Category: Accolades
Photo by Richard Hurd
Infosec Named a Leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Security Awareness Computer-Based Training
MADISON, Wis., July 24, 2019 — Infosec, the leading provider of information security education and workforce security awareness, today announced Gartner recognized it as a Leader in the 2019 Magic Quadrant for Security Awareness Computer-Based Training. This year Infosec’s placement has shifted from the Challengers quadrant to the Leaders quadrant, based on ability to execute and completeness of vision. Thirteen other vendors were evaluated in the report.
“We believe Infosec is positioned as a Leader because we can offer the largest and most diverse variety of security training and education topics covering both enterprise workforces and IT and security professionals,” said Jack Koziol, Infosec CEO and founder. “Our personalized approach to security education and awareness intentionally differs from traditional one-size-fits-all training.
“We’re proud of moving to the Leader’s quadrant in the Magic Quadrant for Security Awareness Computer-Based Training, and we’ll continue our efforts to remain one of the fastest-growing providers in the industry,” Koziol added.
Gartner defines Leaders as, “the security education CBT Leaders quadrant is composed of vendors that: provide products that are a good match to market requirements, have been the most successful in building a customer base and revenue stream within the computer-based training (CBT) market, and have relatively high viability (due to CBT revenue). In addition to providing CBT that is a good match to customer requirements, Leaders also show evidence of superior vision and execution for anticipated requirements. They typically have relatively high market share and/or strong revenue growth and provide a range of CBT capabilities that target education and behavior management. Leaders have a demonstrable track record of content revision and expansion to meet market requirements. They have demonstrated positive customer feedback for effective CBT and related services, as well as focusing intently on anticipating market needs and evolving accordingly.”
Earlier this year, Infosec received customer recognition and was named a January 2019 Gartner Peer Insights Customers’ Choice for Security Awareness Computer-Based Training Software. Infosec has an Overall rating of 4.7 out of 5 in the Security Awareness Computer-Based Training market, based on 253 reviews, as of July 23, 2019. Peer Insights customers shared these review comments about the Infosec IQ platform:
“They not only have the ability to increase phishing awareness but also provided a vast library of videos & resources to increase security awareness overall.” — Systems Administrator
“We needed a complete platform for delivering more tailored information security awareness training, to specific groups or teams, and we needed to train our employees to be as vigilant as possible on avoiding and actively reporting suspicious emails.” — Information Security Analyst
“The content that is provided to use for the awareness campaigns is always evolving which is good for end users. We are able to “target” our training to the various departments within the organization and provide relevant training.” — Network Security Professional
A complimentary copy of the Gartner 2019 Magic Quadrant for Security Awareness Computer-Based Training research report is available here.
1Gartner Magic Quadrant for Security Awareness Computer-Based Training, Joanna Huisman, 18 July 2019
Gartner Disclaimers
Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner’s research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose
Gartner Peer Insights Customers’ Choice
Gartner Peer Insights Customers’ Choice constitute the subjective opinions of individual end-user reviews, ratings, and data applied against a documented methodology; they neither represent the views of, nor constitute an endorsement by, Gartner or its affiliates.
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About InfoSec Institute
Infosec has been fighting cybercrime since 2004. Thousands of organizations and over 2.68 million learners trust the wide range of security-specific classes and enterprise security awareness and phishing training to stay a step ahead of the bad guys. Infosec IQ, Infosec Flex and Infosec Skills provide the most advanced and comprehensive education and training platforms. Founded by CEO Jack Koziol, Infosec is based in Madison, with offices in Chicago and Dulles, Virginia. Learn more at www.infosecinstitute.com
Photo by Richard Hurd
CEC Recognized on CRN’s 2019 Solution Provider 500 List
Hiawatha, IA July 11th, 2019 – CEC (Communications Engineering Company), a nationally recognized systems and technology integrator with locations in Iowa and Wisconsin, announced today that CRN®, a brand of The Channel Company, has named CEC to its 2019 Solution Provider 500 list. This annual list ranks the largest North American IT channel partner organizations by revenue. The Solution Provider 500 is the industry standard for recognizing the highest performing technology integrators, strategic service providers and IT consultants. It is the industry’s predominant channel partner list, serving as a valuable resource for technology vendors looking to partner with top solution providers.
“We are very proud to be named to the Solution Provider 500 List yet again in 2019,” said Tyler Ebnet, CEC Vice President of Sales. “It’s exciting to be a part of a great team of people that consistently performs at a high level for our clients.”
“The companies on this year’s list represent an incredible combined revenue of $320 billion, a sum that attests to their success in staying ahead of rapidly changing market demands,” said Bob Skelley, CEO of The Channel Company. “Congratulations to the solution provider organizations leading the way in digital transformation and the latest technology services.”
The complete 2019 Solution Provider 500 list is available online at www.CRN.com/SP500.
About CEC
Established in 1946, CEC has evolved from a small two-way radio shop into a nationally recognized technology integrator with eight offices across Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. Its success is driven by its mission: to make technology simple for its customers. It combines alignment with manufacturers that offer the best solutions in the industry along with in-house experts on staff who effectively lead technical and custom integrations. CEC specializes in finding creative solutions to meet its customers’ business objectives through solution design, integration, installation, and preventative maintenance. The company has five core areas of focus: audio/video, fire & security, healthcare communications, information technology, and two-way radio communications. To learn more, visit www.cecinfo.com.
About The Channel Company
The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers and end users. Backed by more than 30 years of unequaled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative new solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. www.thechannelcompany.com
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For more information:
Bridget Davis, Director, Marketing
bdavis@cecinfo.com or 319-610-1033
Photo by Richard Hurd
Taliesin becomes a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Taliesin Preservation is pleased to announce the inscription of Taliesin to the UNESCO World Heritage list. UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) recognizes landmarks or sites for having cultural, historical, or scientific relevance throughout the world.
The Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy, an organization based in Chicago, IL has been spearheading this serial nomination of eight major works by Frank Lloyd Wright. The other buildings inscribed together with Taliesin are: Unity Temple (Oak Park, IL), Frederick C. Robie House (Chicago, IL), Hollyhock House (Los Angeles, CA), Fallingwater (Mill Run, PA), Herbert and Katherine Jacobs House (Madison, WI), Taliesin West (Scottsdale, AZ), and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (New York, NY). These properties are recognized as prominently shaping architecture in the 20th-Century, spanning 50 years of Frank Lloyd Wright’s career.
The nomination, which was originally reviewed by the World Heritage Committee in 2016 and announcement of the inscription was made on July 7, 2019, during the 43rd session of the World Heritage Committee in Baku, the Republic of Azerbaijan. The nomination has been in development for more than a decade with the voluntary participation and cooperation of all of the property owners and site stewards.
The effects of the nomination at Taliesin is primarily an honorary distinction, though it is expected to grow tourism, media coverage, and popularity. This inscription provides protections of the Taliesin property in addition to the National Historic Landmark (1976) protections. Taliesin is the only UNESCO World Heritage site open to the public in the state of Wisconsin.
“We’re elated that Taliesin has been inscribed to the UNESCO World Heritage List. This will be a huge driving force for Taliesin, Spring Green, the Driftless Area, and the greater Midwest with increased visitation and visibility to a global audience. The lasting impact of this inscription will drive economic development to our region, to the State of Wisconsin, and beyond.” – Carrie Rodamaker, Executive Director
At Taliesin Preservation we are dedicated to preserving the culture of Taliesin in addition to the built and natural environments that make up the 800-acre estate. Taliesin continues to be a laboratory for individuals to come together for thought exchange, multi-disciplinary learning-by-doing, and leading the next generation to address the human needs of our time. Taliesin Preservation embodies a spirit of innovation and thought-provoking solutions and creating an oasis for guests to experience what it truly means to be human.
Photo by Richard Hurd
Innovators in Diversity and Inclusion Named to Madison Magazine’s 2019 M List
Three organizations and two individuals are being recognized for their work in creating exceptional opportunities for underserved populations as recipients of the seventh annual M List awards. This year’s honorees, selected for their innovative contributions to diversity and inclusion, are Harambee Village, the Loka Initiative, Maydm, Annik Dupaty and Shiva Bidar, who is the recipient of a special M List award given by Madison365.
Photo by Richard Hurd
Wisconsin’s ‘International Rising Star’ Chocolatier to be Honored by the Academy of Chocolate Awards in London Next Month
In a few weeks, Vata Edari, master chocolatier and founder of CocoVaa Chocolatier in Madison, Wisconsin, heads to London to be honored by the Academy of Chocolate Awards at the 2019 awards ceremony in London, UK. CocoVaa once again “cleaned up” with 11 more awards including 3 of only a handful of gold awards handed out internationally for 2019.
Held at the iconic Claridge’s Hotel in Mayfair, London – the most storied hotel in the world, and where 5 Michelin starred Eleven Madison Park is set to open its newest restaurant – the Academy spares no expense in its celebration of the world’s best chocolatiers and craft chocolate makers. The Claridge’s which has hosted the Academy of Chocolate Awards since it’s inception, has been historically regarded as the ‘extension of Buckingham Palace’ due to its hosting of royalty dating back to Queen Victoria.
“It’s the greatest honor to be recognized again by the Academy of Chocolate at this grand event,” says Edari, who was named an International Rising Star by The Academy of Chocolate Awards in 2018, making her one of only a small handful of US nationals to ever make the Academy’s Roll of Honour Board. “The best part of the awards ceremony is meeting other people in the industry, many of whom are women of color like me and who are rising quickly in the fine chocolate industry. I really applaud the AoC for holding this competition which is truly merit based giving us a fair chance to showcase our products to the world.”
Alongside her own products, Edari carries single origin craft chocolate bars from fellow Academy Award winners she personally connected with at last year’s ceremony. Among them is a fellow newcomer Elfi Maldonado who owns Qantu based in Quebec. Maldonado directly sources her beans from farmers in her native country of Peru. This year Qantu won 3 gold awards. “I very proudly carry Qantu’s chocolate” says Edari, who carefully curates all products she sells with a focus on quality as well as provenance. “The backstories are important to me.Traceability connects us and gives us a greater respect for producers as well
as what we put in our bodies.”
2019 marks CocoVaa Chocolatier’s third year in business and its second year entering the prestigious Academy of Chocolate Awards. CocoVaa has now won 28 total awards since it first entered in 2018 in the world’s most prestigious chocolate competition.
The Academy of Chocolate Awards based in the United Kingdom is the world’s longest running fine chocolate competition. The competition’s growth since its inception in 2005 highlights the increased strength of the fine chocolate market around the world. In its inaugural year, there were only 12 entries including well known chocolate makers and chocolatiers like Valrhona from France, Amedei from Italy, William Curley and Rococo out of the United Kingdom. In 2018 there were 1200 submissions and this year a record breaking 1500 entries from over 46 countries.
Entries are blind judged by a 100-plus committee include leading chocolatiers from across the industry as well as renowned food critics from the UK and overseas. Judging takes place for over 12 weeks in more than 25 sessions using a complex scoring rubric. The high standards are reflected by the fact that few silvers are awarded and gold awards are rare. This year, out of 9 categories in the filled chocolate competition only 4 categories even saw gold winners. A total of 5 gold awards in total were given. CocoVaa Chocolatier took 2 of those 5. In the categories where CocoVaa placed gold, it was the sole gold winner.
Similarly, in the bar competition, out of 14 categories only 6 categories saw gold winners, this includes CocoVaa Chocolatier whose Eliki bar – a favorite of Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway, placed gold. Edari uses a single origin white chocolate made by Venezuelan chocolate maker El Rey and she carefully infuses it with cardamom to make the gold winning bar.
“The awards have a special meaning to my company this year because I entered during a period of intense stress just following the completion of the buildout of my first brick and mortar and a really bumpy first few months,” says Edari. Edari’s entries this year also coincided with Valentine’s Day which would produce a spike in revenues she badly needed. “Shipping all of my entries overseas overnight in the middle of Valentine’s Day production was an adventure, and an expensive one, to say the least. Somehow, in the midst of all of the stress, I was able to produce more award winners. I feel especially proud of my wins this year because of that.”
Edari who will be traveling to Europe with her 11 year old son Solomon, will make a stop in Ghent, Belgium for a brief stay with a fellow chocolatier who owns a shop there, before heading to the ceremony in London to collect her 11 awards for 2019.
CocoVaa Chocolatier is located at 1815 East Washington Avenue in Madison, Wisconsin and is open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays with plans to expand hours in the fall.
Source: CocoVaa Chocolatier Media Team
info@cocovaa.com