Q&A with Sangram Vajre, Co-founder & Chief Evangelist at Terminus

MEDIA 7 | October 24, 2019

Jeanne Hopkins, CMO at Lola.com has profound expertise in data-driven, high-velocity customer acquisition and marketing organizations and inbound-based lead gen programs to support global demand for high-growth SaaS companies. Jeanne is also the co-author of "Go Mobile"?, the #1 best-selling mobile marketing book. She has been named to Sales Lead Management Association "Top 50"? 3 years in a row and "20 Women to Watch" in 2015/14/13 & 2011. MEDIA 7: What inspired you to get into marketing? JEANNE HOPKINS: After graduation, I took my first job in the accounting department at Baystate Medical Center. At my annual review, I was told that I was too “noisy” for an accounting department. I went on to work at Milton Bradley Company’s in-house advertising agency, MB Communications, as editor of their in-house newspaper, and later recruited to LEGO Systems to do marketing programs. I found myself at a self-funded start-up tech company in 2000, where I was running an inside sales team and building digital properties to generate leads. I moved into software, digital marketing, and lead generation at companies like MarketingSherpa, then HubSpot, SmartBear, Ipswitch (now Progress Software) – it’s all been a fantastic journey. M7: How is agile technology transforming corporate travel around the globe? JH: Small and mid-sized businesses have to be fast and efficient amidst growth, and booking, re-booking, and managing business travel can seriously impede efficiency and productivity. Finance teams are trying to manage, control, and get visibility into expenditures. Travelers are trying to do their jobs and don’t have time for expense reports. And travel arrangers (executive assistants and office admins) have plenty on their plates. Finally, there are tools that are addressing these direct needs at small and mid-sized businesses. Consumers have had the ease of booking travel through sites like Kayak and big businesses can afford the services and fees associated with high-end travel agencies. But the middle segment has been left out. Now, agile tools like Lola.com are making it really easy for corporate travelers to book, re-book, and take the task of expense reports off the table. And finance teams are able to set up travel policies in minutes, and easily manage, control, and get visibility into expenditures. The corporate travel market is huge, and agile technology is making it much easier for travelers and companies all-around.

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MEDIA 7 | November 28, 2019

Ed Breault, Chief Marketing Officer at Aprimo is a marketer with over 18 years of industry experience. At Aprimo, Ed is responsible for the global brand and growth which includes all Paid/Owned/Earned media, Brand Experience, Product Marketing, Industry Marketing, Influencer Marketing, Strategic Communications, Content Marketing, Analyst Relations, Alliance Marketing, Public Relations, Events, Demand Generation and Account-Based Marketing. MEDIA 7: What’s your superpower? ED BREAULT: I would say it’s applying the full spectrum of art and science that is required in marketing today. Not just left or right brained, but whole-brained strategy. Being human yet data-driven and really understanding numbers and (the right) metrics to make connections to business drivers. Add storytelling to that, so I can effectively communicate to my team, the CEO and CFO as well as my Board of Directors on those metrics, and connecting all that we are doing in marketing to the mission of the business. Then quickly shifting gears to the art and creative aspects of marketing that are required to engage an audience and tell great commercial stories that take complex concepts and craft them in a way that is interesting for people to pay attention to. I have to be the ultimate point of truth for the brand. M7: At Aprimo, how have marketing leadership roles and responsibilities evolved over the past few years? EB: There are so many dimensions needed by marketing leaders today. There are several elements driving this evolution, it’s the new experience battlefront that is emerging and also marketers themselves driving changes. From a market perspective, there is a clear appetite for disruption and consumers are wanting more experiential elements to their buying experience and interactions with brands. Take a few direct to consumer disruptions like trialing products in-home, purchasing directly from a brand or even wanting to ensure that the producer’s trade practices are in line with the buyer’s or even a regulator’s for that matter. Then we want to try before we buy, and we emotionally care about the supply chain of products. Do we TRUST this brand to do business with them? Behind all of this is a story that needs to be told, and it is those marketers who know their audience well and make connections that will win the commercial game. Back to the marketer, there are so many diverse backgrounds that marketers bring now and I’m really intrigued by those who have unconventional backgrounds because they contribute something uniquely new to the field. I love hearing about the marketer’s journey.

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MEDIA 7 | November 21, 2019

Amy Barzdukas, EVP and Chief Marketing Officer at Poly is a marketing and communications leader with extensive experience in setting strategy, shifting perceptions, advising customers, digital marketing, revenue marketing, integrated marketing communications, and public relations in highly competitive product arenas. Amy is known for her ability to create and execute winning turnarounds on a global scale. MEDIA 7: What inspired you to get into marketing? AMY BARZDUKAS: I was always destined for marketing, even if I didn’t know it. As a child, I collected promotional brochures. I was fascinated by how the words and pictures were used to drive action. My first job was as an advertising copywriter, and I’ve never looked back. M7: How is Poly redefining the video conferencing experience for modern businesses? AB: We’re in an unprecedented time of change in our industry. Voice and video services are moving to the cloud, and companies are changing how they approach their communications needs. Poly is the largest provider of the devices – video conferencing, audio conferencing, headphones and desk phones – you use to connect to these services so you can collaborate with your colleagues. That uniquely positions us to shape the video conferencing experience, and we’re doing so in four ways. First, Poly has made both the Zoom Rooms and the Microsoft Teams video conferencing experience better than ever with our radically simple Poly Studio X video bars that deliver these experiences with no PC or Mac required. We’ve got decades of experience in understanding what makes meetings more human – for everyone in the room and those dialing in from other locations – and we’ve packed all of that into easy-to-install, easy-to-manage, and easy-to-use all-in-one powerhouses. Second, we are bringing the world of AV and video conferencing into the modern app economy. Our Studio X series and Poly G7500 video conferencing devices run a common platform that can be updated and enhanced through a series of regular software updates. This Poly platform, built on Android, can run applications like a smartphone does today. Third, Poly has introduced innovation that makes any video conference better. Our new Poly MeetingAI features use AI and machine learning to address the distractions that hit your senses in a meeting. We make it easier to hear what’s being said by blocking out the annoying noises that people make while talking, and we make it easier to see what’s going on in the room with the most advanced speaker tracking and framing, and our built-in production rules. Finally, we are pricing our solutions in a way that completely resets the calculations on what it costs to outfit a room. The Studio X30, for huddle room and smaller spaces, costs just about $2,100, including the Poly TC8 touch controller. All you add is the cloud service and a monitor, and you have a room up and running for under $2,500. That’s easily under the cost of other solutions and with better audio and video quality.

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PRODUCTS AND TECHNOLOGIES, MARKET OUTLOOK

PRNewswire | May 30, 2023

Chevron Lummus Global LLC announced a recent contract award from TAQAT Development Company for a new 75,000 TPA needle coke/synthetic graphite complex in Rabigh, Saudi Arabia. Under the agreement, Chevron Lummus Global will provide pilot plant testing, licensing, basic design, and additional engineering and operations support. The feedstock will be supplied by Rabigh Refining & Petrochemical Company (Petro Rabigh). The grassroots complex will utilize CLG's two-step coking process to convert feedstock streams, which would otherwise be used as fuel oil, into high-quality needle coke, and synthetic graphite. This process helps to reduce environmental impact by repurposing feedstock streams that would otherwise be considered lower-value or waste materials into valuable products, contributing to a more sustainable approach to resource utilization. CLG's proprietary technology is the result of decades of continual refinement and accumulated data from over 60 unit designs and commercial installations. It has proven to be a superior option for converting heavy feedstocks into in-demand products like needle coke and synthetic graphite. This contract award highlights CLG's expertise and leadership in the field of advanced carbon products. About Chevron Lummus Global Chevron Lummus Global (CLG), a joint venture between Chevron U.S.A. Inc. and Lummus Technology, is a leading process technology licensor for refining hydroprocessing technologies and alternative source fuels, as well as a global leader in catalyst system supply. CLG offers the most complete bottom-of-the-barrel solution for upgrading heavy oil residues. Our research and development experts are continuously seeking advancements in technology and catalysts that will improve operating economics for your next project.

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CHEMICAL MANAGEMENT

Globenewswire | June 08, 2023

CollabraTech Solutions a full-service capital equipment company, has announced the latest evolution of its Liquid Chemical Delivery System, which addresses the challenging logistical component lead times facing the market and the pain points experienced by customers designing semiconductor applications. With an industry-leading lead time of just 20 weeks, these state-of-the-art systems set new benchmarks for performance, efficiency, reliability, and flexibility while meeting the evolving needs of the semiconductor industry. "Our approach to the market has always been to find innovative methods to address our customers’ critical challenges," said CollabraTech President Steve Lemons. "With the significant obstacles in the supply chain that continue to impact our industry and continuously evolving process requirements, our flexibility and creativity allow us to support our customers in ways that other equipment suppliers cannot. Our new Liquid Chemical Delivery System offers a compelling proof point for our approach, accelerating time-to-market by 55% and achieving a significant 33% boost in output while concurrently improving sustainability by reducing power consumption and facility needs. These unprecedented capabilities and superior features will redefine how liquid chemicals are delivered, transforming operations and propelling our industry forward." CollabraTech Solutions is committed to pushing boundaries, delivering cutting-edge solutions, and empowering its customers to achieve their goals. Major design benefits that drive the performance improvements of the new Liquid Delivery System include Adding the Siemens S7 family of PLC-based control systems allows for lead time reduction while offering comparable performance, compatibility and ease of integration with existing control systems. Six outlets allow customer to supply more chambers per delivery system reducing the initial capital outlay and on-going maintenance costs. Flexible configurations that deliver chemistries for production and development applications for a variety of deposition and etch processes. Consistent delivery pressures across cannisters eliminates pressure fluctuations inherent in day tank systems, yielding improved vaporizer performance. Auto cross-over and canister refill from the optional Bulk system, enabling the continuous and uninterrupted flow of liquid precursor to the process tools. Increasing canister capacity of up to 38 liters provides extended operational autonomy at the lowest cost per outlet in the industry. CollabraTech Solutions' Liquid Chemical Delivery systems are available now. About CollabraTech Solutions CollabraTech Solutions is a fully integrated engineering and manufacturing solutions company. Drawing on decades of experience in gas and chemical delivery, contract manufacturing, and our proven supply chain networks, the company brings together the optimal resources to provide our customers with creative solutions to their complex, technical challenges in design and manufacturing.

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CHEMICAL MANAGEMENT, MARKET OUTLOOK

Business wire | June 07, 2023

M. Holland Company, a leading international distributor of thermoplastic resins and ancillary materials, today announced a new partnership with Febo S.p.A, an established European distributor of thermoplastic resins and petrochemical products. Under the agreement, Febo will have distribution rights for M. Holland products in Italy, Greece and the Balkans. The partnership extends M. Holland’s commercial reach in Europe, building upon existing business agreements in Ireland and the United Kingdom, along with the company’s recently established commercial office in the Netherlands. The partnership enables M. Holland to bring materials to customers in new regions through Febo’s extensive commercial and logistics network, which includes eight warehouses in Italy and Greece. M. Holland can now offer Mtegrity™, its line of certified producer prime resin, to an expanded network of clients, providing levels of ratability and consistency needed to meet current demands in Europe. “Our partnership with Febo represents a significant milestone in M. Holland’s global growth strategy,” said Steve Armstrong, vice president of international resale at M. Holland. “By joining forces with Febo, we can better support clients located in key European markets. Febo shares our commitment to delivering exceptional service and quality products, which sets the foundations for a continued long-term partnership.” “Febo and M. Holland share mutual goals and align on a strategic business mission in Europe,” said Gian Luca Casarini Elkan, commodities business manager of Febo Group. “Together, we will enhance our offerings, strengthen our relationships with existing and new customers, and drive positive business results.” M. Holland’s Mtegrity™ products hold REACH certification, granted by the European Chemicals Agency, which allows for the distribution of materials across European markets. Febo was founded in 1958 as a business venture by the Ferretti family. The majority shareholder and CEO is now Mr. Carocchi. Over the years, the Company fine-tuned its role, goals and mission. Today Febo operates on behalf of leading companies as a distributor of polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, ABS, SAN, PVC, PET, PC, PA, PMMA and biopolymers. Headquartered in Pistoia, Italy. Febo Group has over €296 million in annual sales and covers Italy and Greece with a senior sellers’ network that manages a customer portfolio of over 2,000 units. Febo caters to its customers’ logistic needs with strategically based warehouses located in the main consumption areas. The company has its own personnel dedicated to technical assistance and developing applications to meet all customer requirements from the main business sectors. ABOUT M. HOLLAND M. Holland is a leading international distributor of thermoplastic resins, providing suppliers with the most strategic channels to market, offering clients innovative sourcing and supply chain solutions, delivering materials that empower sustainable innovation, and helping people lead rewarding careers. Since 1950, a deep commitment to personal relationships and innovation has formed the core of the company’s heritage, culture and vision. Headquartered in Northbrook, Illinois, M. Holland has over $1.5 billion in annual sales, partners with more than 4,000 customers annually, and serves over 70 countries across North America, LATAM, EMEA and Asia. M. Holland has offices located in the U.S., Mexico, Puerto Rico and the Netherlands.

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