Category: Partners

Founders Dr. Anatoly and Oksana Ripa bring their patient-focused approach and modern dental care to new communities in North Miami-Dade.

MIAMI, FL / ACCESS Newswire / August 26, 2025 / Smile Creators, a boutique dental practice founded by Dr. Anatoly Ripa and Oksana Ripa, has officially expanded with a new clinic in Sunny Isles Beach, and a third location is coming soon to Aventura. With their flagship office in Bay Harbor Islands already serving a diverse Miami clientele, this expansion marks an exciting new chapter for one of the region’s most innovative dental brands. Dr. Ripa, a graduate of Stony Brook University with over 27 years of experience in the field, is known for his personalized approach to aesthetic and restorative dentistry. Fluent in English, Russian, and Ukrainian, he has built long-term relationships with patients across the Bal Harbour and North Miami areas. Alongside him, Oksana Ripa has helped shape Smile Creators into a recognizable name – developing a patient experience that blends hospitality, precision care, and community connection.

The expansion into Sunny Isles Beach reflects a growing demand for access to personalized, high-quality dental care delivered in a calming and modern environment. The upcoming Aventura office, set to open later this year, will extend the practice’s reach even further into North Miami-Dade.

“Our goal has always been to make patients feel confident, cared for, and in control of their health,” said Dr. Anatoly Ripa. “Every new space we create reflects that vision.”

Technology plays a central role in the Smile Creators’ vision. Each location incorporates modern diagnostic tools and workflow systems that support efficient, individualized treatment. The clinical environment – designed under the creative direction of Oksana Ripa – also avoids the traditional feel of a dental office, opting instead for a relaxed, spa-like atmosphere that helps patients feel at ease.

While many patients visit Smile Creators for cosmetic improvements, the clinic maintains a full-scope dental approach that supports oral health at every stage of life. As the practice continues to grow, its core values remain centered on trust, transparency, and a commitment to long-term results.

The Smile Creators team continues to connect with patients both in-person and online. For more information about their services or to schedule a consultation, visit www.smilecreators.com or follow the clinic’s official Instagram at @smilecreators_miami for updates, behind-the-scenes content, and news on the upcoming Aventura launch.

“We’re proud to grow with the communities we serve,” said Oksana Ripa. “For us, expansion isn’t just about more locations – it’s about deeper relationships with the people who walk through our doors.”

In addition to its clinical services, Smile Creators is known for its bold branding – from its signature yellow vehicle seen across Miami to its stylish clinic interiors and strong social media identity. The brand’s connection to the city remains a central part of its success story.

The Sunny Isles Beach location is now open to patients. The Aventura office is currently in development, with a grand opening expected later this year.

Contact:

VUGA Media Group
Miami, FL
Alice Bay
contact@vugamediagroup.com

SOURCE: VUGA Media Group

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / August 26, 2025 / The global push for plastics circularity has reached its inflection point. And on the right side of that shift are Singapore and its ASEAN peers, who are proving that accountability, transparency, and material efficiency are more than ideals; they are levers of economic return. At the center of this transformation is SMX (NASDAQ:SMX), whose molecular-to-digital toolbox is quickly becoming the de facto standard for measurable sustainability.

The latest proof comes from a new collaboration with Bio-Packaging Pte Ltd, a Singapore-based leader in PCR, biodegradable, and compostable solutions. This alliance carries weight far beyond the region because it demonstrates how sustainability can be embedded at the point of production and turned into verifiable, tradable value across the entire lifecycle of a product.

Better still, that value is immutable. By embedding SMX’s invisible molecular marker directly into Bio-Packaging’s extrusion lines, every unit, whether bag, film, or wrapper, creates its own tamper-proof digital record. That turns packaging into evidence regulators can certify, brands can defend, and consumers can trust. What once was only a claim now becomes a certified asset, carrying value across every stage of the supply chain.

SMX Is Stacking Its Wins

This is not an isolated win. It builds on earlier milestones with Aegis Packaging, where SMX’s technology transformed barrier coatings into self-verifying infrastructure, and Skypac Packaging, which brought full traceability to PP, OPP, HDPE, and LDPE lines. Taken together, these partnerships are stitching SMX directly into ASEAN’s industrial fabric. What began as innovation is now becoming infrastructure-proof embedded at scale, across substrates, without relying on third-party audits.

That foundation is why Singapore is emerging as the launchpad for something bigger. The nation consumes nearly a million tonnes of plastic each year, with 94% still incinerated. Redirecting just a third of that waste into verified recycling loops would avoid more than S$27 million in disposal costs while unlocking S$75 million in certified resin value. In practical terms, Singapore is showing that material efficiency is not just an environmental mandate but an economic engine.

The timing is no accident. Global leaders recently convened at the UN Plastics Treaty negotiations, where more than 150 nations wrestled with issues ranging from production caps to recycling quotas. Agreement proved elusive, but the urgency was unmistakable. Those discussions revealed both the depth of global commitment and the difficulty of forging consensus. What is missing is a mechanism to unify ambition with action.

SMX Bridges The UN Plastics Treaty Divide

That mechanism now exists. SMX’s platform of molecular traceability, digitally-backed verification, and tokenized incentives is the toolbox that turns policy debates into operational reality. Producers can prove recycled content. Retailers can substantiate packaging claims. Regulators can enforce compliance with digital certainty. Investors and consumers can assign real value to verified performance. The most crucial part is that SMX doesn’t replace institutions’ motives or missions; it empowers them by giving every stakeholder the proof they need to participate with confidence.

And proof leads directly to profit. Through SMX’s Global Plastics Passport and its Plastic Cycle Token (PCT), every verified unit of material becomes more than packaging; it becomes a financial instrument. Moreover, companies that adopt the SMX system are not shouldering compliance costs; they are creating tradable assets. Circularity becomes currency, and the more a business engages in verified recycling and sustainable practices, the more measurable value it generates.

That shift is why ASEAN’s leadership matters so much. By embedding SMX’s technological toolbox into the heart of its packaging supply chains, the region is showing how fast policy can translate into practice. Circularity doesn’t have to wait for the perfect treaty or unanimous vote. It can be implemented today, with results that make the economics undeniable. What ASEAN is pioneering becomes a template others will follow, whether in Europe, the U.S., or beyond.

Momentum now tells the story best. Three strategic wins in Singapore in just months-spanning biodegradable films, barrier coatings, and flexible plastics-all point to the same conclusion: the future belongs to systems that can verify, price, and profit from sustainability. SMX is creating that system, and its ASEAN footprint is proving that the next chapter of circularity won’t be written in pledges or pilots…it will be written in proof.

About SMX

As global businesses face new and complex challenges relating to carbon neutrality and meeting new governmental and regional regulations and standards, SMX is able to offer players along the value chain access to its marking, tracking, measuring and digital platform technology to transition more successfully to a low-carbon economy.

Forward-Looking Statements

The information in this press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “intends,” “may,” “will,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “would” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements in this press release may include, for example: successful launch and implementation of SMX’s joint projects with manufacturers and other supply chain participants of steel, rubber, plastic and other materials; changes in SMX’s strategy, future operations, financial position, estimated revenues and losses, projected costs, prospects and plans; SMX’s ability to develop and launch new products and services, including its planned Plastic Cycle Token; SMX’s ability to successfully and efficiently integrate future expansion plans and opportunities; SMX’s ability to grow its business in a cost-effective manner; SMX’s product development timeline and estimated research and development costs; the implementation, market acceptance and success of SMX’s business model; developments and projections relating to SMX’s competitors and industry; and SMX’s approach and goals with respect to technology. These forward-looking statements are based on information available as of the date of this press release, and current expectations, forecasts and assumptions, and involve a number of judgments, risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing views as of any subsequent date, and no obligation is undertaken to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. As a result of a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, actual results or performance may be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Some factors that could cause actual results to differ include: the ability to maintain the listing of the Company’s shares on Nasdaq; changes in applicable laws or regulations; the ability to implement business plans, forecasts, and other expectations, and identify and realize additional opportunities; the risk of downturns and the possibility of rapid change in the highly competitive industry in which SMX operates; the risk that SMX and its current and future collaborators are unable to successfully develop and commercialize SMX’s products or services, or experience significant delays in doing so; the risk that the Company may never achieve or sustain profitability; the risk that the Company will need to raise additional capital to execute its business plan, which may not be available on acceptable terms or at all; the risk that the Company experiences difficulties in managing its growth and expanding operations; the risk that third-party suppliers and manufacturers are not able to fully and timely meet their obligations; the risk that SMX is unable to secure or protect its intellectual property; the possibility that SMX may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; and other risks and uncertainties described in SMX’s filings from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

EMAIL: info@securitymattersltd.com

SOURCE: SMX (Security Matters) Public Limited

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

SAVANNAH, GEORGIA / ACCESS Newswire / August 26, 2025 / JCB North America (JCB), a leader in construction equipment innovation and manufacturing, today announced its partnership with the National Hispanic Contractors Association (NAHICA), reinforcing its commitment to advancing Hispanic participation, leadership, and entrepreneurship in U.S. construction.

“The Hispanic contractor community plays a vital role in building America’s infrastructure,” said Marc André Dubois, Vice President Marketing of JCB North America. “Our collaboration with NAHICA reflects JCB’s deep-rooted commitment to empowering diverse entrepreneurs by providing access to the innovative equipment, training, and flexible financing solutions. We’re proud to support this hardworking community as they lift higher, reach further and dig deeper to shape the future of construction.”

Through this sponsorship, JCB and NAHICA will work to expand access to business development resources, technical training, business financing alternatives and mentorship for Hispanic contractors nationwide.

NAHICA President Sergio Terreros added: “JCB’s involvement is a powerful step forward for our members. Together, we’re creating pathways for Hispanic-owned businesses to thrive, generate jobs, and strengthen the construction industry nationwide.”

The partnership with NAHICA follows JCB’s recent announcement regarding its plans to double the size of its facility being constructed in San Antonio, Texas, to one million square feet. This major expansion underscores JCB’s long-term commitment to U.S. manufacturing and job creation, particularly in a region with a strong and growing Hispanic workforce.

About JCB North America

JCB is a family company founded on October 23, 1945, and is now one of the world’s largest privately owned manufacturers of construction, agricultural and defense equipment, with 22 factories around the world. JCB North America currently employs more than 1,000 people and operates out of its headquarters in Savannah, Georgia. JCB recently began work on a new $500 million factory in San Antonio, Texas, the biggest investment in its history. JCB’s North American division also has regional offices in San Antonio, Texas; Santa Monica, California; and Miami, Florida. JCB manufactures a range of more than 300 products for customers in 150 countries. JCB products include telescopic handlers, backhoe loaders, tracked and wheeled excavators, wheel loaders, compact excavators, skid steer loaders, compact track loaders, aerial work platforms, rough terrain forklifts, and Fastrac tractors. For more information, visit www.jcb.com

About the National Hispanic Contractors Association (NAHICA)

Founded in 2008, the National Hispanic Contractors Association (NAHICA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the growth, professional development, and leadership of Hispanic contractors within the construction industry. NAHICA provides advocacy, certification support, networking, and educational opportunities to Hispanic-owned businesses across the United States.

JCB Media Contact
Sylvester Palacios, Jr.
Pierpont Communications
spalacios@piercom.com
210-951-3313

NAHICA Media Contact
Sergio Terreros
sergio@nahica.org
832-650-0001

SOURCE: National Hispanic Contractors Association

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

The Live Wildly Showcase concert will raise funds for conservation while connecting people to Florida’s wild places

SAINT AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA / ACCESS Newswire / August 26, 2025 / Live Wildly is partnering with Sing Out Loud Festival for the second year in a row to present the Live Wildly Showcase – a mission-driven concert designed to spark deeper connections to Florida’s wild places.

The two-day outdoor concert – held in St. Augustine, FL, Sept. 20-21 – will be headlined by multiplatinum-selling sensation Hozier, with an exciting lineup that also includes indie-pop favorite Beabadoobee, rising breakout star sombr, and other world-renowned artists.

For each ticket sold, $10 will go to conservation efforts in Florida’s St. Johns County. Last year’s Live Wildly Showcase raised more than $160,000 for land conservation.

“The Live Wildly Showcase is more than just a concert – it’s a call to action,” said Lisa Shipley, CEO of Live Wildly. “By coming together to celebrate today’s most powerful music, we’re also uniting to protect the wild lands and waters that make Florida extraordinary. Music has the power to move people, just like nature does. When the two come together, we create something deeply inspiring – a chance to connect, to learn, and to make a difference.”

In addition to its Showcase concert, Live Wildly is also inviting festival goers to step beyond the stage and explore wild Florida with four curated experiences taking place during the month of September across St. Johns County.

These immersive adventures have been created in partnership with local conservation and cultural organizations and are designed to help people learn about the vital role nature has played in Florida’s past, present and future.

• Wild Waters Art Exhibit opens on Sept. 1 at the historic Governor’s House Cultural Center and Museum in downtown St. Augustine, and offers people the chance to explore the natural beauty of Florida through the eyes of artists who were inspired by its rivers, lakes, wetlands and coasts. Presented by the Harn Museum of Art in partnership with the UF Center for Landscape Conservation Planning, the self-guided exhibit invites you to connect with Florida’s water-rich ecosystems in a new, artistic way.

• Bird Wildly Walking Tours will be offered before the Live Wildly Showcase concerts Sept. 20-21, taking people through two of St. Augustine’s most iconic landscapes – Mission Nombre de Dios and Castillo de San Marcos. Led by experienced birders from the St. Augustine Bird Club and St. Johns Regional Audubon, these one-hour tours are ideal for beginners and seasoned birders alike. Tour space is limited. Register for the tours here.

• Explore history and nature at the Fort Mose Historic State Park. Home to the site of the first legally sanctioned free African settlement in what would become the United States, this 40-acre waterfront park features a full-scale reconstruction of the original 18th-century fort as well as a boardwalk and scenic spots for picnicking, birding and kayaking.

• Experience the wild side of St. Augustine with special boat and kayak tours presented by St. Augustine Eco Tours. Five guided tours will take place from Sept. 19-21, offering an up-close look at the region’s rich marine life, scenic waterways and coastal ecosystems. The 90-minute boat tours will give participants the chance to see dolphins and coastal birdlife while cruising through rivers and creeks with expert naturalist guides. The two-hour guided paddle tours include a short on-land clinic before heading under the Bridge of Lions and into the salt marshes. Tours are available at a discounted rate of $40. Register here.

More information about Live Wildly’s Showcase concert and the curated nature adventures during Sing Out Loud Festival can be found here.

“People protect what they love,” Shipley added. “And Florida gives us so much to love – from untamed forests to crystal-clear springs. Our hope is that this event opens hearts and minds, and encourages more people to step outside, fall in love with the wild, and become its fiercest protectors.”

Contact Information

Live Wildly Press Contact
pressrelease@livewildly.com

SOURCE: Live Wildly Foundation

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Partnership delivers real-time visibility, security, and performance for telecoms, governments, and enterprises.

DUBAI, AE / ACCESS Newswire / August 26, 2025 / BESTCOMP GROUP, a leader in ICT solutions and system integration across the South Caucasus and Central Asia, is proud to partner with 31 Concept (31C), an AI-driven data intelligence innovator focused on network visibility and analytics for telecoms, government, and enterprise clients.

BESTCOMP, founded in 1995, brings deep experience in turnkey data centers, cybersecurity, networking, cloud services, and software development – backed by over 3,750 completed projects, 10,000+ clients, and more than 500 professional certifications across seven countries. 31 Concept specializes in network intelligence solutions powered by AI – helping clients classify encrypted traffic, optimize performance, and gain real‑time subscriber insights.

Under the agreement, Bestcomp will integrate 31 Concept’s advanced network intelligence platform into its portfolio across strategic markets. The partnership aims to accelerate digital transformation efforts by combining Bestcomp’s strong regional presence with 31 Concept’s AI‑powered analytics capabilities.

“This collaboration brings together Bestcomp’s trusted infrastructure expertise and 31 Concept’s deep network intelligence. It positions us to deliver smarter, more secure, and more efficient ICT services across the region,” said a Bestcomp spokesperson.

“We’re excited to expand our reach via Bestcomp’s extensive network and help deliver next‑generation visibility and control to telecoms and enterprises across Eurasia,” added a representative from 31 Concept.

Key highlights of the partnership

• Enhanced visibility and control: 31 Concept’s AI‑driven platform offers granular traffic classification, encrypted traffic handling, and real‑time subscriber insights – supporting proactive network optimization.

• Strategic regional delivery: Bestcomp will deploy these capabilities as part of its managed services, system integration, cloud migration, and cybersecurity offerings throughout the South Caucasus and Central Asia.

• Joint innovation roadmap: Both firms plan co‑development of tailored solutions for emerging use cases including 5G, secure government networks, and critical infrastructure monitoring.

• Client impact: Enterprises and service providers in the region will benefit from improved security, performance, and analytics smart enough to meet evolving demands.

About Bestcomp Group
Established in 1995, Bestcomp Group is a leading ICT service provider in the South Caucasus and Central Asia. It offers a comprehensive suite of solutions – ranging from turnkey data centers and telecom networking to cybersecurity, cloud services, and IT consulting. The company operates across seven countries, with a reputation for quality, innovation, and strong vendor partnerships bestcomp.net.

About 31 Concept
31 Concept delivers AI‑powered network intelligence to telecom operators, government agencies, and enterprises. Its platform focuses on traffic visibility, encrypted packet classification, and AI‑driven analytics. The company recently revealed a patent‑pending network intelligence technology set to debut at ISS Asia 2025.

Contact Information

Bestcomp Group
Visit our website at bestcomp.net for media inquiries and partnership details

31 Concept
Visit our website at 31c.io for media inquiries and partnership details

SOURCE: 31 Concept

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire