Microsoft Corp just announced the winners and finalists of the 2021 Microsoft Partner of the Year Awards. The annual awards recognize Microsoft partners demonstrating excellence in innovation and implementation of customer solutions based on Microsoft technology. Award winners and finalists from around the world will be recognized at the all-digital Microsoft Inspire, July 14-15, 2021.

This year, Microsoft acknowledged partners in 56 categories celebrating each of the solution areas, industries and sectors globally in which Microsoft technologies are used. Several new awards and categories were announced this year, including a new Social Impact category, which encompasses community response, inclusion and sustainability.

Microsoft selected the finalists and winners for all Partner of the Year Awards from more than 4,400 nominations collected from more than 100 different countries worldwide. Applicants were judged based on their commitment to customers, their solution's impact on the market, and exemplary use of Microsoft technologies.

"Announcing the winners and finalists for the Partner of the Year Awards is always a highlight for us each year," said Rodney Clark, corporate vice president, Global Partner Solutions, Channel Sales and Channel Chief, Microsoft. "These companies are bringing innovative solutions to complex business challenges and providing digital transformation opportunities for their customers from cloud to edge. Congratulations to each winner and finalist on this tremendous achievement."

Additional details on the Microsoft 2021 Partner of the Year Awards are available in an updated Microsoft Partner Network blog.

About Microsoft Inspire

Microsoft Inspire is the company's largest partner event of the year. This conference brings together partners from around the world, industry leaders and Microsoft experts to discuss Microsoft cloud innovation, opportunities for partner growth and profitability, and ways to create and strengthen connections. This year, Inspire will take place July 14–15, 2021.

About Microsoft

About Microsoft. Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT" @microsoft) enables digital transformation for the era of an intelligent cloud and an intelligent edge. Its mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.

According to the Cox Automotive 2021 Dealership Staffing Study, 72% of franchised dealers surveyed say finding and hiring the right employees is currently a challenge.

U.S. Automobile Dealers Struggle to Hire Employees While Business Booms.

A majority of dealership leaders - approximately 65% - report they plan to increase the total number of employees in the dealership this year.

The study found a disconnect between what the most progressive dealers are looking for in employees and the skills job seekers think they need to work in a dealership.

The U.S. economy is showing signs of returning to pre-pandemic levels, and the auto business is booming. Like many industries, U.S. automotive retail is struggling to find enough employees for dealerships to be fully staffed, much less meet their 2021 growth goals. In the 2021 Cox Automotive Dealership Staffing Study published today, 72% of franchised auto dealers surveyed say that finding and hiring the right employees is currently a challenge.

A majority of dealership leaders – approximately 65% – report that they plan to increase the total number of employees in the dealership this year, while ~34% said they plan to maintain their staffing level. Expanding the number of service technicians is the highest priority for dealership leaders, with 60% planning to increase the number of service technicians this year, followed by new-vehicle sales associates (54%) and used-vehicle sales associates (48%).

Dealers' desire to grow their operations comes at a time when business is strong. According to the Q2 Cox Automotive Dealer Sentiment Index, sentiment related to the current market reached a record high in Q2 for both franchised and independent dealers, and the profit index set a record high as well. The 3-month market outlook index reading is an increase from last quarter and, importantly, equal to Q1 2020, the final pre-COVID-19 reading.

"While the outlook for dealerships has never been better, dealers state that finding employees is a challenge due to people not returning to their positions or the workforce post-pandemic," said Angela Drake, senior industry intelligence manager, Cox Automotive. "The traditional lack of interest in working at dealerships is exacerbated this year by pandemic-related stimulus money and enhanced unemployment benefits. The good news is that our study found overall interest in working at dealerships is growing, and a growing number of employees in non-automotive jobs view their skill sets as transferable to the dealership."

Job Seekers May Have Skills Dealers Desire, And Not Know It. When asking potential job seekers why they would not want to work at a dealership, 32% indicate they did not have the necessary skills. However, the 2021 Dealership Staffing Study finds that Heavy Digital Dealers, those dealers that significantly invest in digital retailing tools, say the right employee doesn't need automotive experience. Instead, they are looking for the following characteristics:

- Willing to go above and beyond their specific job responsibilities

- Good communicators across all communication channels (verbal, written, video, etc.)

- Can easily adapt to a quickly changing work environment

- Tech-savvy and comfortable with learning new technology

"As pandemic unemployment assistance winds down, dealers have the opportunity to promote their job openings to a new group of job seekers who may not have considered working in a dealership," said Bob Kostkan, senior director at Cox Automotive University. "Job seekers with restaurant and retail experience usually have the mindset, potential and skills to be successful at a dealership but may not realize that automotive experience isn't a prerequisite for many of the open positions. The most successful dealers offer employees onboarding and comprehensive career development training beyond what their OEMs offer to enhance engagement and retention. In fact, the top two most popular training enhancements indicated in the Dealership Staffing Study for now and into the future are online/digital tools and communication skills."

Cox Automotive 2021 Dealership Staffing Study Methodology

Data for the Cox Automotive Dealership Staffing Study is gathered via online surveys. The results were based on 440 franchised and independent dealership employee respondents, comprising 151 individual contributors, 127 department managers and 182 dealership leaders, and 394 employees at non-dealership companies, comprising 147 individual contributors, 63 department managers, 147 leaders and 37 unemployed active job seekers. Respondents were based across the country and responded to the survey between Feb. 23 and March 10, 2021.

Good Funding, LLC ("Good Funding"), a recently-launched small business finance company, has closed on a $20.0 million senior revolving credit facility with a U.S.-based, credit focused asset manager. The agreement includes an accordion feature with the option to increase the credit facility to $30.0 million. The transaction represents Good Funding's inaugural institutional financing. Proceeds will be used to increase the Company's funding capabilities and execute its strategic growth plan

"We are thrilled to have closed on this first round of institutional financing," said Jason Osiecki, Co-Founder and President of Good Funding. "This credit facility will allow us to accelerate the growth of our funding platform, expand our team, and ultimately empower even more small businesses to move forward."

"With less than a year in business, in the midst of a pandemic that is still negatively impacting America's small businesses, we view this investment as a strong endorsement of what Good Funding can accomplish," said Co-Founder and CEO of Good Funding, Ben Gold. "Closing on this credit facility validates our mission to transform the way small businesses access the capital they need to grow and thrive. We cannot wait to put this investment into action."

Brean Capital, LLC served as the Company's exclusive Advisor and Placement Agent in connection with this transaction.

About Good Funding, LLC

Founded in 2020, Good Funding is a privately-held financial services firm that provides alternative funding resources to America's small businesses. Our products are designed for business owners who cannot access working capital through traditional methods, or simply need funding with a rapid-fire turnaround. Good Funding allows entrepreneurs, start-ups and established businesses to build self-reliance and a brighter financial future. We created Good Funding to be different and to make a difference. Our team has designed products tailored to the unique needs and circumstances of small businesses. And since this is a space we intimately know, we can develop and easily recognize solutions that are poised for success. We're different in the way we attack challenges. We function as a team - as a family, really - which means we experience collaboration and camaraderie (and the occasional debate that goes sideways). But ultimately, it's our unified trust and commitment to one another that always leads to the optimal customer-centric solution. Good Funding stands out by changing outcomes. It's the essence of our culture, our values, and our ideology. Like we say, for us, good is personal.

Deluxe (NYSE: DLX), a Trusted Business Technology company, has immediate openings in its growing remittance processing business in the greater Chicago area. These high impact positions are available in the company's growing Payments segment. Since late 2019, Deluxe payment processing has continued to grow and expand, even during the pandemic. With additional new products launching this year, the Deluxe Payments team is looking to expand, specifically in the remittance area with a host of new positions now open.

"This is an exciting time to join a team that is working to help communities thrive," said Stacy Van Meter, Vice President of Talent Acquisition at Deluxe. "If you are dedicated, focused and eager to learn, we would be excited to talk to you about the open roles we have. These are full-time positions in our growing tech business that come with excellent benefits and long-term opportunities with the company for the right candidates."

Deluxe offers competitive benefits starting on the first day of employment for full- and part-time employees, including, but not limited to, the following:

- Medical, dental and vision plans

- Short-term and long-term disability insurance

- Flex spending and health savings accounts

- All employees granted Deluxe stock within first quarter of employment

- Tuition reimbursement

- Paid vacation – 3 weeks per calendar year

- Volunteer time off – 24 hours per calendar year

- Paid parental leave

- Employee Resource Groups

- Gympass access

Deluxe employees are the company's greatest asset. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Deluxe has instituted safety and cleanliness protocols in its remittance processing sites, keeping employees safe while continuing to meet the demands of its customers in this growing segment. For more information about these openings or to apply, go to jobs.deluxe.com.

About Deluxe Corporation

Deluxe, a Trusted Business Technology™ company, champions business so communities thrive. Our solutions help businesses pay and get paid, accelerate growth and operate more efficiently. For more than 100 years, Deluxe customers have relied on our solutions and platforms at all stages of their lifecycle, from start-up to maturity. Our powerful scale supports millions of small businesses, thousands of vital financial institutions and hundreds of the world's largest consumer brands, while processing more than $2.8 trillion in annual payment volume. Our reach, scale and distribution channels position Deluxe to be our customers' most trusted business partner.