Fewer Than One-Third of Enterprises Consider Their Approach to Independent Talent Leading-Edge, New Research Finds

Staffing Industry Analysts research commissioned by MBO Partners by Beeline finds leading programs outperform peers on flexibility, speed and access to skills, while 54% expect AI to increase independent talent use

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Sept. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Businesses increasingly see independent talent as a source of specialized skills, flexibility and speed, but many have yet to build the strategy and infrastructure to manage it effectively. Fewer than one-third of executives surveyed consider their organization's approach to independent talent "leading edge," according to new research conducted by Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA) for MBO Partners by Beeline.

AI is raising the stakes. Among executives surveyed, 54% expect AI to increase their use of independent talent over the next two years, compared with just 8% who expect a decrease. As AI changes not only demand for specialized AI expertise but the skills and nature of roles across the business, independent talent can give organizations greater flexibility to respond as workforce needs evolve.

Yet many enterprises, particularly those with less mature programs, still struggle with fundamental elements of independent talent management, including visibility, sourcing, compliance and program scalability. Organizations identified as Leaders (those who agree their organization's use of independent talent is leading edge) take a different approach, integrating independent talent more strategically into workforce planning and outperforming their peers across every talent outcome evaluated.

Key Findings from the 2026 State of Independence®: The Enterprise Perspective

- Leaders are approximately five times more likely to strongly agree that independent talent enables workforce flexibility, four times more likely to cite speed in responding to business needs and three times more likely to cite access to high-value skills. They also report stronger competitive advantage and ROI from independent talent.

- Leaders are far more likely to view independent talent strategically. Among Leaders, 62% strongly agree that independent talent is a strategic necessity rather than a tactical option, compared with just 6% of Followers.

- Leaders track more than 2.5 times as many independent talent metrics as their peers, while 49% of Followers do not track any of the metrics evaluated, underscoring the role visibility and measurement play in building a more mature strategy.

- Nearly three-quarters of enterprises expect to use independent talent for AI-related work. Applied AI skills are particularly difficult to access through traditional full-time hiring, while companies also expect growing demand for combinations of AI fluency, business expertise, governance, risk and other AI-adjacent skills.

- Enterprises may be underestimating what independent professionals value. Among independent professionals, 61% say schedule flexibility is very important, compared with 36% of enterprises that recognize its importance to independent talent. Location flexibility shows a similar gap, 64% versus 45%.

"Organizations increasingly recognize the value of independent talent, but the research shows that realizing that value requires greater discipline in how this workforce is integrated, measured and managed. As AI accelerates demand for cutting-edge skills, enterprises will increasingly rely on independent talent to access scarce expertise and realize the full potential of their AI investments." Ursula Williams, President, SIA.

Now in its 16th year, MBO Partners State of Independence research expands in 2026 to examine both sides of the independent workforce. The companion report, The 2026 State of Independence: Perspectives from the Independent Workforce®, found that 78% of independent professionals plan to remain independent or build a larger business. Together, the two reports show a workforce becoming more committed to independence just as enterprises face greater pressure to build strategies that effectively access, attract and engage that talent.

"Companies increasingly understand the value independent professionals can bring, but an effective independent talent strategy requires more than engaging a contractor when a need arises," said Teresa Creech, President of MBO Partners by Beeline. "The organizations getting the strongest results have the visibility, processes and discipline to make independent talent part of broader workforce planning. That becomes even more important as AI changes the skills companies need and how quickly those needs can shift."

The State of Independence 2026: The Enterprise Perspective draws on a survey of 84 corporate executives, including 74 fully completed responses, and 10 in-depth interviews with enterprise workforce leaders and industry experts. The survey was conducted in April and May 2026.

Download the 2026 State of Independence reports, including The Enterprise Perspective and Perspectives from the Independent Workforce here.

About MBO Partners

MBO Partners powers the independent workforce, helping organizations confidently engage, manage, and scale high-value independent talent. For 30 years, MBO has delivered workforce solutions including Agent of Record (AOR), Employer of Record (EOR), contractor compliance, and talent solutions, along with specialized services that help organizations assess workforce risk, strengthen compliance, access proven talent, and optimize their independent workforce programs. Today, MBO supports 100+ enterprise organizations, representing more than $1 billion in independent workforce spend. As part of Beeline, MBO brings deep independent workforce expertise and services into a connected workforce orchestration ecosystem, giving organizations greater visibility, control, and confidence across their extended workforce. Learn more at mbopartners.com.

About Staffing Industry Analysts

Founded in 1989, SIA is the global advisor on staffing and workforce solutions. Our proprietary research covers all categories of employed and nonemployed work including temporary staffing, independent contracting and other types of contingent labor. SIA's independent and objective analysis provides insights into the services and suppliers operating in the workforce solutions ecosystem including staffing firms, managed service providers, recruitment process outsourcers, payrolling/compliance firms and talent acquisition technology specialists such as vendor management systems, online staffing platforms, crowdsourcing and online work services. We also provide training and accreditation with our unique Certified Contingent Workforce Professional (CCWP) program.

Known for our award-winning content, data, support tools, publications, executive conferences and events, we help both suppliers and buyers of workforce solutions make better-informed decisions that improve business results and minimize risk. A brand of Crain Communications, a leading business news and information company, SIA is headquartered in Mountain View, California, with offices in London, UK.

For more information: staffingindustry.com

Media Contact:

Casey Bush for Beeline

Global Results Communications

[email protected]

SOURCE Beeline

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16th annual State of Independence study finds more professionals are building long-term independent careers and businesses, reshaping how organizations access talent and skills

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Sept. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. independent workforce reached a record 74.9 million people in 2026, but the bigger shift is happening within the workforce itself. Full-time independent work is growing rapidly as more professionals build long-term careers and businesses outside traditional employment, according to the 16th annual State of Independence® study released today by MBO Partners by Beeline.

Since 2020, the number of full-time independent professionals has grown 114%. Full-time independents now represent 22% of all full-time U.S. workers, nearly twice their share in 2019. The findings point to a workforce that is no longer defined primarily by supplemental or occasional work, but increasingly by professionals choosing independence as the primary way they earn a living, build expertise and shape their careers.

For businesses competing for skills, that shift has significant implications. As more professionals build sustainable careers outside traditional employment, organizations have access to a growing pool of independent talent, but they also need workforce strategies and engagement models designed to reach professionals who view independence as a long-term career choice.

Independent professionals are also earning more, serving broader markets and using technologies such as AI to expand their capabilities. Collectively, the findings suggest that independent talent is becoming not simply an alternative source of labor, but an increasingly established source of expertise for organizations navigating changing skill needs.

Key Findings from the 2026 State of Independence: Perspectives from the Independent Workforce

- Among independent professionals, 78% plan to remain independent or build a larger business. Nearly six in 10 plan to continue working independently, while one in five intends to grow a bigger business. For hiring organizations, that signals independent talent is becoming a durable workforce channel, not simply a temporary stop between traditional jobs.

- An estimated 5.8 million independent professionals now earn more than $100,000 annually, nearly double the number in 2020. The continued growth of six-figure independent professionals underscores that professionals are building sustainable businesses around their expertise and gives organizations another path to access experienced talent outside traditional hiring.

- One-third of independent professionals now serve customers outside the United States, nearly three times the share in 2012. As technology makes geography less of a constraint, independent professionals are competing and building businesses in a broader market, while organizations can access expertise from a wider talent pool.

- Nearly eight in 10 independent professionals say AI complements their work and improves productivity. Generative AI users also report average time savings of nearly 10 hours per week, along with benefits including deeper insights, expanded customer offerings and new business opportunities. For organizations, independent professionals can bring both domain expertise and practical experience applying emerging technologies to their work.

"The most important story this year isn't simply that more Americans are working independently. It's that more professionals are building lasting careers and sophisticated businesses around independence," said Teresa Creech, President of MBO Partners by Beeline. "That changes the talent equation for employers. Organizations can't assume the skills they need will always be available through traditional hiring. They need to be able to access and engage professionals where and how they choose to work."

That shift also appears durable. More than three-quarters of independent professionals report high satisfaction with independent work, while just 1% describe themselves as dissatisfied. The findings reinforce that independent work is not simply a response to labor market disruption. For a significant segment of professionals, it has become a preferred way to build a career.

The new companion report, The 2026 State of Independence: The Enterprise Perspective, developed with Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA), examines how organizations are adapting their workforce strategies to engage independent talent, providing a view of both sides of the independent workforce.

The 2026 findings mark the 16th consecutive year of MBO Partners' State of Independence research. The 2026 State of Independence: Perspectives from the Independent Workforce was fielded in April 2026 by Emergent Research and Radius Insights and surveyed 4,557 U.S. adults age 18 and older, including 2,063 independent workers. Results were weighted to reflect U.S. demographics.

Download the 2026 State of Independence reports, including Perspectives from the Independent Workforce and The Enterprise Perspective here.

About MBO Partners

MBO Partners powers the independent workforce, helping organizations confidently engage, manage, and scale high-value independent talent. For 30 years, MBO has delivered workforce solutions including Agent of Record (AOR), Employer of Record (EOR), contractor compliance, and talent solutions, along with specialized services that help organizations assess workforce risk, strengthen compliance, access proven talent, and optimize their independent workforce programs. Today, MBO supports 100+ enterprise organizations, representing more than $1 billion in independent workforce spend. As part of Beeline, MBO brings deep independent workforce expertise and services into a connected workforce orchestration ecosystem, giving organizations greater visibility, control, and confidence across their extended workforce. Learn more at mbopartners.com.  

Media Contact:

Casey Bush for Beeline

Global Results Communications

[email protected]

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Partnership to Support Go-To-Market Execution and Broader Distribution of Tactacam's Cellular Trail and Security Cameras

CHICAGO, Sept. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Tactacam (the "Company"), a market leader in cellular-connected cameras for the outdoor and security markets, today announced the closing of its sale to GTCR, a leading private equity firm, from Bertram Capital and the Company's founders. Jeff Peel, Tactacam's CEO and co-founder, will continue to lead the Company and retain significant ownership alongside co-founder Ben Thorud.

Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Billings, Montana, Tactacam provides cellular-connected trail and security cameras to over one million subscribers across the United States. The Company helped pioneer the cellular trail camera category with the launch of its Reveal product line in 2020, enabling outdoor enthusiasts to view wildlife with real-time image feeds through a proprietary mobile app. In 2024, Tactacam extended the platform into the security space with the launch of Defend, a line of cellular-connected cameras that support residential and commercial property monitoring outside the range of traditional Wi-Fi-enabled products.

GTCR will partner with Mr. Peel and the broader management team to support new investments in product development and expanded distribution. The Company and GTCR aim to extend Tactacam's leadership in cellular-connected cameras while maintaining product quality and leading customer support.

"We built Tactacam by staying close to the customer and understanding how they use our products, whether they are watching wildlife or monitoring a property," said Jeff Peel, CEO and co-founder of Tactacam. "Our partnership with GTCR will support continued investment in Reveal and Defend while preserving that focus on the customer value proposition."

"Tactacam brings together connected cameras, proprietary software and subscription services in a platform serving more than one million subscribers," said David Donnini, Managing Director and Head of Business & Consumer Services at GTCR. "That combination is a strong fit with our experience investing in technology-enabled consumer and commercial subscription businesses. We look forward to partnering with Jeff and his team to build on Tactacam's business."

"With Defend, Tactacam has taken the cellular camera platform it built for the outdoor market and applied it to another practical need: monitoring residential and commercial properties beyond the reach of Wi-Fi," added Tom Ehrhart, Managing Director at GTCR. "We see an opportunity to build on that expansion through investment in product development and distribution, alongside continued investment in Reveal."

GTCR's investment in Tactacam builds on the firm's longstanding track record of investing in leading consumer subscription and video-based monitoring businesses including former investments Protection 1, GreatCall and Lytx, along with current portfolio companies Everon, SimpliSafe and Consumer Cellular.

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Jefferies LLC and Houlihan Lokey, Inc. acted as financial advisors, and Latham & Watkins LLP acted as legal counsel to Tactacam. UBS Securities LLC acted as financial advisor and Kirkland & Ellis LLP acted as legal counsel to GTCR. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

About Tactacam

Tactacam is a leading provider of cellular-connected cameras for the outdoor and security markets. Through its Reveal and Defend product lines and its proprietary subscription platform, Tactacam serves a community of more than one million subscribers nationwide. Learn more at www.tactacam.com.

About GTCR

Founded in 1980, GTCR is a leading private equity firm that invests behind The Leaders Strategy™ – finding and partnering with management leaders in core domains to identify, acquire and build market-leading companies through organic growth and strategic acquisitions. GTCR is focused on investing in transformative growth in companies in the Business & Consumer Services, Financial Services & Technology, Healthcare and Technology, Media & Telecommunications sectors. Since its inception, GTCR has invested more than $35 billion in over 300 companies, and the firm currently manages $45 billion in equity capital. GTCR is based in Chicago with offices in New York and West Palm Beach. For more information, please visit www.gtcr.com. Follow us on LinkedIn.

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Prosek Partners

Josh Clarkson / Ryan Smith / Peter Gavaris

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For Tactacam

[email protected] 

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- Anniversary models honor milestones for U.S. sales of WRX and BRZ with historic chassis code names, performance accessories, and heritage-inspired exterior color combinations

- Availability limited to 350 units for WRX GD25, and 300 units for BRZ ZC15

- Reservations beginning in 2026 with deliveries in winter and summer 2027

CAMDEN, N.J., Sept. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Subaru of America, Inc. today unveiled anniversary editions of its 2027 Subaru WRX and 2027 Subaru BRZ sports cars at Boxerfest 2026 in York, Pennsylvania. The limited-production, enthusiast-focused 2027 Subaru WRX GD25 and 2027 Subaru BRZ ZC15 wear nameplates honoring the chassis codes of their respective models when they arrived in the U.S. 25 and 15 years ago. In addition to heritage-inspired color schemes, the two models are equipped with performance Subaru accessories.

"Our anniversary edition WRX and BRZ models commemorate the iconic performance heritage and successes of both vehicles in the U.S.," said William Stokes, Car Line Planning Manager for Subaru of America. "The WRX GD25 is a tribute to our rally-ready sedan and its sports car pedigree, including the wing it shares with the ARA Championship-winning ARA25L. Similarly, BRZ ZC15 embodies the best of our long-running, accessible performance sports car, right down to its rear-wheel-drive engagement."

The 2027 Subaru WRX GD25 honors the first edition of the WRX to arrive in the U.S. in 2002, which utilized a chassis codenamed "GD." The 2027 WRX GD25 is painted exclusively in World Rally Blue and rides atop gold-painted 19-inch alloy wheels, uprated Brembo brakes with gold-painted calipers, and Bridgestone Potenza S007 high-performance tires. The rear of the WRX is punctuated by a dry carbon fiber swan-neck rear wing from Subaru Tecnica International, the same component used on Travis Pastrana's WRX ARA25L rally car. Under the hood, a flexible strut tower bar enhances rigidity. A performance-tuned suspension pairs stiffer springs with revised damping calibration and Potenza S007 tires for more composed, confident cornering.

Powered by a 271-horsepower, 2.4-liter turbocharged SUBARU BOXER® engine and legendary Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, the 2027 Subaru WRX GD25 provides unmistakable performance with exceptional drivability.

Inside, the GD25 features performance-design Recaro seats with black Ultrasuede inserts with red accent stitching, and an STI shift knob. Limited to 350 units, the 2027 Subaru WRX GD25 is available only in World Rally Blue with a 6-speed manual transmission with an STI short shifter. It arrives in summer 2027.

The 2027 Subaru BRZ ZC15 is a tribute to the first-generation BRZ, which arrived in 2012 on a chassis codenamed "ZC." The 2027 BRZ ZC15 is painted exclusively in brilliant Ceramic White —exclusive to ZC15 — paired with matte bronze wheels, red-painted Brembo calipers, and unique bronze decals near the side sills. The white-on-bronze paint color is an homage to the 2020 Subaru BRZ tS models, which featured the same scheme. The ZC15 also sports a black decklid spoiler at the rear and a flexible V-bar under the hood. The 2027 BRZ ZC15 features a 2.4-liter, 228-horsepower SUBARU BOXER® engine paired exclusively with a 6-speed manual transmission powering the rear wheels.

With black leather-appointed upholstery and Bordeaux red inserts not shared with the rest of the BRZ lineup, the 2027 BRZ ZC15 further sets itself apart with a unique "ZC15" anniversary edition plaque near its STI aluminum and leather, short shifter. Limited to 300 units, the 2027 Subaru BRZ ZC15 is available in early 2027.

Detailed specifications and pricing will be announced closer to market launch.

About Subaru of America, Inc.

Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Subaru Corporation of Japan. Headquartered in Camden, N.J., the company markets and distributes Subaru vehicles, parts, and accessories through a network of about 640 retailers across the United States. All Subaru products are manufactured in zero-landfill plants, including Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc., the only U.S. automobile manufacturing plant designated a backyard wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. SOA is guided by the Subaru Love Promise®, which is the company's vision to show love and respect to everyone and to support its communities and customers nationwide. Over the past 20 years, SOA and the SOA Foundation have donated more than $340 million to causes the Subaru family cares about, and its employees have logged over 115,000 volunteer hours. Subaru is dedicated to being More Than a Car Company® and to making the world a better place. For additional information, visit media.subaru.com. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and YouTube.

Aaron Cole

Product Communications Manager

856.488.3697

[email protected]

Miranda Jimenez

Product Communications Specialist

856.438.2820

[email protected]

Karley Dowdy

Product Communications Specialist

856.488.8527

[email protected]

SOURCE Subaru of America, Inc.

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Patented ZPOD Lubrication System Demonstrates Performance Across Operational Flight Envelope, Advancing Affordable Mass for the Warfighter

CORAL SPRINGS, Fla., Sept. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Zulu Pods, Inc. (ZPI), a leader in advanced fluid delivery systems for expendable and attritable platforms, today announced the successful advancement of its ZPOD technology following altitude testing at the Air Force Research Laboratory's (AFRL) test facility.

The ZPI engineering team executed many successful test runs on an engine OEM's 200 lbf class turbojet, covering a range of mission relevant flight conditions. Bearing temperatures recorded during testing were comparable to or lower than those observed with legacy lubrication systems, and post-test inspections by the engine OEM confirmed no signs of bearing degradation or concern.

Building on Navy Success

The altitude testing milestone represents the culmination of years of maturation supported by the U.S. Navy's Office of Naval Research (ONR) Phase 1 and Phase 2 SBIR programs, which funded early development and validation of the ZPOD's core technology. This latest effort marks the first time the ZPOD has been tested under representative altitude conditions at a government facility, and notably, on a second OEM engine platform following prior ground testing on a partner's turbojet engine. The successful integration across multiple engine platforms demonstrates the adaptability of the ZPOD architecture.

Enabling Affordable and Autonomous Mass

The ZPOD is an oil delivery system that replaces legacy fuel-oil mix lubrication in attritable turbojets. By eliminating the need to carry uncommitted fuel for lubrication, the ZPOD enables platforms to extend range, increase payload capacity, or reduce overall system weight.

As the Department of War accelerates its affordable mass initiatives to field large quantities of autonomous, expendable systems, ZPI is positioned at the intersection of performance and cost-effectiveness.

"Affordable does not mean cheap," said Rob Sladen, CEO of ZPI. "The Department of War demands robust, reliable performance delivered at the lowest possible cost. Our ZPOD technology is engineered to meet that exact mission need: delivering proven lubrication performance that extends platform capability while reducing lifecycle cost and system complexity."

Scaling for Production

With validated performance across multiple OEM platforms and representative flight conditions, ZPI is advancing plans to scale operations in support of FY27 Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP). The company has also begun receiving international interest from allied nations within the AUKUS framework, underscoring the global applicability of lightweight, high-performance lubrication solutions for next-generation attritable systems.

About Zulu Pods Inc. (ZPI)

Zulu Pods, Inc. is an aerospace and defense technology company specializing in advanced fluid delivery systems for expendable and attritable platforms. The company's patented ZPOD technology provides dedicated oil lubrication that improves range, payload, and reliability for small turbojet engines. With multiple issued patents and government-funded development programs, ZPI is accelerating the transition of critical enabling technologies from laboratory to production. For more information, visit zulupods.com.

Distribution Statement A: Approved for Public Release; Distribution is Unlimited. AFRL-2026-1603

SOURCE Zulu Pods

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Innovative Home Improvement Financing Now Available in Artesia, Burbank and Lakewood Following City Council Approvals

LAKEWOOD, Calif., Sept. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The City Councils of Artesia, Burbank and Lakewood have all voted recently to allow their homeowners to access Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) home improvement financing through industry leader Home Run Financing (HRF). These three cities join more than 360 other jurisdictions in California in approving the Program. The City of Los Angeles was an early adopter of the PACE program. Artesia, Burbank and Lakewood join 39 other cities in Los Angeles County in making HRF PACE Funding available to homeowners, including, most recently, Hawthorne, Calabasas and Lawndale, all of which approved the program last fall.

"The City of Artesia is a long-time partner of the PACE program, and we support their efforts to provide resources to our residents in a meaningful way," said Mayor Rene Trevino. "PACE is a valuable tool for Artesia residents to fund energy efficient home upgrades that help our community become more resilient against extreme heat, drought, and rising costs."

Homeowners across California are searching for ways to bring down their utility bills as energy costs climb, whether by adding renewable energy systems like solar panels or by upgrading to more efficient windows, doors, and roofs. Drought, too, remains a persistent challenge in the state, and a growing number of homeowners are looking for additional ways to finance home improvements that conserve water. PACE Financing is designed specifically for these kinds of water- and energy-saving projects.

"Programs like PACE provide valuable resources that give Burbank residents more options to invest in their homes," said Burbank Mayor Tamala Takahashi. "We're proud to support programs that make important home improvements more accessible while advancing the sustainability and energy efficiency of our community."

Home Run Financing worked with Burbank Water and Power, the local community-owned utility company, to bring PACE to Burbank.

PACE is widely recognized as offering some of the strongest consumer protections in the home‑improvement financing industry nationwide, including only paying contractors upon completion of the project and only after homeowner satisfaction is confirmed, providing ability to pay review; and third-party inspection of completed projects. PACE Financing is available only through registered and trained contractors. PACE in California operates under the regulatory oversight of the California Department of Financial Protection & Innovation (DFPI).

More than 16 million Californians, accounting for 41 percent of the state's population, are Hispanic/Latino, and for many of them Spanish is the primary language. Approximately 30 percent of Artesia residents, 25 percent of Burbank residents, and 40 percent of Lakewood residents identify as Hispanic/Latino.

HRF is committed to working with Spanish-speaking homeowners and contractors. All materials are available in Spanish, from the website and homeowner contracts and financing documents to contractor guidance materials. The company has bilingual staff who partner with contractors on an ongoing basis, and its customer service call center is staffed with bilingual employees as well.

"PACE has proven itself again and again as one of California's most effective tools for empowering homeowners and strengthening communities, and it's great to see Artesia, Burbank and Lakewood all bring this financing option to their residents," said Home Run Financing CEO Robert Giles. "PACE gives homeowners in these three cities another way to make upgrades that keep their homes safer, greener, and more efficient."

In the ten years Home Run Financing (previously PACE Funding Group) has been operating in California, the company has provided more than $694 million in PACE financing for almost 22,100 home improvement projects across the state. These upgrades have generated significant environmental benefits, including 297,700 metric tons of lifetime greenhouse gas reductions, the equivalent of removing 69,440 cars from the road for a year or powering almost 40,000 homes for a year, and 355 million gallons of water saved, enough to fill more than 119,700 backyard pools or avoid 28.4 million five‑minute showers.

HRF PACE‑financed projects support a network of more than 2,000 contractors who rely on PACE to help homeowners access essential upgrades. HRF has created more than 6,200 sustainable jobs across California.

Learn more at www.homerunfinancing.com.

CONTACT

Severn Williams, 510-336-9566

[email protected] 

SOURCE PACE Funding Group LLC.

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Ten Local Kubota Dealers Serve as Equipment and Community Partners, Rewarding Each Unique Hometown Project with a $50,000 Grant

GRAPEVINE, Texas, Sept. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Kubota Tractor Corporation today announced the ten community-based nonprofits that have been selected as winners of the 2026 Kubota Hometown Proud® grant program. Each organization will receive $25,000 in cash and $25,000 towards the purchase of Kubota equipment to support local initiatives that strengthen neighborhoods and empower communities.

Now in its sixth year, the Kubota Hometown Proud® program continues Kubota's commitment to investing in nonprofit organizations making a tangible difference in communities from coast to coast. The program supports a wide variety of projects, from community-supported agriculture and ag education to land stewardship, park beautification initiatives and more. Since its inception, the program has distributed more than $2.9 million in total funding and equipment to hometown projects nationwide.

"The Kubota Hometown Proud grant program reflects our deep commitment to supporting communities where our customers and dealers live and work," said Alex Woods, President of Kubota Tractor Corporation. "Our dealers are the heart of this program, and we believe in investing in programs that matter to their communities. With their support, we're able to deliver more than funding but also equipment and a long-term trusted partnership for ongoing success."

The 2026 program received more than 1,100 applications from communities across the country. After a rigorous review process, 10 grant winners were selected, representing diverse community needs from agricultural education and workforce development to food security, youth empowerment, and environmental stewardship.

Announcing the 2026 Kubota Hometown Proud Grant Winners:

- The Armored Church (Salisbury, N.C.) partners with Sink Farm Equipment. The Field of Honor Project will use a new Kubota compact tractor to develop and maintain a 20-acre community garden and gathering space honoring veterans.

- Friends of Greenfield Recreation (Greenfield, Mass.) partners with M.B. Tractor & Equipment. The Greenfield Grow and Go project focuses on beautifying the town of Greenfield; a new Kubota RTV will help mobilize its volunteer network to do more.

- Galloway Family Farm & Education Center (Ocean Springs, Miss.) partners with Lee Tractor Company. Galloway Farm's Adopt-a-Row project will use a Kubota sub-compact tractor to support community-based sustainable ag-education.

- HALTER – Healing and Learning Through Equine Relationships (Spartanburg, S.C.) partners with Blue Water Equipment Group. HALTER's Center for Wellbeing will use the grant to purchase a new Kubota RTV to maintain equine-assisted service facilities and expand access to healing and wellness services.

- Helpful Harvest Food Bank Inc. (Athens, W.Va.) partners with State Equipment, Inc. will use the Kubota Hometown Proud grant to purchase a new Kubota M4 utility tractor and implements to expand food production and increase access to fresh, nutritious food for families facing food insecurity.

- Impact Activity Center (Boonville, Mo.) partners with Farm Power Lawn & Leisure. The Reviving Sumner School project is transforming a historic school into a vibrant community hub; a Kubota compact tractor and zero-turn mower will help maintain the garden and green space.

- Moncus Park (Lafayette, La.) partners with Sammy Broussard Equipment Center. The Back 50: Community + Nature project will use a new Kubota compact tractor to enhance Moncus Park and provide community access to native habitats.

- Osseo Community Foundation (Osseo, Wis.) partners with Johnson Tractor. The Stoddard Park project revitalizes a community park and playground with the use of a Kubota utility vehicle to help with the build and maintenance.

- REACH Inc. (Klamath Falls, Ore.) partners with Pelican Tractor. The Ready Set Mow: Jobs & Mobility program will use new Kubota mowers to enhance and grow its landscape training and employment model for adults with developmental disabilities.

- Winding Branch Ranch (Bulverde, Texas) partners with Ewald Kubota to purchase a new Kubota utility vehicle and hands-on curriculum materials to expand agricultural education and experiences for communities throughout south-central Texas.

Each local Kubota dealer brings expertise, community commitment and equipment support that extends far beyond the grant period, ensuring these communities have a local partner and equipment resource. "We're honored to be part of this program that has a very direct local impact," said Joe Reister, Store Manager, at Pelican Tractor in Klamath Falls, Ore. "Kubota is providing a channel to empower our community, and it's incredibly rewarding."

The Kubota Hometown Proud grant program demonstrates the power of combining corporate investment with local dealer expertise and community focus. By empowering nonprofits with both funding and equipment and pairing each organization with a local Kubota dealer as an ongoing equipment and community partner, Kubota creates sustained impact in neighborhoods across America.

For more information about the Kubota Hometown Proud program, visit www.kubotahometownproud.com.

About Kubota Tractor Corporation

Kubota Tractor Corporation, headquartered in Grapevine, Texas, is the U.S. marketer and distributor of Kubota-engineered and manufactured machinery and equipment, including a complete line of tractors producing up to 200 gross horsepower, performance-matched implements, compact construction equipment, consumer lawn and garden equipment, hay tools, commercial turf products and utility vehicles. Kubota is committed to supporting the communities where its customers and dealers live and work through the Kubota Hometown Proud® grant program and other community initiatives. For product literature, dealer locations or more information, contact Kubota Tractor Corporation, 1000 Kubota Drive, Grapevine, TX 76051, call (888) 4-KUBOTA [(888) 458-2682], extension 900, or visit www.KubotaUSA.com.

SOURCE Kubota Tractor Corporation

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Customers Get Access to Industry-Leading John Hancock Vitality Program in Support of Longer, Healthier, Better Lives

BOSTON, Sept. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- John Hancock today expanded its protection portfolio with enhancements to both its protection indexed universal life solution (Protection IUL 26) and its term life insurance suite, expanding the range of options available for financial professionals to help address clients' evolving long-term planning needs.

Aligned with the Company's broader strategy to drive sustained, scalable growth in the U.S. insurance market and empower customer health, wealth, and financial well-being, the enhanced products strengthen John Hancock's protection portfolio and give financial professionals more ways to reach prospects, address a broader range of client needs, and help customers build greater longevity preparedness to help them live longer, healthier, better lives.

As Americans live longer, the need for more choice and flexibility in long-term planning is greater than ever. John Hancock's 2025 Longevity Preparedness Index, developed with the MIT AgeLab, found that U.S. adults scored an average 60 out of 100 in overall preparedness for longer lives. The findings reinforce that planning needs extend well beyond a single financial goal and can evolve across health, care, housing, community, and major life transitions—making access to a broader range of protection solutions increasingly important.*

"Financial plans are not one-size-fits-all. Today's consumers want confidence that their protection strategy can help support their loved ones for the long term, while also providing opportunities for future value growth in a way that works for them and their loved ones," said Hector Martinez, Head of Insurance, John Hancock. "With our enhanced protection portfolio, we are offering financial professionals a broader set of solutions to help them serve clients effectively and meaningfully over time with greater choice, growth potential, and future flexibility."

The updated Protection IUL 26 solution puts choice in clients' hands by giving financial professionals best-in-class optionality to introduce protection in the way that may best suit an individual's preferences with new optional guarantees and indexed growth potential.

The enhanced term portfolio offers three options spanning cost effective protection-focused coverage and solutions with expanded conversion flexibility. These options enable financial professionals to better match coverage strategies to individual client goals and provide a clearer pathway from temporary protection to permanent insurance as needs change.

"Term insurance plays a critical role in giving clients protection options that align with their needs wherever they are on their planning journey. With these new enhancements, John Hancock is offering meaningful options for financial professionals to support their clients at any stage, with greater choice, flexibility, and continuity as needs evolve," continued Martinez.

Through these solutions, eligible customers also get access to John Hancock's industry-leading Vitality program, which offers tools, technology, education, and rewards designed to help members live longer, healthier, better lives while offering financial protection for those who matter most to them.

Learn more at www.johnhancock.com.

About John Hancock and Manulife

John Hancock is a unit of Manulife Financial Corporation, a leading international financial services provider that helps people make their decisions easier and lives better by providing financial advice, insurance, and wealth and asset management solutions. Manulife Financial Corporation trades as MFC on the TSX, NYSE, and PSE, and under 945 on the SEHK. Manulife can be found at manulife.com.

One of the largest life insurers in the United States, John Hancock supports more than ten million Americans with a broad range of financial products, including life insurance and annuities. John Hancock also supports US investors by bringing investment capabilities and retirement planning and administration expertise to individuals and institutions. Additional information about John Hancock may be found at johnhancock.com.

*The Longevity Preparedness Index was conducted online and by phone interview in English, sourced through the NORC AmeriSpeak Panel. The sample was a US representative sample comprised of 1,307 Americans, aged 18 and up, with specific oversamples of Non-Hispanic Black panelists, Hispanic panelists, and Non-Hispanic Asian American and Pacific Islander panelists to ensure adequate sample size for sub-group analysis. During analysis, survey responses were weighted to represent the US population. Survey data were collected from May 14th, 2025, to June 5th, 2025, with a median survey length of approximately 25 minutes per respondent. The Longevity Preparedness Index was developed in collaboration with MIT AgeLab and funded by John Hancock. John Hancock provided financial support for the research but did not influence the findings, methodology, or conclusions.

Guaranteed product features are dependent upon minimum premium requirements and the claims-paying ability of the issuer.

Protection IUL policies automatically include a no-lapse guarantee called the Death Benefit Protection rider which is optimized for a guarantee to life expectancy — or, if elected for an additional cost, an Enhanced Death Benefit Protection rider which is optimized for extended guarantees, through age 100 or beyond. Both technically provide a guarantee to age 121 if enough premium is paid. Each of these options guarantees that the policy will not default, even if the cash surrender value falls to zero or below, provided that the Net Death Benefit Protection Value remains greater than zero and policy debt does not exceed the policy value. Once terminated, the Death Benefit Protection rider or Enhanced Death Benefit Protection rider cannot be reinstated.

Some riders may have additional fees and expenses associated with them.

The life insurance policy describes coverage under the policy, exclusions and limitations, what you must do to keep your policy inforce, and what would cause your policy to be discontinued. Please contact your licensed agent or John Hancock for more information, costs, and complete details on coverage to help you determine if this policy is suitable for your needs. Availability of policies, features, and benefits may vary by state.

Vitality is the provider of the John Hancock Vitality Program in connection with policies issued by John Hancock.

Insurance policies and/or associated riders and features may not be available in all states.

Insurance products are issued by: John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.), Boston, MA 02116 (not licensed in New York) and John Hancock Life Insurance Company of New York, Valhalla, NY 10595.

Policy Form: ICC25 26PIUL; 26PIUL

MLINY091026906-1

Media Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE John Hancock

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Conifers Named a Leader in the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Standalone AI SOC Platforms 2026 Vendor Assessment

DALLAS and TEL AVIV, Israel , Sept. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Conifers, developer of the CognitiveSOC™ agentic AI SOC platform, today announced it has been named a Leader in the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Standalone AI SOC Platforms 2026 Vendor Assessment (doc # US54127026, September 2026).

The recognition comes as security operations face a new kind of adversary. Autonomous agents built on frontier models can now discover vulnerabilities and move across systems at machine speed. SOCs that run on disconnected tools and manual handoffs struggle to keep pace. Conifers built CognitiveSOC to connect threat intelligence, threat hunting, detection engineering, investigation, and remediation into one continuously adapting operating layer. Additionally, every CognitiveSOC decision comes with a reasoning trace analysts can inspect. Machine-speed actions stay within the permissions, policies, and approval thresholds that security teams define.

"Security teams don't need another tool that promises autonomy and delivers a black box," said Tom Findling, CEO and co-founder of Conifers. "When threats operate at machine speed, they need AI that shows its work, adapts to how their own organization operates, and acts within guardrails they set. We're proud to be named a Leader in the IDC MarketScape. In our view, it validates the discipline we've brought to building genuinely agentic AI for the SOC, rather than putting a new label on old automation."

CognitiveSOC has been proven in production across multiple Fortune 500 organizations and large service providers, operating in complex security environments at enterprise scale. These deployments have demonstrated measurable operational value while earning the trust required to use AI for increasingly critical security decisions and actions.

Recent Conifers research shows what's at stake when defenses fail to adapt. The Detection Blind Spot analyzed 14,652 detections in live enterprise environments. It found that 47% required attention before they could be trusted to work as intended, even though many appeared healthy in inventory-based reporting. The full report is available here.

About IDC MarketScape: 

IDC MarketScape vendor assessment model is designed to provide an overview of the competitive fitness of technology and service suppliers in a given market. The research utilizes a rigorous scoring methodology based on both qualitative and quantitative criteria that results in a single graphical illustration of each supplier's position within a given market. IDC MarketScape provides a clear framework in which the product and service offerings, capabilities and strategies, and current and future market success factors of technology suppliers can be meaningfully compared. The framework also provides technology buyers with a 360-degree assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of current and prospective suppliers. 

About Conifers

Conifers builds CognitiveSOC™, the agentic AI SOC platform that powers Resilient Cyber Defense. It connects threat intelligence, threat hunting, detection engineering, investigation, and remediation as one adaptive system on top of the security tools organizations already own. Organizations use CognitiveSOC to evolve their existing security operations into a continuously adapting operating layer capable of keeping pace with the frontier model era. Learn more at conifers.ai.

Media Contact:

Rachel Glaser

White City PR for Conifers [email protected] 

SOURCE Conifers AI

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-New cloud platform delivers utilities streamline sampling, testing, compliance documentation, and regulatory reporting-

NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- LabWare®, a global leader in laboratory informatics, today announces the launch of LabWare WATER, a new cloud-based compliance management solution designed specifically for smaller municipal water utilities to simplify increasingly complex water quality compliance.

Built on decades of experience supporting water utilities, LabWare WATER connects sampling, laboratory testing, documentation, and reporting within a single SaaS platform. The solution provides environmental laboratories and regulatory testing organizations with end-to-end visibility across the compliance lifecycle while reducing the administrative burden associated with spreadsheets, paper records, and disconnected systems.

"Water utilities face increasing regulatory demands while working with limited resources," said Chris Drillenburg, LabWare WATER Solution Owner. "LabWare WATER gives utilities an affordable, purpose-built solution that helps teams spend less time managing paperwork and more time protecting the communities they serve."

Designed for utilities that perform testing in-house, send samples to contract laboratories, or operate a hybrid approach, LabWare WATER supports every stage of the compliance workflow:

- Plan sampling schedules for monthly, quarterly, annual, and event-driven requirements.

- Collect samples with complete chain-of-custody documentation, labeling, and field instructions.

- Track samples through in-house, contract laboratory, or hybrid testing workflows.

- Review results and identify exceedances, missing results, overdue samples, and upcoming reporting deadlines.

- Report using centralized information rather than manually consolidating spreadsheets and files.

- Prove Compliance with rapid access to historical records, laboratory results, chain-of-custody documentation, and audit-ready reports.

By bringing schedules, sampling activities, laboratory results, compliance records, and reporting together in a single system, LabWare WATER helps utilities eliminate duplicate data entry, reduce spreadsheet dependency, improve traceability, and gain greater visibility into their compliance programs.

The launch expands LabWare's growing portfolio of industry-focused SaaS solutions, designed to provide faster deployment, reduced implementation risk, and a lower barrier to entry while retaining the flexibility and scalability expected from the LabWare platform.

"Many small and mid-sized utilities recognize the need to modernize compliance processes but struggle to justify the complexity and cost of traditional enterprise systems," Drillenburg added. "LabWare WATER provides a practical path forward, helping utilities remain audit-ready, reduce administrative workload, and focus more of their resources on delivering safe, reliable water to their communities."

LabWare WATER is making its industry debut during WEFTEC 2026 in New Orleans, where attendees can experience live demonstrations at Booth #8612. LabWare experts will showcase how utilities can modernize compliance workflows, improve operational efficiency, and confidently manage evolving regulatory requirements.

For more information about LabWare WATER, visit www.labware.com/WATER.

About LabWare

LabWare delivers laboratory informatics solutions that help organizations improve quality, maintain compliance, increase productivity, and accelerate digital transformation. Through its Enterprise Laboratory Platform and growing portfolio of SaaS solutions, LabWare enables organizations of all sizes to modernize laboratory and compliance operations with proven, configurable technology. Founded in 1987 and headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, LabWare serves organizations in more than 125 countries through a commitment to innovation, integration, community, and customer success. Labware.com

Media Contact:

Katie Zamarra

917-379-5422

[email protected] 

SOURCE LabWare

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