Stagwell’s Growth Driven by Digital-first Leadership, Integrated Services, Strategic M&A and Global Expansion

NEW YORK, June 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW), the challenger network built to transform marketing, announced today it has earned a place on the renowned Fortune 1000, an annual list of the 1,000 largest American companies ranked by revenues, as compiled by the American business magazine Fortune. Stagwell, whose GAAP revenue hit nearly $2.7 billion (FY 2022), attributes its growth to:

• Digital acceleration: Stagwell is the only global marketing network with a majority-digital revenue services mix, with 57% of FY22 revenue hailing from “high-growth digital services”
• Global expansion: Through strategic acquisitions, the opening of regional hubs and offices in Asia-Pacific and Latin America, and partnerships with affiliates to fill regional gaps
• Full-network integrated services: Alignment and collaboration among Stagwell’s Anomaly Alliance, Brand Performance Network, Constellation Network, Code and Theory Network, and the Doner Partners Network to win larger pieces of business and service more complex accounts

“Learning about our debut on the Fortune 1000 list while we were having an exceptional turnout and reception to our Sport Beach activation at Cannes Lions, cemented our success as a challenger organization,” said Stagwell Chairman and CEO Mark Penn. “This milestone is a testament to the exceptional work and collaboration of our teams in helping our clients succeed, and I’m proud to be in the company of some of the world’s most notable organizations.”

Stagwell’s business approach – blending data-driven marketing strategies with creative storytelling – has proven successful in the rapidly changing digital landscape. This recognition from Fortune underscores the company’s commitment to its digital-first strategy, offering further validation that Stagwell is challenging conventional approaches to client services.

The Company recently bought back the Class A shares held by AlpInvest Partners (AlpInvest); the original investors in Stagwell Media LP, Mark Penn and Steve Ballmer, have now fully exited AlpInvest from Stagwell Media LP.

About Stagwell
Stagwell is the challenger network built to transform marketing. We deliver scaled creative performance for the world’s most ambitious brands, connecting culture-moving creativity with leading-edge technology to harmonize the art and science of marketing. Led by entrepreneurs, our 13,000+ specialists in 34+ countries are unified under a single purpose: to drive effectiveness and improve business results for their clients. Join us at www.stagwellglobal.com.

Media Contact
Sarah Arvizo
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SOURCE Stagwell Inc.

Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. (NYSE: ARE) has been making impressive strides in the Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) sector. During the first quarter, State of Alaska Department of Revenue raised its stake in Alexandria Real Estate Equities by 7.3%, according to the company’s most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm now owns an impressive 118,823 shares of Alexandria’s stock, which are worth $14.92 million.

The latest dividends for this investment giant will be released on Friday, July 14th, representing yet another milestone for Alexandria Real Estate Equities; it has increased its dividend from $1.21 per share to $1.24 per share – which means that shareholders can expect a consistent annualized yield of 4.33%. Although some investors followed suit with Chairman Joel S Marcus and sold 7500 shares at an average price of $122.20 on Monday May 8th, he still holds a significant number in the company – valued at over $42 million.

This announcement comes with outstanding news for investors who have invested long-term in Alexandria Real Estate Equities stocks which have continued to grow steadily due to well-planned and executed strategic initiatives by management led by CEO & founder, Joel Synder Marcus and Peter Moglia, who serves as CFO along with Alexandra Mieko Stamler serving as their General Counsel.

In conclusion, these achievements indicate that the success of Alexandria Real Estate Equities is tied to strong management practices guiding strategic plans and formidable investor interest evident in consistent dividend payouts. Without a doubt are testaments to why developers looking to lease high-quality real estate buildings should seriously consider Alexandria – leading experts in one-stop-shop solutions that utilize state-of-the-art marketing pledges paired with tailored client maintenance service agreements catering uniquely to each tenant through many different skillsets including project planning and execution; guaranteed leasing services utilizing specialized marketing agents and more.

Hedge Funds Increase Holdings in Alexandria Real Estate Equities Despite Mixed Results

Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. has been making headlines lately with a number of hedge funds modifying their holdings of the stock. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc., American Century Companies Inc., Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc., and HighTower Advisors LLC are among the several hedge funds that have increased their position in Alexandria Real Estate Equities during the first quarter. The real estate investment trust’s stock is currently valued at $114.51, with a market capitalization of $19.81 billion.

Despite these positive developments from hedge funds, there have been some setbacks for Alexandria Real Estate Equities as well. Several analysts have cut their target price on the stock since early 2017, indicating that Alexandria Real Estate Equities may not be living up to expectations. However, Bloomberg reports that one analyst has rated the stock as a sell, while six have given it a buy rating – resulting in a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy,” and a consensus target price of $167.43.

In addition to being the subject of analyst reports, Alexandria Real Estate Equities recently announced an increased quarterly dividend – another factor contributing to speculation around its securities.

Alexandria Real Estate Equities’ financial results for Q1 were mixed, with the company reporting lower-than-expected EPS but higher-than-expected revenue growth from the previous year – leading many investors to be cautiously optimistic about the future prospects of this real estate investment trust.

Given all these developments in recent months surrounding Alexandria Real Estate Equities’ securities and holdings, it will certainly be interesting to see how its management team responds and adjusts moving forward using innovative thinking strategies and techniques in order to maintain its prominent position within the real estate industry.

QUINCY (WGEM) – The Midsummer Arts Faire has returned to its pre-pandemic numbers.

Organizers said over 3,000 people were in attendance over the weekend, including those attending the Blues in the District.

Even with the street festival on Saturday being canceled, Organizers said they were very happy with the turnout.

They added that many of the 50 art vendors reported good sales.

“I think the artists were successful this year and each one has a different idea of success and that can range from hundreds or even range up to the thousands depending on their price of artwork,” said Midsummer Arts Faire Marketing Chair Lana Reed said.

Officials say that they hope to see even more artist vendors next year.

Copyright 2023 WGEM. All rights reserved.

Known for filtering incisive social commentary through the lens of childhood innocence, French artist Julien Malland, a.k.a. Seth Globepainter, has spent the better part of his career capturing the hope and wonder of adolescence. His imaginative characters (previously) appear on walls from Miami to Shanghai and often emerge in places marred by difficulties, including Syrian refugee camps and the bombed streets of the Donbas region in Ukraine.

Titled Seth, On Walls, the artist’s first monograph was published in November and chronicles a decade of resilient, youthful subjects. Enveloped by color and playful optical illusions, the largely faceless figures are introspective and often turn away from the viewer to rest, play with a friend, or look toward a distant, unknown future. Many of the murals contain small, vibrant portals nestled among the gray, urban landscapes, and like the works themselves, the book takes this optimistic approach to offer “a delicate reading of the world in which imagination becomes the cure for all ills.”

Seth, On Walls will be released to U.S. readers in September. Pre-order your copy now, and follow the artist’s latest projects on Instagram.

“Maurice” (2016), Port Luis

2019, Little Haiti, Miami

“In the sky” (2015), Le Port Reunion Island

A 2013 collaboration with Ku2, Kharkiv

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article A New Monograph Traces a Decade of Travel for Seth Globepainter’s Imaginative Characters appeared first on Colossal.

“You only live once” is the expression people often use when making a leap of faith, but that wasn’t the case for Peppi Elona: She had two lives.

The first life started on July 18, 1936, in Paterson, New Jersey, when Isabel Gruber gave birth to Elona “Peppi” Gruber, daughter of Jack Gruber and the sister of Joan. 

The second life ended on May 29, when the Sarasota artist and philanthropist died at her home in Siesta Key.

In her first life, Elona was married to International Business Machines executive Edward Henig for 17 years. They had four children and lived in several places back when IBM was shorthand for “I’ve Been Moved.” 

In her second life, Elona was known as Peppi Elona. She lived in Sarasota for 23 years and was an artist who helped raise the city’s cultural profile.

“Peppi had an innate sense for bold, creative thinking in her artwork and how she lived her life,” said Wendy Surkis, Elona’s wife. “If there was an artwork on display that was out of the ordinary, that was a Peppi piece. Making art and being an inspiration to other artists was very gratifying to her.”

File photo

Although life in Sarasota was a clear line of demarcation between Elona’s two lives, there were bridges connecting them — art and Surkis. 

Even while she was raising kids and being moved around by IBM, Elona found time to pursue her arts education. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Rutgers, a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Washington University in St. Louis and a Master of Arts from Montclair State in New Jersey. 

She met Surkis at the University of Louisville in 1973. During their 47 years together, Surkis was Elona’s classmate, confidante and companion. In 2003, Elona and Surkis were two of 13 founding members of the Sarasota Art Museum, where Surkis became founding president.

Elona’s contributions to the museum’s birth included writing marketing materials and hosting artists and donors in her home. She worked to help transform the historic Sarasota High School building into a contemporary art museum. That happened in 2004, through a partnership with Ringling College of Art and Design. 

Elona also found time to create her own art. The venues that showcased her artwork included Art Center Sarasota, Towles Court Gallery and the Selby Gallery at Ringling College, to name a few local arts institutions. Outside of Sarasota, the Newark Art Museum, the Johnson & Johnson Art Gallery at the health care giant’s New Jersey headquarters and art galleries in New York exhibited Elona’s art. 

In an artist’s statement on her website, VisualInnovator.com, Elona wrote, “As long as I can remember — as far back as my childhood — I have been fascinated by materials, touching them, thinking about them, wondering about their origins and ultimately reimagining them.”

Among the materials that found their way into Elona’s colorful art were fabric, sticks, found objects, yarn, feathers, paper, string and recyclables.

Despite her devotion to the arts, Elona’s first love was her family. She remained friends with Henig after they divorced and helped orchestrate get-togethers for her blended family with Surkis. 

“Peppi was the family’s treasured gift,” said Surkis. “Peppi and Wendy — the Grammas — journeyed with each grandchild to places around the world.”

Elona was buried in Totowa, New Jersey, next to her parents. Surkis asked those who want to honor Elona’s memory make a donation to the Sarasota Art Museum.

A longtime state employee with a background in marketing, management and project planning has been hired as the Downtown Association of Yakima’s new executive director.

Curt Wilson, who relocated to Yakima during the pandemic, was announced as the new DAY leader on Tuesday morning. He will begin his job the first week of July.

“Curt will bring DAY to a new level of operation, and we are excited to have someone of Curt’s experience, energy, and enthusiasm to lead DAY into the future,” said Joe Mann, president of the DAY board of directors, in a news release.

A native of Washington, Wilson has an extensive background in the creative marketing and promotion of businesses, nonprofit event design and management, graphic design, personnel recruitment and performance assessment, and project planning.

He also has experience in building construction and renovation, contract negotiation with public entities, and team building, the news release stated.

Most recently Wilson was employed by the Washington State Employment Security Department, where he has held various supervisory and marketing positions since 2009. Prior to that, he was a senior vice-president for O Bee Credit Union and owned his own marketing firm.

In the news release, Wilson said he looks forward to continuing the development and implementation of a vision for the revitalization of Yakima’s urban core.

“I’ve always enjoyed Yakima. It has such a rich history and culture. Yakima is truly ripe for the picking,” he added. “I am looking forward to partnering with the community to help shape a beautiful and thriving downtown.”

DAY’s first executive director, Andrew Holt, resigned to take a similar job in Lawrence, Kansas, in March. He had served as leader of the downtown Yakima association since May 2017.

The Downtown Association of Yakima is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the revitalization of the downtown core and its historic preservation.

As an accredited member of the Washington Main Street Program, DAY promotes Downtown Yakima through Downtown Summer Nights, Sip n Stroll, Small Business Saturday, and a Fall Chalk Art Festival. It also oversees the Downtown Yakima Farmers Market and will manage the new Rotary Marketplace.

For more information, visit downtownyakima.com.

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Between human beings, racial prejudices shape all kinds of interactions—from which hairstyles are considered professional to who gets to coach professional sports teams. But as more interactions become partially or wholly digital, and as artificial intelligence becomes a more central part of those digital interactions, how might these prejudices and stereotypes translate into the digital environment? How does perceived race affect human interaction with AI—say, when talking to a consumer-help chatbot with a cartoon human avatar?

An interdisciplinary team led by researchers from the George Washington University is exploring the question, and the answers aren’t necessarily what the layperson might expect. In fact, when interacting with three identical chatbots with different racialized cartoon avatars—one white, one Asian and one Black—consumers actually rated the Black avatar highest on scales of competence, warmth and “humanness.” Customers who interacted with the Black bot also reported higher satisfaction levels, the researchers found.

“We had predicted the opposite, because our predictions were based on humans,” said study co-author Vanessa Perry, associate dean for faculty and research and professor of marketing at the GW School of Business. Perry and Nils Olsen, assistant professor of organizational sciences in the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, are coauthors of “I’m Only Human?: The Role of Racial Stereotypes, Humanness, and Satisfaction in Transactions with Anthropomorphic Sales Bots,” published this year in the Journal of the Association for Consumer Research. (Their coauthors from other institutions are Nicole Davis of the University of Georgia, Marcus Stewart of Bentley University and Tiffany White of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.)

In the study, participants engaged in a simulated booking of a several-day trip to New York City with the goal of negotiating the best possible price for their stay. The bot they interacted with was functionally identical across all participant groups, but the avatar representing it was stylized with three different color schemes—one suggesting a Black character, one Asian and one white. After the interaction, researchers asked participants about their perceptions of the avatar and how they felt about the negotiation and its outcome.

According to existing stereotype research, Black people are generally perceived as lower in both competence and warmth than white and Asian people. Yet consumers interacting with the bot reported the opposite. Part of that mismatch might be due to an effect known as “expectancy violation,” Perry and Olsen said.

“Stereotypes cause us to form particular expectations, and when some cue or some signal is not consistent with those expectations, then it can cause a more extreme and opposing reaction to the expectation,” Perry explained. “It is still relatively rare to have Black males in positions of negotiation representing corporations—that’s just the demographic reality of that—and there’s some evidence suggesting that when you find people in unexpected roles, then this can cause stereotypes to flip.” Because Black bots are more unusual or unexpected in an AI setting, then, their mere digital presence may increase perceptions of competence and humanness.

An element of status might also play into this particular expectancy violation. Since this bot represented the owner of a short-term rental property, participants might have inferred that they were speaking with a homeowner. If participants considered Black people less likely to own property, expectancy violation would suggest they might be particularly impressed by this “homeowning” bot.

Olsen and Perry said their next step will be to expand their study of the different demographic factors that could play into AI perception, expanding from race to gender and even educational background. Would consumers be more impressed by a bot avatar wearing a Harvard t-shirt than one rocking state university colors? The field is a rich one, especially as more companies incorporate AI into consumer-facing roles.

While the internet once seemed to provide a level demographic playing field—one in which socioeconomic status, race, gender, age and other areas of bias were not so legible—companies are now “strategically reintroducing” certain demographic characteristics, Olsen pointed out. And the implications of that are still unknown. If consumers tend to trust AI more when associated with a Black character, will companies start to introduce more Black chatbots? If they do, does that have implications for the treatment of Black people? Does satisfaction with a corporate bot translate into respect for a human being who shares its racialized characteristics?

Whatever the case, Olsen and Perry suspect that as bots become more widely used, human interaction—and human decision-making—are likely to become luxurious amenities rather than baseline expectations. And that might be concerning.

“The human is still the last bastion of being able to make very creative, unique judgments that can bring a lot of complex dynamics into play and understand all kinds of social contexts,” Olsen said. And as digital and human spaces become more and more interconnected, “it becomes way, way more important that we continue to have flexible, diverse, dynamic human beings somewhere in that food chain.”

The George Washington University is at the forefront of artificial intelligence research, from professors who explore the technology’s use in the classroom to thinkers examining the promise and challenge of an AI-integrated future. In May, GW’s status as a leader in the field was cemented by its selection as co-lead institution of the National Science Foundation’s $20 million Institute for Trustworthy AI in Law and Society (TRAILS). Follow GW Today for more stories on how this technology of the future is part of the university’s present.