Latest news with #Convene
Business Wire
4 days ago
- Health
- Business Wire
PursueCare to Showcase Digital-First Addiction Treatment and Collaborative Care Models at 2025 Behavioral Health Business Addiction Treatment Forum in Chicago
MIDDLETOWN, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- PursueCare, a virtual clinic for substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, will participate in a panel exploring partnerships and strategies for integrated, whole-person care models in behavioral health at the 2025 Behavioral Health Business (BHB) Addiction Treatment Forum in Chicago, Ill., on July 17, 2025, at Convene (311 W Monroe). The forum also spotlights current investment and operational trends shaping the addiction treatment industry. Available across Connecticut, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maine, Ohio, and West Virginia, PursueCare delivers comprehensive, virtual-first SUD care that bridges the gaps in access and continuity of care. Share Nicholas Mercadante, Founder and CEO of PursueCare, will join the expert panel titled 'Who's at Quarterback? Ensuring Smooth SUD Handoffs and Building the Partnership Playbook,' slated for 11:30 a.m. CDT. Mercadante will discuss the critical importance of integrated care models and effective handoffs in SUD treatment, drawing on his experience leading a tech-enabled platform designed to meet patients where they are—with convenience, compassion, and clinical excellence. As a former healthcare attorney turned entrepreneur, Mercadante founded PursueCare with a mission to dismantle barriers to addiction treatment by leveraging technology, innovative care delivery, and cross-sector partnerships. Under his leadership, PursueCare has become a leading voice in redefining how providers, payors, and care networks collaborate to treat SUDs holistically. 'Everyone of us at PursueCare is committed to value-based care, our team is dedicated to serving patients in need and shaping industry standards around quality, accessibility, and equity.' Innovation in Action: How PursueCare Is Transforming Addiction Treatment PursueCare delivers comprehensive, virtual-first SUD care that bridges the gaps in access and continuity of care. Available across Connecticut, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maine, Ohio, and West Virginia, the platform offers: Multidisciplinary care teams include addiction medicine providers, counselors, psychiatrists, and pharmacists. FDA-authorized digital therapeutics — RESET ® and RESET-O ® —that support recovery 24/7 through interactive cognitive behavioral therapy. Integrated pharmacy and lab services through PursueCareRx, enabling seamless medication management and compliance monitoring. Flexible access through a HIPAA-compliant app with support for both scheduled and on-demand visits. Broad insurance acceptance, including Medicare, Medicaid, and most private plans. Mercadante will share the virtual clinic's approach to forging strong partnerships with health systems, employers, and value-based care organizations—offering seamless care coordination, real-time engagement, and outcome-driven models that empower both patients and partners. He'll be joined by fellow industry pioneers Jamie Vinck, President of Meadows Behavioral Health; Beth Keeney, CEO of LifeSpring Health Systems; and Dr. Ayesha Appa, Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. The BHB Forum will offer behavioral health professionals the opportunity to connect, collaborate, and learn from leaders and innovators across the industry. Attendees will include behavioral health professionals, investors, creators, and a range of vendors and service providers. About PursueCare PursueCare provides personalized virtual addiction treatment for individuals across states (CT, KY, MA, ME, OH, and WV). Our mission is to increase access to chronic care through telehealth. Patients engage with a multi-disciplinary team providing medical care, counseling, psychiatry, and pharmacy. FDA-authorized digital cognitive behavioral therapy, RESET ® and RESET-O ®, supports recovery 24/7. We accept private insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid. For full disclaimers please visit .
New York Post
18-06-2025
- Business
- New York Post
3C Venture's Michael Kassan talks media M&A and how to survive the long days and nights at Cannes Lions
Michael Kassan, the unofficial King of Cannes, is back at Cannes with his new company, 3C Ventures. The founder and Chief Executive of the strategic advisory firm has been coming to Cannes Lions for 25 years – which is nearly one-third of the conference's 72-year existence. 3CV kicked off Cannes with its inaugural Convene dinner hosted by 3C Ventures, iHeartMedia, Disney at Louroc restaurant at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes Monday night. It was followed by Convene After Dark, an after-party, hosted by iHeartMedia, 3C Ventures, Condé Nast, which took place at a newly-constructed venue on the hotel's property, giving two big events to start the festival. The company has also launched 3CV Plage, a new space on the beach where marketers, media execs and advertisers are discussing some of the biggest issues facing the industry throughout the week. 7 Michael Kassan at Sport Beach. Ella Pellegrini 7 Seth Dallaire, Walmart, Elery Pfeffer, Nift Networks, Michael Kassan, CEO, 3C Ventures pictured together. Gary Morrisroe / 3C Ventures Kassan spoke to The Post from Stagwell's Sport Beach Tuesday about how the conference has evolved, what's on the horizon for the media and advertising industries and how to survive the long, hot days and raucous, booze-filled nights of Cannes Lions. Q: I was at 3CV's executive dinner and your party last night. Please tell me more about your new company, 3CV, and what you have planned for this week in Cannes? Michael Kassan: We had some fun last night, and 3C in its inaugural visit here to the Cannes Lions, kicked it off, I think, the way we like to with all of our friends and partners and a good cross-section of this industry. And the way I always describe Cannes Lions is the intersection of marketing, media, advertising, entertainment, sports, and technology. I think, you know, the Latin I learned when I was in law school many, many, many, years ago was 'recipes loquitur,' which in Latin says it speaks for itself. So all one need do is look around on the Croisette and I think it speaks for itself. 7 Michael Kassan speaks to The Post. Ella Pellegrini Q: How did you think last night went? Will you do the same thing next year? Have you had a chance to even think about it? MK: I think we changed it up a bit. I've been coming to the Cannes Lions for about a quarter of a century now. My first visit here was 25 years ago, so I guess that's not about a quarter of a century. I was good at math. That is a quarter century. It's changed dramatically, and I think you always have to iterate. The tongue-in-cheek joke is, I guess, in Cannes, Monday is the new Tuesday. 7 Michael Kassan discusses Cannes Lions and how it's evolved. Ella Pellegrini Q: How has Cannes Lions evolved over the years? MK: It's interesting. When I showed up, kind of accidentally, my wife and I were on holiday, we'd always been in this part of the world in the third week of June, coincidentally, for, you know, 35 years. And one day I was sitting at the pool at our hotel and it was a moment like Dorothy in 'The Wizard of Oz.' When, if you remember, of course you do, when she woke up and said, and you were there, and you are there, and you're there looking at all the farm hands, which turned out to be the, you know, the characters. And I was sitting at the pool and I saw a bunch of folks from the creative side of the industry. And at that time, I was running what was then the largest media agency in the world. And I only say that to underscore the surprise when I said to them: 'Why are you all here?' And I turned to my wife and said: 'Why don't we go into Cannes tomorrow and check out this thing?' And I got here and this was and it continues to be a celebration of creativity. I think if I'm able to say this with a bit of immodesty. I think what I did was I saw the opportunity to build a conference around the Festival of Creativity. What I learned … is there are events that are conferences or [there are] festivals and they're different. And I understand the nuance now. And if you look around the Croisette, as I said earlier, it's clearly a conference. And that conference still surrounds a celebration of creativity. I think Cannes Lions today is the perfect intersection of everything coming together at one time. It is probably the most efficient week of the year because everyone's here that you want to see. And there's always the answer that you get from people when they say, well, 'I could see you in New York, I could see you in LA, I can see you Cleveland,' but you don't. And here it's a forcing function. 7 Dinner at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Rock. Gary Morrisroe / 3C Ventures Q: What kinds of issues are you talking about at Plage CV this week? What are marketers really focused on this year? MK: There are probably four main issues this year. AI is overwhelmingly the number one topic on everyone's mind. Up and down the Croisette and it's from every aspect just how is it going to play [out in your business] and what's going to happen? What does this do to labor? What does this do to the way I do what I do? It's the technology of yes because it will impact everything we do in every aspect of our life number one so the top issue would clearly be that. I think the second issue is the emergence of what many call retail media networks what I've started to call commerce media networks because they're no longer the province of just retailers. When you have companies like Lyft and Uber and Chase Bank and Best Buy. Best Buy is a retailer so you could call it a retail media network but it's based on commerce. Third is clearly the emergence of the influencer and the creator economy. [The fourth topic], I think is the M&A market and what's going to happen as we are waiting for the Omnicom IPG merger to close, God willing, and I Ihink there'll be more to come. The holding company landscape, I suspect, will not look the same at Cannes 2026. 7 Michael Kassan, CEO of 3C Ventures, Bob Pittman, CEO of iHeartMedia, Musician Questlove, and Rich Bressler, Chief Financial officer of iHeartMedia, attend the iHeartMedia, 3C Ventures and Conde Nast after party. Getty Images for iHeartMedia Q: How will the Skydance-Paramount merger impact the media landscape, assuming it happens? MK: Well, it already has. Paramount's already made some decisions on who their media partners are going to be. That was announced about two weeks ago, so we're already seeing some impact there, and that's even prior to this deal closing, which hopefully it will. And I think once that deal closes, and I do believe it will and I think it should, I think that it will unlock massive changes in the streaming marketplace. I just think the way you've got WarnerBros. Discovery having spun off the cable assets and Comcast having spun off its cable assets…it readies you for different kinds of transactions and I do think once the Skydance Paramount deal closes, you'll see a lot more activity in that regard because like commerce media networks. I've always subscribed. To a philosophy that if you find circumstances where you can use the following three words in a sentence in the right way, someone will make money. And those three words are consolidation, fragmentation, and efficiency. If you can find me a fragmented circumstance that can be made more efficient through consolidation, someone will do well. If you look across the landscape today with the emerging commerce media or retail media networks, there's too many of them. I think there'll be consolidation. I look at the streaming situation exactly the same. So, I think you'll see some of the streamers come together. And I think the Paramount deal is an unlock for that. 7 From left to right: Michael Kassan, CEO of 3C Ventures, Bob Pittman, CEO of iHeartMedia, Musician Questlove, and Rich Bressler, Chief Financial officer of iHeartMedia. Getty Images for iHeartMedia Q: As a Cannes veteran, what are your tips for people going through this week? How do you be efficient while surviving the grind of going to all of these events late at night and getting up in the morning for meetings and panels? MK: It's really hard, but what I've always told my teams when we hit the ground at the beginning of Cannes, part of my game day speech to the team has always been that glass of rosé in your hand is merely a prop. It's not there for you to drink. It's there for you to hold and be social. That's the best lesson I can give you, number one. Number two, dress light, it gets really hot, and take it all in. Smell the roses, make sure you take it all in. Do spend time looking at the work because at its core, the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, is around the work.
Business Wire
16-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Wrike Takes Center Stage at Creative Operations Summit with CMO Keynote on the Future of AI-Driven Enterprise Workflows
SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Wrike, the intelligent work management platform, today announced its Diamond Sponsorship of the Creative Operations Summit New York 2025, taking place on June 17th at Convene in Midtown Manhattan. As part of this premier industry gathering, Christine Royston, Chief Marketing Officer at Wrike, will take the main stage at 9:45 AM ET to deliver a keynote address titled 'The Human Edge: Scaling Creative Ops in the Age of AI Agents.' This keynote session will explore how Wrike is helping enterprise organizations reimagine creative operations at scale, where AI agents, intelligent workflows, and human creativity intersect to deliver brand-safe innovation with clarity, speed, and purpose. 'At Wrike, we're not just automating workflows — we're orchestrating intelligent systems that amplify human creativity,' said Christine Royston, Chief Marketing Officer, Wrike. 'This keynote is about showing teams of all sizes what's possible when AI and AI agents accelerate clarity, not just output. Creative operations is a brand amplifier, a revenue driver, and a force for innovation. And when you give creative leaders the right systems, they don't just deliver faster — they deliver with purpose.' As enterprise brands focus on scaling creative production, teams are being challenged to deliver more content, faster — without compromising brand consistency or campaign impact. Christine's keynote will unveil how Wrike's internal marketing organization leverages real-world AI agents, operational frameworks, and intelligent dashboards to resolve creative bottlenecks, reduce rework, and orchestrate workflows across functions — all while preserving the creative integrity that drives brand impact. Keynote attendees will gain: A blueprint for reclaiming time across teams through AI-augmented workflows Strategies for using AI and AI agents to accelerate approvals, enhance visibility, and eliminate duplication A behind-the-scenes look at Wrike's human-first approach to creative operations Tangible frameworks to protect brand integrity and scale creative output across enterprise environments Wrike will be exhibiting at Booth 13 throughout the day and invites attendees to stop by for live platform demos and conversations with the Wrike team. The company is also the official sponsor of the Networking Reception at 5:00 p.m., offering more opportunities to connect with peers and explore the future of creative operations in an AI-accelerated world. Wrike's presence at the Creative Operations Summit underscores its continued investment in helping enterprise companies scale creative delivery, orchestrate cross-functional workflows, and build AI-accelerated systems that empower teams — without sacrificing authenticity or control. About Wrike Wrike is an intelligent work management platform where anyone can build, connect, automate, and scale workflows so work flows without limits. With unmatched intelligence, versatility, flexibility, scalability, and security, Wrike breaks down the barriers that hinder modern work and creates new pathways to success. More than 20,000 customers do the best work of their lives on Wrike. Find out how work flows at
Business Times
02-06-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Azeus Systems shares surge 16.6% as earnings, dividends double
[SINGAPORE] Shares of Azeus Systems jumped as much as 16.6 per cent on Monday (Jun 2), after the company reported a surge in net profits. The counter hit a high of S$14.52 at 10.59am, up S$2.07 from its closing price of S$12.45 on May 30. As at 3.20 pm, the counter had eased to S$14.27 – still up 14.6 per cent – with 13,800 shares transacted. The net profit of the IT solutions and products provider more than doubled to HK$118.1 million (S$19.4 million) for the second half-year ended March, from HK$57.6 million in the corresponding year-ago period. Its revenue for its second half rose 56 per cent to HK$305.5 million. The latest results brings Azeus' full-year net profit up 96 per cent to HK$166.9 million, and its full-year revenue up 44 per cent to HK$474.8 million. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up The company said in a bourse filing that 83 per cent of its revenue for FY2025 came from its range of software and IT solutions, Azeus Products; the revenue from this line alone rose 55 per cent. The increase was driven by higher contributions from the group's proprietary products – Convene and Convene Records – as well as implementation services revenue under its CERKS (Central Electronic Record Keeping System) contract. Revenue from Hong Kong and Asia rose 61 per cent to HK$301.7 million in FY2025. The growth was primarily attributed to the recognition of revenue from the CERKS project, which is now in the deployment phase. Looking ahead, the group hopes to broaden its geographical reach and continue investing in the development of its new ESG reporting platform, said Michael Yap, the company's chief executive officer. The board has proposed a final dividend of HK$3.90 a share for the latest period. Together with an interim dividend of HK$1.60 per share paid out in February for H1, this brings the group's total dividend for FY2025 to HK$5.50 a share. The group previously paid out a total dividend of HK$2.80 a share for FY2024, comprising an interim dividend of HK$0.90 a share and a final dividend of HK$1.90 a share.
Skift
29-05-2025
- Business
- Skift
How Convene's Full-Service Approach Streamlines Event Planning
With timelines shrinking and attendee expectations rising, meeting planners are seeking out venues to eliminate friction at every turn. Convene's vertically integrated model sets the benchmark for the next generation of all-in-one event spaces. As the events industry evolves, planners are under increasing pressure to deliver seamless, high-impact experiences while juggling tighter timelines and higher expectations. In this environment, the traditional model of coordinating multiple vendors — caterers, tech teams, designers, and more — can quickly become a logistical challenge. That's why there's a growing shift toward fully integrated venues that simplify planning, anticipate challenges, and keep the focus on delivering meaningful content. One company at the forefront of this shift is Convene. Since its founding in 2009, Convene has grown into a global portfolio of hospitality brands with a network of purpose-built spaces designed to remove friction from every stage of the event planning process. 'We were founded to provide a better meeting and event experience,' said James Frankis, Convene's senior vice president of product. 'Each venue within our global portfolio has been intentionally designed to serve this need.' With all services managed in-house, ranging from culinary and technology support to design and hospitality, Convene empowers planners to stay focused on their goals, not vendor logistics. This holistic approach is reflected in every aspect of the experience — from thoughtfully curated food and beverage programs to adaptable environments, embedded technology, and a hospitality-first mindset — all working together to simplify execution and elevate every event. Crafting Thoughtful Eats for Energized Meetings At Convene, food is viewed as a vital driver of human connection — not just a meal but a strategic part of the meeting experience. Menus are created biannually by a global executive chef task force, rooted in fresh, locally sourced ingredients selected to energize attendees without weighing them down. 'No hospitality experience is complete without food,' said Ryan Gallagher, senior director of food and beverage at Convene. 'It's what's at the heart of bringing people together.' Every venue has an on-site executive chef, and the company partners with local farms to deliver peak-season produce and proteins. On the East Coast, for example, Convene sources chicken from La Belle Farms, a vertically integrated farm that raises its own birds and grows its own feed. This commitment to local sourcing keeps food quality high, supports regional economies, and reduces environmental impact. Meals are thoughtfully composed around what Convene calls 'Perfect Plates:' bite-sized servings balanced with vegetables, proteins, starches, and bright herbs. 'Our 'Perfect Plates' can be easily consumed no matter where you are at an event,' Gallagher said. 'The goal is to provide nourishment that sustains energy and conversation, not slow it down.' Credit :Courtesy of Convene. photo: Julia Small Photography Delivering Nourishing Food Experiences On-Site Convene's Nourish snack and beverage bars extend this food philosophy beyond meals, following an 80/20 principle that combines standardized favorites with 20% regionally inspired specialties. Local partnerships include Afficionado Coffee on the East Coast, Dark Matter Coffee in Chicago, and Equator Coffees, a woman-owned, B Corp-certified roaster in San Francisco. The company has also reimagined the traditional buffet. Instead of static lines of warming trays, guests encounter dynamic multi-station setups that encourage movement, spontaneity, and conversation. Menus are fully customizable to suit groups of five to 1,500 guests and offer a wide range of options, including vegan, gluten-free, and other specialty diets. With so many possibilities, the team sees each menu as an opportunity to be both inclusive and inventive. 'We want to create moments of culinary delight, bringing exotic touches to familiar foods and making global flavors more approachable in unexpected new ways,' Gallagher said. Convene Nourish. Credit: Courtesy of Convene Deploying Smart Technology to Power Seamless Events Technology is critical to delivering flawless meeting or event experiences. That's why Convene integrates a sophisticated audiovisual (AV) system into every venue, providing robust support without the need for outside vendors. 'AV is critical to the success of any event,' Frankis said. 'We have built all necessary technology into each venue and manage it in-house to ensure seamless experiences.' Each location's infrastructure supports everything from simple video conferencing setups to sophisticated hybrid productions. Enhancements like wireless microphones, high-definition projectors, and LED welcome screens are available to personalize and elevate events. 'Having AV experts embedded within our teams means we can respond quickly to any client need, ensuring that technology enhances the event rather than becoming a point of stress,' Frankis said. This tightly managed approach to tech removes friction, giving planners peace of mind that every detail — whether a keynote presentation or a panel livestream — is supported by professionals who know the venue inside and out. Credit: Courtesy of Convene. photo: Studio Khonsu. Applying Client-Centric Design for Every Occasion Convene's approach to design is built around flexibility and client empowerment. Venues are intentionally created to support a wide range of event types, with modular layouts and movable walls that allow planners to expand, contract, or reconfigure spaces easily. 'Flexibility of space is incredibly important when serving the events industry,' Frankis said. 'We design our spaces to adapt quickly and seamlessly to the planner's needs.' Rather than imposing a heavy-handed visual identity, Convene's venues offer a sophisticated yet understated backdrop. This design ethos allows clients to bring their own branding, culture, and energy into the space, creating a truly customized experience. 'It's your brand, not ours,' Frankis emphasized. Local design influences add to the richness of each venue, such as nods to San Francisco's iconic 'Karl the Fog' weather at Convene 100 Stockton or references to London's Elizabethan architecture at Convene Sancroft, St. Paul's. Sustainability also plays a role, with energy-efficient LED lighting and eco-conscious operational practices embedded throughout the portfolio. Elevating Every Moment With Full-Service Hospitality Exceptional service is the thread that ties Convene's full-service model together. Most team members, from event coordinators to leadership, come from prestigious hospitality brands like Waldorf Astoria, Four Seasons, Jamie Oliver Restaurants, and Selfridges. 'Our hospitality DNA informs everything we do,' Frankis said. 'This translates into warm welcomes, anticipatory service, and polished execution that consistently exceeds planner and guest expectations. Every event, regardless of size, is an opportunity to deliver a concierge-level experience.' To further support planners, Convene developed the Convene Enhancement Program — a curated network of preferred third-party vendors. Every enhancement partner has been vetted for quality, operational efficiency, and familiarity with Convene spaces, from live musicians and DJs to florists, roaming oyster shuckers, and portrait artists. Rather than navigating multiple contracts and invoices, planners working within the Enhancement Program benefit from streamlined coordination and a single, convenient invoice, saving time and minimizing stress. 'By working with trusted partners, we offer planners more efficiency and peace of mind. They get the benefit of our relationships and pricing, plus just one invoice for the entire event,' Frankis said. Credit: Courtesy of Convene. photo: Studio Khonsu A Holistic Approach to Memorable Gatherings In an industry where complexity often hinders creativity, success is no longer just about logistics — it's about creating moments that matter. Convene's integrated model is designed to support that shift with thoughtful service and flexible tools. As Frankis puts it: 'We've seen clients putting more thought into creating an engaging experience and generating ROI — 'return on interaction.'' When connection becomes the goal, that shift in focus may be the real measure of success. To learn more about Convene and inquire about a booking program, click here. This content was created collaboratively by Convene and Skift's branded content studio, SkiftX.
