living lifestyle. Why are more and more people inclining towards this form of living?

Matthew & Joanna Hofmann, Co-Founders

Joanna: While the pandemic impacted travel in many negative ways, particularly with respect to lying, it empowered people to reinvent the concept of road trips and nomadic living. With more employers adopting working remotely policies, many took to the road – sometimes permanently. Living Vehicle, paired with the Bureau of Land Management's free camping resources, makes this lifestyle a reality of now, not just a hope for the future. With more solar power than most homes, the allaluminum trailer is designed to traverse all terrains year-round, regardless of weather. So, whether travelers are working from snow-covered hilltops in Colorado, exploring the depths of the Sequoias, or the backyard of an urban dwelling, the vehicle enables owners to call all places home.

Matthew: The advent of technology and innovations found in the 2022 Living Vehicle allows owners to truly work from anywhere. As a result of the 36

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IN – FOCUS pandemic, Living Vehicle experienced an increased demand for its trailers as many people adopted a “work from anywhere” mentality. Armed with this feedback, Living Vehicle added a mobile desk package to its design with a large walnut desk that can be lowered without disturbing the workspace to reveal a queen-sized bed. What were the factors that were kept in mind when designing the models, in order to ensure utmost functionality and comfort? Joanna: The design of the 2022

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Living Vehicle is as eye-catching as it is functional, with marine-grade materials capable of withstanding the elements of all four seasons and more energy storage than any other previous Living Vehicle model. The 2022 Living Vehicle is also designed to blur the boundary between the indoors and nature outside, with oversized windows, skylights, and an 8' sliding glass door, as well as a fully integrated, self-supporting deck measuring. The 2022 Living Vehicle is out itted with a full gourmet kitchen with a removable cooking island for more space, a 13-cu. ft. all-electric solar refrigerator, and a European-style

marine three-burner oven. The kitchen is the perfect example of function and comfort. One of the most frustrating parts about living remotely are the small refrigerators in mobile kitchens and not enough counter space to cook. We solved both of these problems when building the kitchen in Living Vehicle. The master bedroom is designed to star gaze from bed and can transform into a media room with optional 70” 4K HD “Private Home Theatre” and SONOS surround sound – this also its the bill of being both functional and comfortable.

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What has the journey been like for both of you over the years in building this company? Matthew: The journey to Living Vehicle has been a natural evolution. Living Vehicle emerged out of a need where nothing before existed. Joanna and I were simply fed up with poorly built mobile spaces that did not function well for full time living. It was this need that drove us to create something diﬀerent – something better. A mentor once told me at the onset of this journey, “business is the ultimate intellectual sport,” and I couldn't agree more. The journey to Living Vehicle has been extremely rewarding, ultimately challenging, and the lives we have inspired are a 38

testament that we are on the right path. Living Vehicle has only just begun.

Looking back at this journey, what would you have done diﬀerently if you were to start again?

Matthew: Nothing. I am proud to see our business form just prior to the pandemic and overcome the challenges we have overcome are tremendous. All these challenges have made our company more resilient, countless lessons learned are priceless. Changing one thing that was a challenge would only result in a diﬀerent outcome. That may or may not be successful. Our most valuable resource is time and

too valuable to spend what I could have done diﬀerently. To look where we are today, all things considered, I wouldn't have it any other way. I use the lessons learned to act in the present and make the best of what we have today.

Do you see Work From Anywhere (WFA) culture to be the new future for business leaders? Matthew: Yes and no. I am interested to see what the future holds for business leaders who use a WFA approach. Technology is enabling the WFA culture and is being accelerated due to the pandemic. I am highly concerned about business culture and company focus in a WFA business E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E

IN – FOCUS structure. The impacts of not having a team are yet to be seen. This is one giant experiment and will bring transformative lessons in the very near future.

What have been the challenges and learnings that you have faced in your off-grid living experience? Joanna: Living Vehicle is designed to exist off-grid. Our focus has and always will be to create the most off-grid capable vehicle for life ever seen. Complete self-reliance is what will de ine our success. The path to this goal is no simple feat. What does the future look like for Living Vehicle? What are the upcoming new developments for the brand?

Matthew: The mission of Living Vehicle is to increase sustained oﬀ grid capability for all life's needs, including water recycling, waste management, and water generation, which enables endless travel on the road. The launch of its 2022 model put us closer to its company goal of becoming “NetZero” than any previous launch. Each year, we build on the success of the latest sustainable model, bringing us closer to our goal of a Net Zero vehicle – no waste out and no energy in. With the advent of electric tow vehicles, the nearterm vision is to store solar energy and then charge the same truck that pulls the trailer, bringing the concept of a fuel-free world one step closer!

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Wealth Manager

Serge Robichaud speaks on challenges and thrills of ﬁnancial planning

erge Robichaud has had a long, accomplished career as a wealth manager and inancial planner. His journey has taken him from studying inance at the University of Moncton at the turn of the millennium, to holding numerous positions of high responsibility at some of Canada's most trusted inancial institutions. While at Scotiabank, he oversaw more than six hundred client accounts. He's now been providing inancial advice for clients and their families for almost two decades. This has led to a wealth of experience in tailoring personalized solutions for individuals, many of whom felt overwhelmed by the complex nature of the inancial industry. Mr. Robichaud has taken some time to re lect on his journey and how rewarding it has been working with his clients to achieve their inancial goals. WHAT MADE YOU CHOOSE A CAREER IN FINANCE? Serge Robichaud: I found the 42

puzzle of inance to be very stimulating. I've remained passionate over the years about making sense of all the pieces. The inancial world is incredibly dynamic and I love keeping up with the emerging trends from around the world.

I also recognized the kind of service that wise wealth management can provide. When done the right way, we can unlock people's dreams and change their lives. So for me, a career in inance was a win-win. On the one hand, I could devote myself to something I'm passionate about, and that I think I have an aptitude for. And at the same time, I could be of great service to people in pursuing their goals.

I still wake up every day eager to learn more, to get better, to be ahead of the curve. There is an analogy to sports in knowing where the play is going and being able to position yourself to capitalize. I'm driven to tackle the complex problems of inance in order to best

position my clients ahead of emerging trends.

WHAT MOTIVATES YOU WHEN WORKING WITH CLIENTS DAY TO DAY? Serge Robichaud: When a client invests their trust in you to handle their inancial goals, they're handing you a tremendous responsibility. I feel a sense of obligation to them to reward that faith. They're putting their lives in my hands in a real way. They've worked countless hours to build their inancial security, and they're relying on me to make their money work for them. I don't want to let them down. I work incredibly hard to exceed their expectations, because failure is not an option, for them or for me.

Along with this responsibility, I'm also just extremely enthusiastic to share a vision of a strong inancial future. I think my enthusiasm can be infectious, and I love to see the look in my clients' eyes when they

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begin to see that their inancial goals are attainable.

The world of inance can seem so negative, especially when the industry feels chaotic and overwhelming. But I try to see more order in the chaos. I lay out opportunities for them that are easy to understand and that are clearly rooted in my years of experience of capitalizing on emerging trends. It's exciting when those sparks of recognition are lying, we're making solid plans and the visions they have of their future start to become a reality before my eyes. WHAT IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE OF YOUR

PROFESSION? Serge Robichaud: The volatility in the inancial markets and the economic cycles can wreak havoc in client investment portfolios. To use 2021/2022 as an example, interest rates skyrocketed with the 40 year high in lation rates. Most advisors would advise clients to just not panic and patiently stick to their long-term investment plans. However, I can't continue with a status quo when the economy clearly changed the inancial markets so drastically. I created new model portfolios for many of my clients during this time to better re lect the current economic environment. There was a tremendous amount of work

involved updating most of my client's portfolios. The changes that were made prevented substantial losses for clients during a dif icult period. In hindsight, this was absolutely the best strategy for my clients. Sometimes all this extra work is rewarded knowing that you're not only increasing the value of the portfolios during good times, but also mitigating the losses during bad times.

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SPOTLIGHT INTERVIEW

AN INTERVIEW WITH CASSIE PETREY

What according to you makes one transformational? How do you integrate the same thought into your leadership? Transformation in most circumstances is a very slow process. At least slower than most of us would like. Showing up every day and actively caring about your company and the people it aﬀects is 90% of the battle. If you dedicate time consistently, there's no way you can avoid transformation. It's going to happen as long as you give it patience and time.

Talk to us about your growing up years. What is your earliest memory as a leader that you can remember?

Co-Founder Crowd Surf

One of my earliest memories of being a leader is being the “director” of the theatrical “plays” my cousins and I would put on for our family. I always had ideas on which play we should do, who should be in what roles, and I would always make sure everyone showed up to watch the performance! I was probably 5-7 years old during my “play director” phase.

What has been the journey like for Cassie Petrey, from your childhood fascination for Backstreet Boys to running a leading marketing and music management irm?

The journey has been slow and steady. It doesn't feel surreal because the process to get here has been really consistently paced. It has all seemed to happen as I'm ready for it. It's fun to think about who I was when I was 12 years old, and I know that person would be so

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SPOTLIGHT INTERVIEW

excited about their future. I always believed in myself, though.

This has always felt like what I'm supposed to be doing. I see the future too, and there's still a lot more to accomplish. I don't feel nervous about it. I know I'm on the right path and showing up every day doing my best.

Looking at this journey, what would you do diﬀerently if you were to start again?

I would try to better understand that there will be big moments you need to miss in your career in order to be there for your family, and that's okay. In the moment, you may think it will hurt your career, but it won't. More opportunities will always come in the future.

When my grandmother was passing, there was an important meeting that week. She told me to go to the meeting instead of coming back to see her. I wish I hadn't taken her advice. I know she was looking out for me, and I admire that unconditional love as she was rooting for me. However, I regret taking her advice at that moment.

Talk to us about the impact of social media for artists new and old. How do you leverage these powerful platforms to help them reach a wider audience? Social media is an incredible tool. We have to constantly remind ourselves that it's a tool, and nothing more than that. I like to help my artists ind what their goals are outside of social media and construct a plan to use social media to help accomplish those goals.

Looking ahead, what is your vision for Crowd Surf? What are you most excited about? The overall goal for Crowd Surf is simple. I want us to keep evolving to help artists as much as possible and I'm excited for what that will look like! I didn't know what social media would become 25 years ago, and I don't know what our company will look like 25 years in the future. In terms of goals for the next couple of years, we want to sign a few more artists to manage and plan on launching a record label. Separate from the company, I'm also working on writing a book and I'm pretty excited about that as well.

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NEWS ROOM

TeamViewer adopts Almer AR headsets to take remote support from desktop to reality

he popular global leader in remote IT support TeamViewer has signalled its shift to augmented reality (AR) having struck a strategic partnership with AR startup Almer. This news comes hot on the heels of Apple's entry into the AR market with the launch of their Vision Pro headset next month.

The Almer Arc headset enables collaboration with remote individuals as if they were physically present and augmentation of the wearer's environment with relevant information for pointing out objects in reality. Almer is also announcing the launch of Arc 2, it's latest headset which features a 25MP camera, beamforming microphones, built-in speakers, and a holographic see-through screen with 8-hours battery life. As opposed to Apple's Vision Pro, the Almer Arc 2 is a mere 138 grams, 4 times lighter. Thanks to the completely transparent display of the Arc 2, it can be employed in mission critical task and changing environment, while the Vision Pro is for a static interior environment. This partnership will enable 52

TeamViewer to expand into untapped opportunities with industrial companies. Meanwhile, Almer will be able to scale its operations and advance AR adoption.

Mei Dent, Chief Product & Technology Of icer at TeamViewer: “Approximately 80 percent of the global workforce does not work at a desk but at a company's frontline, and most of them currently bene it very little from digital transformation. There is immense potential for ef iciency and productivity gains by enhancing the frontline work with digital tools and connecting this huge part of the global workforce to their companies' backend system. Our joint oﬀering with Almer allows companies to explore how Augmented Reality opens new opportunities for business and operations and massively increases the speed of their digitalization eﬀorts.”

Almer was founded in 2021 by Sebastian Beetschen and Timon Binder. Sebastian was working on the Hololens 2 at Microsoft Research and felt the AR opportunity extended beyond

clunky helmet-like apparatus. He felt he could make a more compact, comfortable, and aﬀordable AR device and teamed up with Timon, a former jet ighter pilot, who recognized the potential. Timon brought his experience with AR jet ighter helmets that led to the creation of the Almer Arc headset.

Sebastian Beetschen, CEO and cofounder of Almer commented: “Our headset is much like a jet ighter visor, mounted directly in front of your eyes, featuring a transparent, see-through screen. The Almer Arc is a lightweight, compact, and easy-to-use AR headset. When a problem arises, the frontline worker takes the Almer Arc and contacts a remote expert, who can see and hear what the worker experiences. The expert identi ies the issue, highlights objects, and displays documentation in the worker's view, simulating a collaborative, inperson experience.”

Today, Almer has 21 customers, including Switzerland's largest defense contractor, which uses the Almer Arc to service ighter jets remotely in the US, as well as several international machine

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manufacturers. Almer is venture backed startup having raised $7.6m to date from strategic investors including engineering giant Stena and manufacturing leaders Helbling among others. The Almer team consists of top talent from the ields of computer vision and microtechnology, from renowned Swiss institutes of technology, ETH and EPFL.

On the launch of Arc 2, Sebastian Beetschen commented: “We have learned a lot on how to make the headset super adaptable and users can set their preferences on how

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they wear it. Something new entrants like Apple still have to learn. Not only this, Arc 2 comes with an improved wide angle 25MP camera that can see and understand everything that you see and zoom into tiny details as never before. This makes it possible to understand the environment and assist, enabling superhuman capabilities”.

The global augmented reality market* is projected to grow from $62.75 billion in 2023 to $1,1 trillion 2030, at a CAGR of 50.7%. Within this trend, the market for AR

headsets is exponentially increasing over the next few years and is set to hit $120 billion in 2026. Initially, Almer is focusing on the Swiss industry and will soon expand into the neighboring DACH region before going global. Sebastian Beetschen added: “The cost saving potential of using AR to service all installed machines for the 10 largest tooling-machine manufacturers in DACH alone accounts for £7.9 billion per year**. So, the opportunity is very real”.

NEWS ROOM

Maxine Clark joins Venture for America's Board of Directors opened its doors in late 2021.

enture For America, a national nonpro it and twoyear fellowship program for recent college graduates pursuing careers in entrepreneurship, has announced the appointment of Maxine Clark, Build-A-Bear Workshop® founder, CEO of the Clark-Fox Family Foundation, and Chief Inspirator of the Delmar DivINe™ as the newest member of its national board of directors.

Clark founded Build-A-Bear Workshop®, a teddy-bear-themed retail-entertainment experience, and under her leadership, it became a publicly traded company on the NYSE in 2004. Today, Build-A-Bear boasts more than 500 stores worldwide, with more than 250 million stuﬀed animals sold globally.

Upon stepping down from her role as Chief Executive Bear in 2013, she embarked on a mission to empower women and minority entrepreneurs while using her entrepreneurial skills to create opportunities for St. Louis families. Her latest venture, the Delmar DivINe™, transformed the historic St. Luke's Hospital in the St. Louis West End into a multiuse real estate development, which 54

"I look forward to joining the Venture For America national board of directors,” Clark said. "The organization's mission of promoting entrepreneurship and serving as an onramp to the experience for historically underrepresented groups can make a substantial impact across the country and closely re lects the work I'm carrying out with Delmar in St. Louis. I'm eager to contribute my insights and experiences to help early-career professionals access the limitless potential of their entrepreneurial ambitions.”

Clark is recognized not only for her business accomplishments but also for her dedication to education and community engagement. She's an active member of the Build-A-Bear Workshop Board of Directors, a past member of Footlocker, Inc.'s board of directors, and serves as an Emeritus member of the Washington University Board of Trustees, and of Goldfarb School of Nursing. In recognition of her contributions, Clark was named to the Missouri Public Aﬀairs Hall of Fame in 2017 and was honored as Women of the Year by the Greater Missouri Leadership Foundation in 2015.

"Maxine's exceptional leadership and commitment to community and entrepreneurship align perfectly with our company's vision, mission, and values,” said Venture For America CEO Eric Somerville.

“We're con ident that her guidance and expertise will be invaluable as we navigate the weeks, days, months, and years to come."

Late last year, Venture For America announced that its annual Alumni Reunion would be held in St. Louis in 2024. The program attracts hundreds of attendees and provides alumni of VFA's fellowship with an opportunity to reconnect, celebrate their achievements, and explore a city. This partnership will further bolster relationships between VFA and the St. Louis community.

About Venture For America: Venture For America (VFA) is a national nonpro it organization designed to create entrepreneurial opportunities for early-career professionals. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Detroit, VFA is a two-year paid Fellowship program that helps its Fellows ind job opportunities at startups in cities across the United States. Through its Fellowship, VFA serves as an onramp to entrepreneurship by providing Fellows with coaching, connections, and community. The nonpro it is committed to ensuring those who have been historically excluded, especially women and people of color, see themselves as future startup leaders or founders. For more information visit www.ventureforamerica.org.

CONTACT: Taneá Menifee, Senior Communications Manager, tanea@ventureforamerica.org

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NEWS ROOM

Realoq Unveils Rexdat: An Enterprise Solution for Real Estate Professionals

ealoq, a leader in real estate technology, proudly introduces Rexdat, its latest product oﬀering, aimed at addressing critical challenges faced by Multiple Listing Services (MLS) and brokerages. In an era where control over data and branding opportunities are paramount, Rexdat emerges as a game-changer, oﬀering a strategic solution for MLS organizations to maximize revenue streams, and enhance their brand in the real estate market.

Rexdat addresses the gaps by providing a cloud-hosted, Softwareas-a-Service (SaaS) solution, serving as a multi-sided platform for real estate organizations and professionals. It is speci ically designed for MLSs, brokerages, and associations of realtors, oﬀering a uni ied platform for listing management, consumer-facing services, and backend operations.

The real estate industry is evolving, and the key to thriving lies in adaptation and innovation. Realoq's product, Rexdat, stands as a strategic partner, committed to assisting MLS companies in solidifying their brand presence, maximizing data potential, and embracing technology to drive growth. Key Features of Rexdat:

Ÿ Consumer-Facing Branded Search Portal for MLSs: Rexdat introduces a user-friendly, branded search portal that W W W. E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E . C O M

empowers MLS executives to showcase their brand directly to real estate agents and consumers, fostering stronger connections and brand loyalty.

Ÿ Listings Management: A comprehensive tool allowing MLSs to manage their entire listings set ef iciently, bringing simplicity and interoperability to the forefront.

Ÿ Secure Sign-In: Rexdat strongly emphasizes security, oﬀering a value-added feature with a secure sign-in, ensuring data integrity and protection.

Why Rexdat Matters:

Enterprises, especially MLSs, associations of realtors, and brokerages, bene it from Rexdat's streamlined services, bringing together various aspects of real estate operations under one roof. Rexdat is a one-stop solution for building and maintaining brand value in the marketplace, fostering

collaboration, transparency, and persistence.

Realoq, through its Rexdat product line, continues to revolutionize the real estate industry, oﬀering a comprehensive solution for enterprises to navigate the challenges of data control, revenue generation, and brand elevation.

"As Realoq launches Rexdat, the company looks ahead with optimism and determination," with CEO Anvesh Chakravartula stating, "I have combined my vision with the expertise of Jayanth Sanganabatla, positioning Rexdat at the forefront of innovation." In agreement, Jayanth Sanganabatla, Head of Technology, adds, "I am ready to lead Real Estate into a new era."

For immediate inquiries or further information, please visit the contact page at https://rexdat.com/contact. For media inquiries, please contact: Ally Weichert- ally@prlab.co

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