Month: February 2026
AXS EXPANDS TICKETS FOR GOOD PARTNERSHIP TO THE UK, ENABLING MORE COMMUNITY ACCESS TO LIVE EVENTS
- Following successful U.S. rollout, API integration launches in UK for AXS shows
- Recipients include NHS workers, teachers, charity workers, volunteers and people most affected by the Cost of Living
- Globally, TfG has distributed 1 million+ discounted tickets with live event partners and artists including Dua Lipa, Idles, Robbie Williams, Yungblud
SHEFFIELD, England and LOS ANGELES, February 27, 2026 /3BL/ – AXS, a trusted leader in advanced ticketing and live event technology, and Tickets for Good (TfG), the mission-driven ticket distribution platform for live events, have announced the launch of their collaborative API integration in the UK, enabling AXS clients to easily allocate ticket inventory to TfG members – including healthcare workers, teachers, charity workers, volunteers, and others who play vital roles in their communities.
Connecting directly to the Tickets for Good platform and its 620k verified global members, AXS-partnered UK venues, promoters, and artist management teams can seamlessly provide access to the joy of live events for TfG audiences, encompassing NHS workers, teachers, charity workers, volunteers, and people affected by the Cost of Living crisis, while also developing audiences, filling venues, and increasing social impact.
Now available in the UK following a U.S. rollout – with Germany set to launch later in 2026 – this integration enables tickets to be offered with full control retained by promoters over pricing, volumes, and eligibility windows.
Peter Quinlan, Managing Director, Europe, AXS, says: “Launching our collaboration with Tickets for Good in the UK allows our partners to turn unused inventory into meaningful experiences, and we’re proud to help create access for those who already give so much back to our communities. It’s a powerful example of how smart technology can drive both social impact and stronger, more inclusive audiences.”
Steve Rimmer, Founder and CEO of Tickets for Good, comments: “By combining our mission-driven platform with AXS’s reach and flexibility across iconic events, we’re turning great intentions into great experiences. With more of the UK entertainment industry coming on board, we’re building a seamless, tech-enabled pathway that connects thousands of Tickets for Good members with the live events they love.”
TfG has distributed over 1 million tickets across the UK, in partnership with leading ticket retailers, alongside more than 1k event organisers spanning music, theatre, and sport. The platform verifies eligible members and provides a trusted, closed-network environment for event partners to fill venues, grow audiences, and give back to communities.
Following strong growth in the UK and recent expansion into the United States and mainland Europe, Tickets for Good continues work with leading industry partners and investors committed to combining social impact with commercial success. Highlights from 2025 include:
- Selection for the BPI Innovation and Department for Business and Trade ‘Music Mission to Japan’, participation in their UK House music tech event at SXSW London.
- Completing a series of successful pilot events for TfG Belgium with full roll-out in Belgium and Germany coming in 2026 Q1.
- Announcing the appointment of Derek DeVeaux as Global Chief Operating Officer, along with new appointments to its UK office and promotions to global roles.
- New and returning music-related event partners joining, including Melody Garden, Phoenix Arts Club, Pixies, Robbie Williams, Sherelle, The Roundhouse, The Sun Festival, and Yungblud.
- TfG Netherlands launched with ambassador Robbie Williams, joined by new TfG ambassador and football legend Edwin van der Sar. Watch the launch video on LinkedIn.
- UK Government Ministerial Round Table discussion on secondary ticketing participation with Ministers Madders and Minister Bryant, and the Departments for Culture, Media and Sport, Business and Trade.
- UK Business and Trade for North America spotlight interview, in association with the Department for Business and Trade.
About AXS
AXS is a trusted leader in advanced ticketing and live event technology, providing access to some of the world’s most iconic venues, sports teams, festivals, and global tours. With customised ticketing solutions, innovative technology, and dedicated customer service, AXS partners with over 1,600 of the most recognised brands in sports and entertainment — including the LA28 Olympic & Paralympic Games, Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, The O2 Arena, BNP Paribas Open, WM Phoenix Open, and Stagecoach Country Music Festival. AXS’s primary and secondary marketplaces and its proprietary AXS Mobile ID technology deliver the easiest and most secure way for fans to buy, sell, and manage tickets.
About Tickets for Good
Founded in 2019 in Sheffield, England, Tickets for Good (TfG) provides free and heavily discounted tickets to live events, theatre shows, comedy, festivals, and attractions for those doing great things in the community. The platform is open to healthcare staff, charity workers, teachers, and individuals receiving U.K. Government Cost of Living payments, with its registered users now over 600k and 1m tickets processed. The organisation’s core values are rooted in building community, creating measurable impact, and fostering inclusivity, all while maximising access to otherwise unused event tickets for social good. TfG is now used by every major promoter in the U.K. and many across the EU and U.S. markets. The closed-network platform works with top event organisers and supporters, including Comcast SportsTech and Robbie Williams.
With formal recognition from music and tech industries growing, notable Tickets for Good milestones and accolades include:
- 2020 Tech For Good company – Bethnal Green Ventures accelerator programme.
- 2022 winner – TheTicketingBusiness Impact Award – TfG NHS Platform.
- 2023 Comcast NBCUniversal SportsTech Accelerator Programme.
- 2023 winner – Wallifornia Music and Innovation Summit – Startup of the Year.
- 2023 Prolific North – Tech Companies to Watch.
- 2023 winner – Music Ally SI:X – category and overall startup contest.
- 2024 BPI Grow Music inaugural graduating cohort x London & Partners, Abbey Road REDD, Anthony David King.
- 2024 Amsterdam Dance Event – Startups Programme cohort.
- 2025 UK Government Ministerial Round Table discussion on secondary ticketing participation with Ministers Madders and Minister Bryant, and the Departments for Culture, Media and Sport, Business and Trade.
- 2025 UK Business and Trade for North America spotlight interview, in association with the Department for Business and Trade.
CHICAGO, Feb. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Brandon Johnson, the 57th mayor of the City of Chicago, visited Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) on Thursday for a Lakeside Chat focused on civic leadership, human rights, and the barriers facing today’s college students.
The event, part of a broader effort to foster public discourse on the critical issues facing today’s students, brought together students, faculty, and staff to discuss how public institutions and city leadership can work together to expand opportunity and strengthen communities. The conversation aligned with NEIU’s College of Arts and Sciences’ –themed semester, “Staying the Course for Human Rights: From Awareness to Action,” and reflected NEIU’s mission as an access-driven, urban-serving university.
“At Northeastern Illinois University, expanding opportunity means meeting students where they are and removing the barriers that stand in the way of their success,” said President Katrina E. Bell-Jordan, “Yesterday’s Lakeside Chat reflected our shared commitment with the City of Chicago to strengthen our communities through education, workforce development, and student-centered support. We were honored to welcome Mayor Brandon Johnson to NEIU for a meaningful conversation centered on student voices.”
Moderated by NEIU Urban Community Studies Professor Zada Johnson, Ph.D., the panel featured student voices and faculty expertise alongside Mayor Johnson. The student panelists were Winter Terry, an undergraduate majoring in Political Science with minors in Criminology and Philosophy, and Leslie Lozada, a 2025 NEIU graduate, currently working on her master’s degree in Communication, Media and Theatre. Joined by DeWitt Scott, Ed.D., the Director of the Angelina Pedroso Center for Diversity and Intercultural Affairs, the group shared perspectives on access, belonging and persistence at NEIU as well as practices that support student success.
Discussion topics included students’ basic needs such as housing and food insecurity, mental health resources, campus safety, and support for students with disabilities, LGBTQ+ students, and DACA and undocumented students. Panelists emphasized that addressing these issues is essential to educational equity and long-term economic mobility.
Mayor Johnson highlighted the importance of partnerships between cities and public universities in advancing opportunities for students and the communities they serve.
“My administration is committed to meeting young people where they are and centering youth voices in our efforts to build safer, more affordable communities for all,” said Mayor Johnson. “I am grateful to NEIU for the opportunity to discuss our shared challenges and potential solutions with some of our city’s brightest students, and I look forward to continued partnership with NEIU to build career pathways, expand opportunities, and ensure Chicago is thriving. Today’s conversation is a reminder that young people are not just the leaders of tomorrow, they are leading in our present.”
As a Minority-Serving and a Hispanic-Serving Institution, NEIU serves a diverse student population, including adult learners, first-generation students and working professionals. University leaders underscored the importance of supporting students holistically to promote degree completion, workforce readiness and community impact.
The event concluded with a Q&A and a call to continue collaborating between NEIU and the City of Chicago to expand career pathways and strengthen the workforce pipeline for historically underserved communities.
Moderator:
Zada Johnson has a Ph.D. in Anthropology from the University of Chicago and is presently a professor of Urban Community Studies at Northeastern Illinois University. She is also the academic coordinator of the NEIU University Without Walls program for adult students. Her articles have appeared in academic journals as well as local news publications and pop culture blogs.
Panelists:
Leslie Lozada is a graduate student in NEIU’s Communication, Media and Theatre (CMT) program. She earned her B.A. in Anthropology from NEIU in 2025, with two minors, and is focused on media studies and mass communication. She works as a student aide in NEIU’s Office of Student Disability Services and serves as editor of The Independent, the University’s student newspaper, among several other student leadership roles.
DeWitt Scott is the Director of the Angelina Pedroso Center for Diversity and Intercultural Affairs at NEIU. He also serves as an adjunct professor in the Urban Community Studies, Higher Education Leadership, and African American Studies programs at NEIU. He earned a doctorate in Educational Leadership from Chicago State University.
Winter” Terry is an undergraduate student majoring in Political Science with minors in Criminology and Philosophy. She serves as a Senator in the NEIU Student Government Association and is actively engaged in student advocacy and initiatives that advance equity for marginalized communities.
About Northeastern Illinois University
Northeastern Illinois University offers more than 40 undergraduate degree and certificate programs and more than 50 graduate degree, certificate, licensure, and endorsement programs. The Main Campus is located on 67 acres in an attractive residential area on Chicago’s Northwest Side. Founded in 1867, Northeastern is a Minority-Serving Institution and the longest-standing four-year public Hispanic-Serving Institution in the Midwest. The University has additional Chicagoland locations, including the Jacob H. Carruthers Center for Inner City Studies, El Centro, and the University Center of Lake County.
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chicago-mayor-brandon-johnson-visits-northeastern-illinois-university-for-lakeside-chat-on-student-success-and-human-rights-302699920.html
SOURCE Northeastern Illinois University
REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Feb. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Zilliz, the company behind Milvus, the world’s most widely adopted open-source vector database, today announced the general availability of Zilliz Cloud BYOC (Bring Your Own Cloud) on Microsoft Azure. With this launch, Zilliz Cloud BYOC is now available across AWS, Google Cloud Platform, and Microsoft Azure—making Zilliz the first managed vector database provider to support BYOC on all three major clouds.
Enterprises building AI applications have long faced a trade-off between managed services that require moving sensitive data outside their security perimeter and self-hosted deployments that demand significant engineering resources. Zilliz Cloud BYOC eliminates this compromise by deploying a fully managed vector database directly inside a customer’s own cloud account—enabling organizations to move faster on AI initiatives without sacrificing data control or compliance.
“The AI infrastructure landscape is at an inflection point. Enterprises need platforms that respect their security, compliance, and multi-cloud realities,” said Charles Xie, Founder and CEO at Zilliz. “With BYOC on every major cloud, we’re removing one of the last barriers to enterprise AI adoption. Organizations no longer have to choose between moving fast and staying in control.”
Why the Azure Launch Matters
The Azure launch completes a deliberate expansion—from AWS to GCP and now to Microsoft Azure. For the many enterprises standardized on Microsoft’s cloud ecosystem, this launch removes the last deployment barrier. Organizations can now run their vector database in the same environment as Azure OpenAI Service and the rest of their Azure AI stack—eliminating cross-cloud data movement, reducing costs, and keeping AI workflows entirely within a single cloud environment.
Azure customers also benefit from full compatibility with their existing enterprise agreements, reserved capacity, and established governance and compliance frameworks. With the official Zilliz Cloud Terraform Provider, teams can automate BYOC deployments and integrate directly into existing infrastructure-as-code workflows—making adoption seamless for organizations already operating at scale on Azure.
What This Means for Enterprises
- Accelerated AI adoption: Deploy production-grade AI search infrastructure in days, not months, without the engineering burden of managing it.
- Data sovereignty and compliance: All data stays within the customer’s own cloud account and jurisdiction, simplifying regulatory requirements.
- Multi-cloud freedom: Teams across different cloud providers can standardize on a single vector database platform without re-platforming.
- Cost transparency: Infrastructure costs flow through existing cloud billing, enterprise agreements, and reserved capacity.
Every BYOC deployment includes the full Zilliz Cloud feature set built on Milvus, along with seamless migration from Pinecone, Qdrant, Elasticsearch, PostgreSQL, OpenSearch, Weaviate, or self-hosted Milvus.
Now Available
Zilliz Cloud BYOC is live across AWS, GCP, and Azure. Get started with deployment guides for AWS, GCP, and Azure, or connect with the Zilliz team to discuss your requirements.
About Zilliz
Zilliz is the company behind Milvus, the world’s most widely adopted open-source vector database. Zilliz Cloud brings that performance to production with a fully managed, cloud-native platform built for scalable, low-latency vector search and hybrid retrieval. It supports billion-scale workloads with sub-10ms latency, auto-scaling, and optimized indexes for GenAI use cases like semantic search and RAG.
Zilliz is built to make AI not just possible—but practical. With a focus on performance and cost-efficiency, it helps engineering teams move from prototype to production without overprovisioning or complex infrastructure. Over 10,000 organizations worldwide rely on Zilliz to build intelligent applications at scale.
Headquartered in Redwood Shores, California, Zilliz is backed by leading investors, including Aramco’s Prosperity 7 Ventures, Temasek’s Pavilion Capital, Hillhouse Capital, 5Y Capital, Yunqi Partners, Trustbridge Partners, and others. Learn more at Zilliz.com.
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/zilliz-cloud-brings-byoc-to-azure-extending-availability-across-major-cloud-platforms-302699894.html
SOURCE Zilliz
REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Feb. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Zilliz, the company behind Milvus, the world’s most widely adopted open-source vector database, today announced the general availability of Zilliz Cloud BYOC (Bring Your Own Cloud) on Microsoft Azure. With this launch, Zilliz Cloud BYOC is now available across AWS, Google Cloud Platform, and Microsoft Azure—making Zilliz the first managed vector database provider to support BYOC on all three major clouds.
Enterprises building AI applications have long faced a trade-off between managed services that require moving sensitive data outside their security perimeter and self-hosted deployments that demand significant engineering resources. Zilliz Cloud BYOC eliminates this compromise by deploying a fully managed vector database directly inside a customer’s own cloud account—enabling organizations to move faster on AI initiatives without sacrificing data control or compliance.
“The AI infrastructure landscape is at an inflection point. Enterprises need platforms that respect their security, compliance, and multi-cloud realities,” said Charles Xie, Founder and CEO at Zilliz. “With BYOC on every major cloud, we’re removing one of the last barriers to enterprise AI adoption. Organizations no longer have to choose between moving fast and staying in control.”
Why the Azure Launch Matters
The Azure launch completes a deliberate expansion—from AWS to GCP and now to Microsoft Azure. For the many enterprises standardized on Microsoft’s cloud ecosystem, this launch removes the last deployment barrier. Organizations can now run their vector database in the same environment as Azure OpenAI Service and the rest of their Azure AI stack—eliminating cross-cloud data movement, reducing costs, and keeping AI workflows entirely within a single cloud environment.
Azure customers also benefit from full compatibility with their existing enterprise agreements, reserved capacity, and established governance and compliance frameworks. With the official Zilliz Cloud Terraform Provider, teams can automate BYOC deployments and integrate directly into existing infrastructure-as-code workflows—making adoption seamless for organizations already operating at scale on Azure.
What This Means for Enterprises
- Accelerated AI adoption: Deploy production-grade AI search infrastructure in days, not months, without the engineering burden of managing it.
- Data sovereignty and compliance: All data stays within the customer’s own cloud account and jurisdiction, simplifying regulatory requirements.
- Multi-cloud freedom: Teams across different cloud providers can standardize on a single vector database platform without re-platforming.
- Cost transparency: Infrastructure costs flow through existing cloud billing, enterprise agreements, and reserved capacity.
Every BYOC deployment includes the full Zilliz Cloud feature set built on Milvus, along with seamless migration from Pinecone, Qdrant, Elasticsearch, PostgreSQL, OpenSearch, Weaviate, or self-hosted Milvus.
Now Available
Zilliz Cloud BYOC is live across AWS, GCP, and Azure. Get started with deployment guides for AWS, GCP, and Azure, or connect with the Zilliz team to discuss your requirements.
About Zilliz
Zilliz is the company behind Milvus, the world’s most widely adopted open-source vector database. Zilliz Cloud brings that performance to production with a fully managed, cloud-native platform built for scalable, low-latency vector search and hybrid retrieval. It supports billion-scale workloads with sub-10ms latency, auto-scaling, and optimized indexes for GenAI use cases like semantic search and RAG.
Zilliz is built to make AI not just possible—but practical. With a focus on performance and cost-efficiency, it helps engineering teams move from prototype to production without overprovisioning or complex infrastructure. Over 10,000 organizations worldwide rely on Zilliz to build intelligent applications at scale.
Headquartered in Redwood Shores, California, Zilliz is backed by leading investors, including Aramco’s Prosperity 7 Ventures, Temasek’s Pavilion Capital, Hillhouse Capital, 5Y Capital, Yunqi Partners, Trustbridge Partners, and others. Learn more at Zilliz.com.
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/zilliz-cloud-brings-byoc-to-azure-extending-availability-across-major-cloud-platforms-302699894.html
SOURCE Zilliz
Leadership stories are often told as straight lines: clear goals, deliberate moves, steady climbs. But many leaders don’t follow a blueprint — they grow into leadership by showing up, contributing and letting their impact speak for itself.
Two members of Tapestry’s Black Alliance Employee Business Resource Group (EBRG) are doing just that.
“It wasn’t my plan to come in [to the Black Alliance ERBG] at the lowest level and find my way to the top,” says Jason Livingston, Manager of Procurement and Vendor Engagement at Tapestry.
When first becoming involved with the EBRG group, Livingston says his thinking was only, “I like what’s going on here, I like what they’re trying to build, I want to participate. My journey [into the co-lead role] has been one of availability.”
Livingston first stepped into the group by volunteering as a marketing coordinator, segueing into philanthropy, and as he tells it, “Someone left, so I got elevated from coordinator to co-lead because someone said, ‘Jason can do it.’”
As much as he downplays it, Livingston’s work in Black Alliance is a natural fit. Not only is it an extension of his full-time role helping to connect Tapestry with varied vendors, but it also allows him to follow his personal interests through experiences and events while connecting with others.
The Black Alliance’s “Bookish Book Club for instance — I was already reading Black authors and content related to the Black community. The only difference is that now I’m talking to people in the community about what I’m reading,” Livingston says. “I was already going to museums and Black History Month cultural events, now I do it with my Tapestry community.”
The Bookish Book Club is just one of the events the EBRG hosted in honor of Black History Month. Throughout February, members also heard an “Unscripted” conversation with United Airlines captain, Carole Hopson, and attended a Black History Month Kitchen Takeover and an end-of-month celebration at Hudson Yards.
FROM ON MUTE TO VOLUME UP
For Carmen Williams, General Manager for Coach in Southern California, entry into the Black Alliance EBRG also started quietly – by showing up.
“When I first joined the calls, I would be on Zoom on mute,” Williams remembers. “I would unmute myself, say something once in a while, and then immediately mute again.”
Soon enough, Williams — who’s been a COACH General Manager for 17 years — realized others on the call listened to and valued her ideas. “I did have a voice, I did have a seat at the table, and I was making an impact — even when I was just listening,” she says.
With steady participation, Williams began to see the opportunities Black Alliance provided for Tapestry employees, namely: leadership, networking, philanthropy.
From listening on mute, Williams was invited to become more involved, eventually becoming lead of the Professional Development pillar where she co-created career growth programming. Now as part of Williams’ role as a Black Alliance Co-lead, she regularly advocates for virtual access to meetings and events for retail and fulfillment center employees.
“The store population of Tapestry is the largest employee populations in our company,” Williams says. “If we’re talking about people first, this needs to be louder.”
For Williams, it’s Tapestry’s value of “Embracing Difference By Design” that resonates most as a leader — both in her full-time role and as Black Alliance co-lead.
“I want to be an ally because I have over 100 people on my team [as a general manager] and I need to be able to relate to their diverse needs,” says Williams, who is also a member of Prouder Together and Juntos Unidos EBRGs.
CREATING SPACE FOR LEADERS TO RISE
Both Livingston and Williams’ stories prove that confidence often builds within a supportive community. And they credit Tapestry with creating space and resources to allow them to join that community and evolve into leadership roles.
“Tapestry has done an excellent job of allowing this space to happen,” Livingston says. “For all the EBRG groups, we get to do certain events, host speakers, and there’s the space to do them.”
Williams says EBRGs like Black Alliance are a crucial part of retaining talent. “EBRGs gives people the opportunity to take a deep breath and say ‘I definitely belong.’ Inclusion and belonging is key to what we do.”
In the end, the leaders who leave the deepest mark didn’t always have a blueprint. Instead they’re the ones who consistently participated, took action, and let their growth as a leader speak for itself.
As Livingston says it best, “Participation matters at every level. You don’t have to lead — you just have to show up.”
Stay up to date on news from Tapestry on the Tapestry Newsroom.
Leadership stories are often told as straight lines: clear goals, deliberate moves, steady climbs. But many leaders don’t follow a blueprint — they grow into leadership by showing up, contributing and letting their impact speak for itself.
Two members of Tapestry’s Black Alliance Employee Business Resource Group (EBRG) are doing just that.
“It wasn’t my plan to come in [to the Black Alliance ERBG] at the lowest level and find my way to the top,” says Jason Livingston, Manager of Procurement and Vendor Engagement at Tapestry.
When first becoming involved with the EBRG group, Livingston says his thinking was only, “I like what’s going on here, I like what they’re trying to build, I want to participate. My journey [into the co-lead role] has been one of availability.”
Livingston first stepped into the group by volunteering as a marketing coordinator, segueing into philanthropy, and as he tells it, “Someone left, so I got elevated from coordinator to co-lead because someone said, ‘Jason can do it.’”
As much as he downplays it, Livingston’s work in Black Alliance is a natural fit. Not only is it an extension of his full-time role helping to connect Tapestry with varied vendors, but it also allows him to follow his personal interests through experiences and events while connecting with others.
The Black Alliance’s “Bookish Book Club for instance — I was already reading Black authors and content related to the Black community. The only difference is that now I’m talking to people in the community about what I’m reading,” Livingston says. “I was already going to museums and Black History Month cultural events, now I do it with my Tapestry community.”
The Bookish Book Club is just one of the events the EBRG hosted in honor of Black History Month. Throughout February, members also heard an “Unscripted” conversation with United Airlines captain, Carole Hopson, and attended a Black History Month Kitchen Takeover and an end-of-month celebration at Hudson Yards.
FROM ON MUTE TO VOLUME UP
For Carmen Williams, General Manager for Coach in Southern California, entry into the Black Alliance EBRG also started quietly – by showing up.
“When I first joined the calls, I would be on Zoom on mute,” Williams remembers. “I would unmute myself, say something once in a while, and then immediately mute again.”
Soon enough, Williams — who’s been a COACH General Manager for 17 years — realized others on the call listened to and valued her ideas. “I did have a voice, I did have a seat at the table, and I was making an impact — even when I was just listening,” she says.
With steady participation, Williams began to see the opportunities Black Alliance provided for Tapestry employees, namely: leadership, networking, philanthropy.
From listening on mute, Williams was invited to become more involved, eventually becoming lead of the Professional Development pillar where she co-created career growth programming. Now as part of Williams’ role as a Black Alliance Co-lead, she regularly advocates for virtual access to meetings and events for retail and fulfillment center employees.
“The store population of Tapestry is the largest employee populations in our company,” Williams says. “If we’re talking about people first, this needs to be louder.”
For Williams, it’s Tapestry’s value of “Embracing Difference By Design” that resonates most as a leader — both in her full-time role and as Black Alliance co-lead.
“I want to be an ally because I have over 100 people on my team [as a general manager] and I need to be able to relate to their diverse needs,” says Williams, who is also a member of Prouder Together and Juntos Unidos EBRGs.
CREATING SPACE FOR LEADERS TO RISE
Both Livingston and Williams’ stories prove that confidence often builds within a supportive community. And they credit Tapestry with creating space and resources to allow them to join that community and evolve into leadership roles.
“Tapestry has done an excellent job of allowing this space to happen,” Livingston says. “For all the EBRG groups, we get to do certain events, host speakers, and there’s the space to do them.”
Williams says EBRGs like Black Alliance are a crucial part of retaining talent. “EBRGs gives people the opportunity to take a deep breath and say ‘I definitely belong.’ Inclusion and belonging is key to what we do.”
In the end, the leaders who leave the deepest mark didn’t always have a blueprint. Instead they’re the ones who consistently participated, took action, and let their growth as a leader speak for itself.
As Livingston says it best, “Participation matters at every level. You don’t have to lead — you just have to show up.”
Stay up to date on news from Tapestry on the Tapestry Newsroom.
The Company Should Not Hide Behind Its Treatment of Abstain Votes — Chairman Goebel Did Not Receive a Majority of the Votes Cast
Jack in the Box Stockholders Cannot Afford Another Year of David Goebel
ISS, BlackRock, Vanguard, and State Street Inexplicably Defended Long-Tenured David Goebel and Failed to Hold Any Director Accountable for JACK’s Appalling Strategic Decisions and Massive Destruction of Stockholder Value
This Proxy Contest Proved that the Chairman has been an Abject Failure — He Must Resign Now
SAN ANTONIO, Feb. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Biglari Capital Corp. (“Biglari Capital”), the largest stockholder of Jack in the Box Inc. (NasdaqGS: JACK), with a 9.86% ownership stake, today issued the following statement regarding the preliminary voting results from JACK’s 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
A Clear Divide: Accountability vs. Complacency
Preliminary voting results from JACK’s stockholder meeting reveal a stark and troubling divide. Active fund managers and retail stockholders — those who bear the real consequences of failed corporate governance — voted to hold Chairman David Goebel accountable for the destruction of stockholder value and his failure to act as a responsible steward of stockholder interests. By contrast, ISS, BlackRock, Vanguard, and State Street supported the status quo, providing cover for a board that has presided over value destruction.
JACK spent $5 Million to Defend One Director for One More Year
JACK spent an estimated $5 million on this proxy contest — not to protect the company’s future, but to defend the reelection of David Goebel for a single additional year.
- Over the last five years alone, Mr. Goebel collected approximately $1.55 million in director compensation.
- During the same period, JACK’s stockholders lost approximately 80% of their investment — roughly $1.8 billion in stockholder value.
- Mr. Goebel was paid millions to oversee billions in destruction.
ISS, BlackRock, Vanguard, and State Street: A Governance Failure
While active fund managers and retail stockholders voted for accountability, ISS and the three largest index funds — BlackRock, Vanguard, and State Street — supported JACK’s failed leader.
Preliminary voting data for the three index funds imply that the proxy voting teams at these firms are completely indifferent to how their decisions impact the owners whose capital they are entrusted to protect. One is left to wonder: Do these governance teams even consider the repercussions their rubber-stamping of failed leadership has on the investors who have lost 80% of the value of their JACK holdings?
JACK is a poster child of everything that can go wrong at a public company — catastrophic acquisition, leadership turnover, persistent operational underperformance, and entrenched governance — yet it has still managed to secure the support of a proxy advisor and the three largest index funds. This is not governance; it is the institutionalization of unaccountability.
The Underlying Investors Would Disagree
If the ETF investors who have entrusted their savings to BlackRock, Vanguard, and State Street — retail investors saving for retirement, college, and financial security — had had a say, they likely would have voted against Goebel. These investors did not hand over their savings so that the governance teams at these institutions could give a free pass to the same failed leadership at JACK that destroyed $1.8 billion in stockholder value.
Failing to hold boards accountable promotes mediocrity. It puts the entire system of meritocracy at risk. When the largest stewards of capital — BlackRock, Vanguard, and State Street — abdicate their governance responsibilities, the consequences extend far beyond any single company.
JACK’s False and Misleading Statements
In addition to these governance failures, JACK made false and misleading statements in its proxy materials. Biglari Capital reserves the right to pursue all available legal remedies.
Conclusion
Mr. Goebel should be embarrassed and ashamed of the company’s performance. He should have resigned years ago instead of playing politics and trying to hold on, wasting money for personal gain while relying on abstain votes, ISS, and index funds. He has no credibility with active investors.
View original content:SOURCE Biglari Capital Corp.
The Company Should Not Hide Behind Its Treatment of Abstain Votes — Chairman Goebel Did Not Receive a Majority of the Votes Cast
Jack in the Box Stockholders Cannot Afford Another Year of David Goebel
ISS, BlackRock, Vanguard, and State Street Inexplicably Defended Long-Tenured David Goebel and Failed to Hold Any Director Accountable for JACK’s Appalling Strategic Decisions and Massive Destruction of Stockholder Value
This Proxy Contest Proved that the Chairman has been an Abject Failure — He Must Resign Now
SAN ANTONIO, Feb. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Biglari Capital Corp. (“Biglari Capital”), the largest stockholder of Jack in the Box Inc. (NasdaqGS: JACK), with a 9.86% ownership stake, today issued the following statement regarding the preliminary voting results from JACK’s 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
A Clear Divide: Accountability vs. Complacency
Preliminary voting results from JACK’s stockholder meeting reveal a stark and troubling divide. Active fund managers and retail stockholders — those who bear the real consequences of failed corporate governance — voted to hold Chairman David Goebel accountable for the destruction of stockholder value and his failure to act as a responsible steward of stockholder interests. By contrast, ISS, BlackRock, Vanguard, and State Street supported the status quo, providing cover for a board that has presided over value destruction.
JACK spent $5 Million to Defend One Director for One More Year
JACK spent an estimated $5 million on this proxy contest — not to protect the company’s future, but to defend the reelection of David Goebel for a single additional year.
- Over the last five years alone, Mr. Goebel collected approximately $1.55 million in director compensation.
- During the same period, JACK’s stockholders lost approximately 80% of their investment — roughly $1.8 billion in stockholder value.
- Mr. Goebel was paid millions to oversee billions in destruction.
ISS, BlackRock, Vanguard, and State Street: A Governance Failure
While active fund managers and retail stockholders voted for accountability, ISS and the three largest index funds — BlackRock, Vanguard, and State Street — supported JACK’s failed leader.
Preliminary voting data for the three index funds imply that the proxy voting teams at these firms are completely indifferent to how their decisions impact the owners whose capital they are entrusted to protect. One is left to wonder: Do these governance teams even consider the repercussions their rubber-stamping of failed leadership has on the investors who have lost 80% of the value of their JACK holdings?
JACK is a poster child of everything that can go wrong at a public company — catastrophic acquisition, leadership turnover, persistent operational underperformance, and entrenched governance — yet it has still managed to secure the support of a proxy advisor and the three largest index funds. This is not governance; it is the institutionalization of unaccountability.
The Underlying Investors Would Disagree
If the ETF investors who have entrusted their savings to BlackRock, Vanguard, and State Street — retail investors saving for retirement, college, and financial security — had had a say, they likely would have voted against Goebel. These investors did not hand over their savings so that the governance teams at these institutions could give a free pass to the same failed leadership at JACK that destroyed $1.8 billion in stockholder value.
Failing to hold boards accountable promotes mediocrity. It puts the entire system of meritocracy at risk. When the largest stewards of capital — BlackRock, Vanguard, and State Street — abdicate their governance responsibilities, the consequences extend far beyond any single company.
JACK’s False and Misleading Statements
In addition to these governance failures, JACK made false and misleading statements in its proxy materials. Biglari Capital reserves the right to pursue all available legal remedies.
Conclusion
Mr. Goebel should be embarrassed and ashamed of the company’s performance. He should have resigned years ago instead of playing politics and trying to hold on, wasting money for personal gain while relying on abstain votes, ISS, and index funds. He has no credibility with active investors.
SOURCE Biglari Capital Corp.
The limited-edition collaboration honors the legacy, excellence, and future of Historically Black Colleges and Universities while reinforcing ORS’ ongoing commitment to HBCU students and graduates.
CHICAGO, Feb. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — ORS™ Haircare is proud to partner with HBCU Culture Shop on a limited-edition HBCU-themed collection across select ORS Olive Oil products currently available nationwide. The partnership celebrates the pride, excellence, and cultural impact of Historically Black Colleges and Universities while deepening ORS’ engagement with HBCU communities across the country.
Debuting during Black History Month, the collaboration marks the beginning of broader initiatives, including a planned HBCU Tour and student-centered programming designed to equip students with self-care knowledge and confidence as they pursue their goals. Black History Month serves as a reminder that legacy is not only something to reflect on, but something to build forward.
Created in partnership with HBCU Culture Shop, the limited-edition packaging features bold, pride-inspired design elements that reflect the collective identity and enduring influence of HBCUs across the United States. The collaboration brings together two brands rooted in culture and community, honoring the institutions that have shaped generations of leaders, creatives, innovators, and entrepreneurs while spotlighting the next generation carrying that legacy forward.
The limited-edition HBCU collection is available nationwide at Orshaircare.com, Amazon, and major retailers including CVS, Walgreens, Target, Walmart, and select beauty supply stores.
- ORS Olive Oil HBCU Edge Control Hair Gel Extra Firm Hold (2.2 oz) – $7.99
A non-greasy extra-firm formula that provides up to 48-hour hold without cast or crunch, ideal for sculpting baby hairs, ponytails, updos, twists, and locs. - ORS Olive Oil HBCU Edge Control Hair Gel Firm Hold (2.2 oz) – $7.99
A classic firm hold formula that delivers sleek definition and polished edges without flaking. - ORS Olive Oil HBCU Strengthen & Restore Replenishing Conditioner (16 oz) – $9.99
A moisture-rich conditioner that restores hydration, reinforces strand strength, and improves manageability. - ORS Olive Oil HBCU Deep Cleansing Creamy Aloe Shampoo (16 oz) – $9.99
A gentle, creamy shampoo infused with aloe that cleanses thoroughly while helping maintain moisture balance.
“As a brand grounded in culture and community, ORS understands the influence and impact of HBCUs on leadership, innovation, and excellence,” said Jolorie Williams, Chief Marketing Officer at ORS Haircare. “Kicking off our partnership with HBCU Culture Shop during Black History Month allows us to celebrate that legacy in a meaningful way while continuing to support the students who are shaping what comes next. This collaboration reflects the start of our long-term commitment to honoring the institutions that have shaped generations of talent.”
“This partnership with ORS is a true full-circle moment for me,” said Dainelle Riley, Founder of HBCU Culture Shop. “Collaborating on something that reflects my HBCU journey is incredibly meaningful. My HBCU experience taught me that our hair is an extension of identity and cultural expression, and this collaboration celebrates that connection authentically.”
This collaboration is just one chapter of a sustained commitment to HBCU-centered initiatives. ORS Haircare recognizes that HBCUs are not simply part of history, they are engines of culture, innovation, and leadership. The brand intends to invest in that future for the long haul.
About ORS™ Haircare
ORS™ (Original Root Stimulator) is a brand of Namaste Laboratories, LLC, dedicated to creating high-performance products for natural hair restoration and maintenance. With a foundation rooted in science and hair health, ORS offers a diverse portfolio including Olive Oil, Olive Oil Braidzone, ORS Curlshow, ORS OLIVE Goodbye Dry, ORS HBCU, and more.
About HBCU Culture Shop
Founded in 2017, HBCU Culture Shop is a Black woman-owned, fully licensed collegiate brand redefining HBCU pride through original, culture-driven design. The brand blends heritage with modern streetwear while building partnerships that prioritize authenticity and cultural impact. HBCU Culture Shop stands as a love letter to the HBCU experience.
Media Contact
Dominique Jean-Pierre
The Wilder Agency for ORS Haircare
Dominique@thewilderagency.com
1-833-WILDER1, Ext 3
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SOURCE ORS Hair Care
