Ann Ramakumaran is the Founder and CEO of Ampcus Inc .  Ann is a technology savvy entrepreneur with more than 20 plus years of design, development and delivery of innovative and leading-edge Technology Solutions and Human Capital Management across the globe. Under her leadership, she has cultivated Ampcus and Ampcus group of companies into a fast-growing Consulting and Professional Services organization. For eleven consecutive years she has been recognized as a top Asian American owned business by USPAACC and for over twelve consecutive years honored as one of the 50 Fastest Growing Women Owned and Women Led Business in the CONUS by the Women Presidents Organization. Under Ann’s leadership, Ampcus has made the Inc. 500/5000 list and has been recognized as a Top Diversity Business. Ann was also awarded Women in Technology Entrepreneur of the Year by WIT and most recently was inducted into the Women’s Business Enterprise Hall of Fame . Ann has also received the Chairman’s Award for Inspirational Leadership from CRMSDC and the President’s Award from WPEO, the Global Growth Award from Astra Women’s Business Alliance, Supplier of the Year Award from GMSDC, Top Asian American Business Award from USPAACC-SE and USPAACC-SW, CRMSDC Supplier of the Year, NMSDC Supplier of the Year and NMSDC MBE of the Year, MBDA Minority Business Enterprise of the Year and CRMSDC Corporation of the year 2024. In 2019, Ampcus became part of the NMSDC’S elite Corporate Plus Program.

Ann serves on the Board of WBENC, NMSDC,Greater Washington Partnership, CRMSDC Board, WBEC DMV/NY Board ,CWE Board , USPAACC Scholarship Committee. She has been a speaker at numerous National and Local Procurement and Diversity  and Technology Conferences. In addition, Ann has mentored several women and minority start up’s in an effort to help them grow their business. Ann holds her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Business and Commercial Management from India and has completed Executive Management from the Robins School of Business, University of Richmond Virginia and an Advance Management from the Kellogg School of Management Northwestern University Illinois.

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Justin Myrick is a certified MBE and an FAA certified drone pilot, as well as a visual effects artist and multimedia producer, utilizing his seven plus years of creating unique visual content using all forms of media. He is mentioned in Adage.com for his work on the Nike World Cup ad that stars Kylian Mbappe, and Ronaldhino Gaucho. In addition to doing visual effects for Target’s Wakanda Forever TV commercial and Temu’s Superbowl commercial, he has provided his videography skills to both small and large businesses alike, as well as local and state government agencies.  He gives all companies the same level of expertise so that they will be pleased with the videos that represent their companies across all forms of media including websites and social media.  Business owners with physical spaces call him for drone videography of their properties.  As a 2022 graduate of the Savannah College of Art & Design, he was able to provide his visual effects expertise on a short film (The pope’s Dog) that was nominated for a 2023 College Emmy award. His goal is to help deliver unique video content for your brand. 

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Adrienne Wilder is a dynamic banking executive with nearly 3 decades of experience driving business growth, financial strategy, and community-focused development. A proud native of South Carolina, she has built a distinguished career on her ability to connect financial services with real-world impact, consistently delivering value to businesses and individuals alike. As Senior Vice President and Group Banking Financial Advisor at a Pinnacle Financial Partners, Adrienne oversees financial specialists across a broad market, from Myrtle Beach to Hilton Head, South Carolina. Her role focuses on guiding business owners and their employees through group banking solutions that include tailored financial education, employee benefits, and strategic services—all designed to increase organizational efficiency, satisfaction, and employee attraction and retention. With proven expertise in business development, client relationship management, and strategic planning, Adrienne is known for identifying growth opportunities, cultivating partnerships, and translating complex financial concepts into actionable solutions. Her ability to foster trust and drive results has made her a go-to advisor for both small businesses and large organizations. Adrienne’s leadership extends beyond banking. She actively collaborates with nonprofit and for-profit entities to ensure their teams are equipped with tools for financial success through direct deposit programs and customized support. She is also deeply committed to mentorship, coaching, and leadership development within her institution and the wider business community. A graduate of South Carolina Bankers School, Adrienne, serves as Co-Chair and Chair-Elect for Increasing H.O.P.E., Treasurer for Tri County Cradle to Career, South Carolina Community Loan Fund Committee, and has held leadership roles including Image Chairperson for the Rotary Club of G.C., Executive Board Member for March for Babies and is Minority Board Trained certified. Grounded in faith and purpose, Adrienne approaches every opportunity with the belief that unity and strategy are the keys to sustainable business growth and community advancement.

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Alexander “Alex” Williams, FSCP is a 39-year-old native of Greenville, SC and currently resides in Greenville. Owner, Founder and Financial Advisor for Win Finacial Group out of Greenville South Carolina. Being raised the only child by single mother, was taught the importance of family values and hard work. As a graduate of Berea High School, met his high school love Melissa Williams and has been married 19 years and the have a 16-year-old daughter Haley. Alex attended Greenville Technical college and graduated with a Associates degree in Marketing on the Dean’s List. During that time, Alex was able to find a love for business. But it wasn’t until Alex went in to banking as a Loan Officer for 7 years that he learned his true passion was for helping people. Working in that space shed light that a lot of people, regardless of class or race, have been underserved and financially unaware of the tools needed to succeed. Looking for the best way to pursue the two things that he was passionate about; Alex made the decision to start his own financial services practice while partnering with New York Life in 2021 to be the change that he wanted to see. To be able to educate and inform people regardless of social or economic status the power of financial education. Alex’s practice in a short time has led to him earning 2022 Greenville Office New Org Agent of the Year as well as numerous awards and accolades. Providing a practice built on education and knowledge with services catering to retirement, investments, financial planning and life insurance. Alex also currently sits on the board African American Prosperity Network, the Simpsonville Chamber and as President of the Kaleidoscope initiative for the Simpsonville Chamber. Keeping in mind the importance of given time back to the community.

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Antonio Smith is a Certified Public Accountant that helps entrepreneurs uncover the value within their businesses and personal finances. He provides financial statement analysis and business management systems within a core-driver framework. He aims to add value to his community by helping entrepreneurs uncover the value within their businesses and increase their net worth by strategically deploying the excess cash generated.

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Bernard Bell is currently the Executive Director of the Shuford Program in Entrepreneurship at the University of NC at Chapel Hill. He has spent the majority of his career as both a Corporate Sales and Marketing Executive and an Entrepreneur, and most recently, an Academic. At UNC, Bell has been part of the team that shepherded the newly endowed Shuford Entrepreneurship Program from a 200-student minor to over 600 students while gaining national recognition as US News and World Reports #4th ranked entrepreneurship program in the country in 2022. Bernard also serves as a professor in the program, teaching almost 200+ plus students annually in his Shuford Capstone Class while leading an extremely talented team of Entrepreneurs-in-Residents (EIRs), tenured professors, and admin and support personnel. Bernard most recently was instrumental in raising $11.5 mm in alumni and corporate support bringing the Shuford Programs’ total endowment to overb $35 mm under his leadership. Bell is also CEO of Urban Media Solutions, a consulting firm that he launched in 2009. In this role, Bell advises start-up founders and seasoned executives on leadership and culture with an intentional focus on the Gen X, Y, and Z consumer. Bell also works with Corporate CEO’s on Communication Strategy with an emphasis on EQ and not IQ. Bell was most recently Senior Vice President for Urban One, the largest distributor of radio, television, and digital media urban content in the country, where he was part of thefounding team, and the 2nd hire for the 70 mm subscriber network TV One. Prior to this C- suite role, Bernard held senior sales and marketing positions at Tribune Media based in Chicago; ICTV based in Palo Alto, CA; Home and Garden TV (HGTV) based in Knoxville and NYC; and Discovery Channel based in Bethesda, MD. He started his sales career at IBM in Winston Salem, NC. Originally from Greensboro, NC, Bernard holds both a BA and an MBA from UNC Chapel Hill. He is a former independent director for ICLUB, a for-profit investment software company based in Detroit, MI, and was on the board of the American Film Institute (AFI) based in Los Angeles. Bell currently serves on the board of the American Dance Festival based in Durham, NC. ADF is the premier dance company on the east coast. He is also a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Incorporated, where he invests his one-on-one time working with young men on professional, corporate and life skills. Bernard is married to the former Stacy Cole, an attorney-turned government relations lobbyist for NBC Universal Comcast. His sister, Dr. Benita Bell, is a UNC alum with a BS in Chemistry, and is an astrobiologist at NASA. His brother, Dr. Calvin Bell, is a double Tar Heel with a BS in Biology and an MD from UNC ‘s Medical School. His 97-yr old dad is a proud graduate of NC A&T State university, and his late mom was a graduate of Bennett College.

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BK Fulton is a modern renaissance man. He believes in authentic expression, high integrity, and moral leadership. While many know him as the former President of Verizon, since his retirement in 2015, BK has turned full media mogul producing more than 20 films, 19 books, and four number-one Broadway shows including The Piano Lesson with Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington, and Danielle Brooks. The play was nominated for two Tonys and remains the highest-grossing Broadway revival of all time. He is currently a team member for the 2024 Broadway revivals of The Wiz and The Outsiders (nominated for 12 Tonys, winning 4, including Best Musical). Both The Wiz and The Outsiders were also nominated for Grammys in 2025. His Mr. Business children’s books are being considered for a movie, and HBO Max and Warner Brothers have released a documentary about his MoviePass business venture, entitled MoviePass, MovieCrash. The film was named one of the best documentaries of 2024 by Rolling Stone Magazine. BK and his wife – Jackie Stone – are also philanthropists giving to causes that develop and expose young entrepreneurs to leaders from around the globe. A native of Hampton, VA, BK is a proud graduate of Virginia Tech, Harvard, and the New School as a Sloan Fellow and New York Law School. He is also a Smithsonian Laureate Medal winner, a Business Leaders History Maker, winner of a Nonfiction National Book Award, the Renaissance Award in media, and winner of the Oscar Micheaux Award for Excellence in Film Making. BK sits on several boards including, TowneBank, the Library of Virginia, Advantage Testing Foundation, Lewis Latimer House Museum, The National Center of Women’s Innovations, and the Richard Hunt Legacy Foundation. His professional memberships include the Producers Guild of America (PGA), the Writers Guild of America, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, the Alpha Beta Boule, the Executive Leadership Council, and the Business Leaders Hall of Fame.

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Cassandra Walker (she/her) is a passionate, values-driven leader dedicated to fostering meaningful relationships and collaboration. She brings a rich background in small business and diverse industry management, with a focus on enhancing community engagement and sustainability while delivering measurable growth and returns. Cassandra joined Ally Financial’s Supplier Development & Sustainability team in 2021, where she leads relationship development, information strategy, event planning, and communications. Her strengths as a skilled facilitator, communicator, and advocate align with the mission of Ally’s Supplier Development & Sustainability Program—grounded in access, connection, information, and collaboration.

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Cory Mosley, CSP, is an award-winning business growth strategist, coach, and media personality known for successfully identifying and maximizing growth opportunities for businesses, associations, and corporations. Cory works with organizations and business owners that want to increase sales, create raving fans, and improve cash flow by embracing new ideas and strategies. Accredited as a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) by the National Speakers Association, Cory speaks frequently on business growth topics in the areas of sales, marketing, human capital, operations, and mindset. As a consultant, Cory’s past client list includes many family-owned small businesses and major corporations like Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Berkshire Hathaway, BBDO, and most recently, General Motors. Cory is the author of three books and the recent founder of the streaming video network RVASBN and Thought Leadership Studios. In 2023, Cory joined the ownership team of Pecan Jacks™ Ice Cream & Candy Kitchen as they began offering franchise opportunities. Cory has completed and achieved certifications from The Wharton School of Executive Education and High Point University. Cory is the company principal of Mosley Strategy Group, where his consulting, coaching, and business accelerator programs positively impact the growth and revenue of corporations, associations, and small businesses globally. Cory’s professional achievements are balanced by his personal life. He resides in Henrico Country, Virginia, with his wife of 12 years, Xiomara, and two beloved dogs, Rozy Bear and Harlee, reflecting his commitment to family and a balanced lifestyle.

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Dr. Dawn Nicole McIlwain is a nationally recognized TEDx speaker, award-winning CEO, Multi-Published Author and visionary behind ProcuraFind, an innovative supplier development and sourcing platform dedicated to accelerating contract wins for small businesses across the United States. With a powerful mission to “build world-class suppliers,” Dr. McIlwain has redefined what it means to connect, develop, and scale diverse business enterprises—particularly Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs). After a 22-year leadership career in corporate America, Dr. McIlwain transitioned into entrepreneurship, where she quickly rose as a leading voice in supplier diversity, procurement innovation, and strategic business development. Under her leadership, ProcuraFind has grown from a regional women’s business network into a nationally respected B2B marketplace and supplier community, securing over $2.25 million in contract opportunities in its first year alone. Dr. McIlwain has been featured for her dynamic approach to business growth, combining real-world strategy with deep community insight. Her frameworks, including the CARES Supplier Development Accelerator Program and Blue Check Verification System, have become benchmarks for supplier readiness and trust in the corporate procurement space. Beyond her business achievements, Dr. McIlwain is celebrated for her authentic, mission-driven leadership. Her work has been honored with prestigious awards including the Candace Award from 100 Black Women, and she serves as an emcee and board member for national organizations focused on equity, opportunity, and innovation. Whether on stage at national conferences, leading corporate cohorts, or mentoring entrepreneurs, Dr. Dawn Nicole McIlwain is a catalytic force—equipping businesses to grow smarter, partner stronger, and win faster.

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Gregory A. Watson (Greg) is an experienced general management and marketing professional with 25+ years of experience successfully building and growing businesses. Greg is currently leading the Corporate Services and Operations areas as Vice President of Operations, for the Carolinas-Virginia Minority Supplier Development Council. In addition, he has served as a vice president of brand content (marketing) for UniWorld Group, Inc., McGraw Hill Education (Integrated Marketing) and Nationwide Insurance (Associate VP) – Financial Services division. Greg previously served in customer-marketing and relationship positions and brand management leadership positions with Unilever, and The Coca-Cola Company. He has been rewarded for his leadership of both cross-functional teams and teams under his direct supervision. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Howard University and an MBA from Duke University -The Fuqua School of Business. Greg is married and he has 3 children. He is an adjunct instructor of marketing at the local community college, and he has served on local non- profit and community boards. In his free time, he enjoys many different sports, traveling with his family, and entertainment activities like reading books, watching movies, and listening to music.

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I am a proactive and strategic senior executive with extensive experience leading Managed IT Services, Cloud, and Cybersecurity organizations. With over a decade of leadership, I’ve scaled global operations, improved profitability, and led private equity-backed companies through growth. My track record includes driving $22M in new revenue, managing $100M+ P&Ls, and achieving 16%+ EBITDA growth across multiple roles. As a decisive leader, I thrive on tackling complex challenges, implementing innovative solutions, and fostering high-performing, results-driven cultures. Whether leading acquisition due diligence efforts, M&A integrations, improving client retention, or scaling service delivery, I bring a calculated, people-centric, goal-oriented approach to achieving tangible results. My leadership style combines assertiveness, balanced judgment, and diplomacy, ensuring operational efficiency and long-term value creation. Personally, I’m a venturesome and creative problem-solver who prioritizes efficiency and time management. I excel at building motivated teams, mentoring leaders, and navigating the unique demands of high-growth, essential, and mission-critical IT and cybersecurity services. My experience spans regional, national, and global markets, including the U.S., Europe, and APAC. Outside the office, I dive into carpentry projects, building barns and sheds to support our hobby farm, which includes alpacas, llamas, horses, goats, chickens, ducks, dogs, and cats. These hands-on projects blend creativity and purpose and keep me grounded while embracing the joy of life’s simpler pleasures. Key Accomplishments: ✅ Spearheaded digital transformation and AI initiatives, building a $50M+ sales pipeline. ✅ Achieved 92% gross retention and improved project profitability by 25%. ✅ Realized $1.8M bottom-line gain by reducing monthly sales allowances by 50%. ✅ Enhanced team engagement, improving retention by 15% across a 550+ team. ✅ Secured a $100M contract by launching advanced healthcare analytics services, driving revenue increases of 67%.

Core Competencies:

✓ M&A (Mergers & Acquisitions) Integration
✓ P&L Management
✓ Operational Scalability
✓ Revenue Growth
✓ Client Retention
✓ Digital Transformation

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Keith L. Eakins Jr. is the Director Global Supplier Diversity for SmurfitWestrock. He is responsible for implementing initiatives of WestRock’s Supplier Diversity program inclusive of minority and female- owned businesses. His responsibilities comprise of identifying qualified diverse suppliers, developing existing diverse suppliers, and expanding diverse suppliers through first-tier opportunities. In addition, Eakins encourages diverse sub-contracting with first-tier and second-tier suppliers, monitoring progress toward annual diverse supplier participation goals, and providing diverse supplier’s access to the SmurfitWestrock Purchasing community. He strengthens relationships with SmurfitWestrock customers, diversity business development organizations, and communities across the country. A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Eakins received his B.S. degree in Logistics and Procurement from Alabama A&M University.

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Award-winning Creative and MarComm leader. Change agent with unique ability to author ‘big picture’ strategic plans and integrated marketing campaigns that generate demand, sustainable growth, and profitability.

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Pamela S. Evette of Travelers Rest was elected as the 93rd Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina on November 6, 2018.

Prior to her election as the first female Republican lieutenant governor of South Carolina, Evette founded Quality Business Solutions, Inc. (QBS), a payroll, human resources, and benefits services firm headquartered in Travelers Rest. Under her leadership as President and CEO, QBS grew exponentially, going from start-up to an over 1-billion-dollar enterprise and was named one of the nation’s fastest growing small businesses. QBS has been repeatedly honored among the best places to work in South Carolina.  

Evette has received numerous business and professional accolades, including the ATHENA Leadership Award®, the Enterprising Woman of the Year Award, and the Women Presidents’ Organization 50 Fastest-Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies Award. She has also been recognized for her efforts as a public servant on environmental, transportation, and humanitarian causes. In 2024, Evette was named a She Leads Woman of Distinction by She Leads America and received the Joseph H. Rainey Empowered Leadership Award.

A trained accountant and former CFO, Evette has demonstrated a deep understanding of the regulatory issues and challenges facing small and medium sized businesses and served as a member of South Carolina’s Small Business Regulatory Review Committee prior to taking office. This committee is charged with reviewing and supporting or challenging proposed regulations that might impact small businesses’ ability to start-up, operate effectively, or grow.

As Lt. Governor, Evette has used her professional background to serve the people and businesses of South Carolina. She has dedicated her time to highlighting S.C.’s thriving small business ecosystem and attracting new business to the Palmetto state. Evette has been a staunch promoter of innovative public-private partnerships and has worked to bring greater awareness to S.C. non-profits and the impact they have in our local communities.

Beyond business, Evette has a passion for serving others, especially the most vulnerable in our society, which has guided her focus on early childhood education and reading. In 2019, she was asked to join the sixth cohort of the Hunt-Kean Leadership Fellows Program which focuses on state education policy. Realizing that every student and individual has unique needs and goals, Evette is committed to advocating for school choice and promoting S.C.’s world-class technical college system as pathways to educational and career success. Moreover, in 2024, she launched her “Empowering Tomorrow’s Leaders” Employment Initiative to get more young people working — helping them to build critical life skills.

Evette understands the importance of parental rights and building strong families. She also knows how critical it is to keep our S.C. families, communities, and the state safe. She is a staunch supporter of our military and our law enforcement. She realizes the tremendous sacrifices these brave men and women make, and the risks they take, each and every day to protect our lives and our freedoms.

In partnership with PalmettoPride, Evette created the annual Grab A Bag SC Statewide Cleanup initiative in 2019 and participated in SC7 Expedition to raise awareness for floodwater prevention and the importance of protecting South Carolina’s natural resources. She continues to be involved in both of these efforts.

She currently serves on St. Francis Foundation board of directors (affiliated with Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital). She previously served on the National Association of Professional Employer Organizations (NAPEO) board where she is an emeritus member of the state legislative committee. 

Evette is the granddaughter of Polish immigrants. Her parents, Jennie and Emil Gajoch, were second generation Americans who taught her the value of hard work and the importance of getting involved and giving back. 

Evette holds a Bachelors of Business Administration in accounting from Cleveland State University. She and her husband David, President of QBS, attend Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Taylors and have three children, Amanda, Joseph, and Jackson.

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Sahra S. Halpern, president of the Business Consortium Fund and Triad Investments, has created innovative, mission-driven lending programs throughout her career in community development finance. She is responsible for driving BCF toward greater impact in the communities we serve by expanding our capital reach to business owners of color. Ms. Halpern started her career in international microfinance before spending 15 years at Charles Schwab Bank in the Community Development Group, which she helped establish and grow. Subsequently, Ms. Halpern led strategic lending initiatives at Capital Impact Partners, a national community development financial institution, where she led structured fund development and lending strategy. Ms. Halpern earned a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of California, Davis – Graduate School of Management and also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wesleyan University.

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Shirley Tang-Audritsh is the Director for Supplier Development at Eli Lilly and Company headquartered in Indianapolis, IN. She has been with Lilly for over 29 years, with the past 21 years in Global Procurement. In her current role, she actively engages with local and national advocacy groups for supplier development and inclusion, identifies qualified small businesses that meet business needs, and advocates the utilization of these businesses throughout the Lilly supply chain. She has been proudly serving the small, socially and/or economically disadvantaged business community for the past 13 years. While in Procurement, she also has had extensive sourcing experience with Phase I-IV Clinical Development and Regulatory, ranging from CRO/ARO services for clinical trials, Clinical Diagnostics services for Biomarkers, ePRO services, to Patient Recruitment and Retention services. Prior to that, her responsibilities included Intercontinental Regulatory Affairs, Software/Medical Quality Assurance as well as ISO9000 Quality System Implementation. Externally, she serves on the Board of Directors for The Alliance for Science and leads their “Elevate” program which helps increase corporate readiness for small/diverse businesses. She also serves on the Board of Directors for Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce Hispanic Business Council. Shirley led the industry group Helix Supplier Diversity Forum in 2020 and 2021. She won numerous awards in the past such as the Diversity Alliance for Science “Star of the Year“ in 2024, The Indianapolis Choice” by National Association of Women Business Owners Indiana Chapter in 2022, “Supplier Diversity Leader of the Year” by Diversity Alliance for Science in 2017 and 2022, and “Corporate Champion of the Year” by Great Lakes Women Business Council in 2022. Under her leadership, Lilly Supplier Diversity Program also won numerous awards the past several years. It was ranked No.6 on “Top Companies for Supplier Diversity” by DiversityInc Top 50 out of more than 1800 participating corporations in 2023. Lilly was ranked #5 on DiversityInc Top 50 list in 2023 for overall performance. Shirley holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer and Information Science.

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