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Featured Launches Find Bookstores for Authors Planning Book Signings and Book Tours

Scottsdale, AZ Thursday Oct 22, 2026 @ 6:02 AM Mountain —

Featured, the AI co-pilot for PR, today launched Find Bookstores, a search of 1,093 independent U.S. bookstores built for authors and book publicists planning signings and book tours. Users name a place or a genre in Featured's chat and get the stores that host author events, with a link to each store's website or events page and, where the store publishes one, its email.

Type a request such as "Bookstores in Texas that host author signings" or "Mystery bookstores in California" and Featured returns the matching stores. Each result shows the store's name and location, a short description of its programming, a link to its website or events page, and an email address when the store publishes one. Users can then ask Featured to draft the pitch in the same chat.

Find Bookstores is available on every Featured plan, including Free. Book publicists can plan the rest of the tour in the same place: Featured answers requests for bookstores and speaking opportunities in the same chat, and Find Podcasts covers the interviews around each stop.

Independent bookstores are growing. The American Booksellers Association's 2025 annual report counted 605 new bookstore businesses opened in 2025, including 399 storefronts, against 65 closures, with openings up 87% from 2024. ABA membership reached 3,417 members operating 3,783 locations, nearly double the 1,775 members the association counted in 2016 and, according to the Associated Press, the highest since the late 1990s. For an author, each of those stores is a room and a crowd that chose to come.

“When my book came out, I pitched Changing Hands in Tempe for a talk and signing,” said Brett Farmiloe, Founder and CEO of Featured. “What made it tough is that as a first-time author, I had no idea what I was doing when it came down to promoting my book. Featured simplifies that path, and connects authors with the stores that host events and can move product.”

Of the 1,093 stores in Featured's database, 59.9% link to a public events or calendar page and 37.6% publish an email address for the store. The stores span all 50 states and the District of Columbia across 796 cities, and 36.6% describe author events, readings or signings in their own words.

Find Bookstores runs inside the same Featured chat users already use to find Substack publications and TV stations. It is live now at featured.com. Free to start. No credit card.

About Featured

Featured is the AI co-pilot for PR, a platform that helps PR professionals and subject-matter experts land media placements, build brand authority, and grow AI visibility. The company owns and operates HARO (Help a Reporter Out) and Connectively as standalone products within its portfolio. Learn more at featured.com.

Press Inquiries

Brett Farmiloe

Email Contact

https://featured.com

Terkel, Inc. (dba Featured)

7014 E Camelback Rd, Suite B100A

Scottsdale, AZ

  1. AI10+ Paid Internships Available for Santa Cruz County Young AdultsSanta Cruz, CA Thursday Oct 22, 2026 @ 6:00 AM Pacific — Young adults across Santa Cruz County have a new opportunity to earn money, gain professional experience, and launch their careers. Santa Cruz Works, in partnership with Cabrillo College and the City of Santa Cruz, is offering more than 10 paid internship opportunities with local businesses and nonprofit organizations. The Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) Internship Opportunity Program is designed for young adults, particularly those living in underserved communities. Participants will gain hands-on experience in fields including technology, marketing, media, sustainability, business operations, and community services. Unlike unpaid internships that can be financially out of reach for many young people, these positions offer wages, flexible schedules, professional mentorship, and valuable career connections. Real Jobs. Real Pay. Real Experience Interns will work approximately 10 to 20 hours per week for up to six months, depending on the position. Each participant will work alongside an experienced supervisor, contribute to meaningful projects, and develop practical skills that can lead to future employment. The program offers several important benefits: Paid employment: Earn wages while gaining valuable professional experience. Flexible schedules: Work 10 to 20 hours per week, allowing time for school and other commitments. Professional mentorship: Receive guidance and feedback from experienced professionals. Career development: Build a resume, develop workplace skills, and establish professional connections. Local opportunities: Work with businesses and organizations throughout Santa Cruz County. All internships must conclude by June 1, 2027. More Than 10 Local Organizations Offering Opportunities Participating organizations represent a diverse range of industries, offering young adults the chance to explore different career paths while contributing to their community. Organizations offering internship opportunities include: Clean Oceans International Coastwoods Real Estate / Legacy Property GeoPulse Solutions Inc. KRML Mission Hill Creamery People First of Santa Cruz Sarah Marschall Strategy Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter Foundation Santa Cruz Children's Museum of Discovery Tannery World Dance and Cultural Center Treeswax United Way of Santa Cruz County Positions and responsibilities vary by organization, providing opportunities for students and young adults with different interests, skills, and career goals. Who Is Eligible? The program is open to young adults 18 years and older who live in underserved communities in Santa Cruz County. Priority is given to residents of neighborhoods including Beach Flats, Lower Ocean, Live Oak, Watsonville, San Lorenzo Valley, and the Pajaro Valley. Applicants do not need extensive professional experience. The program is intended to help young people develop the skills, confidence, and connections necessary to enter the workforce. There is no cost to apply. From Internship to Career The program builds on the success of its first cohort, which placed young adults with local businesses and nonprofits. Previous participants gained experience in software engineering, marketing, communications, video production, and community outreach. Yuliana Morales-Galvan, a software engineering intern at Nurbli, helped improve digital tools supporting Indigenous families. Emily Ramirez developed social media and outreach skills at Clean Oceans International, while Elsa Tamayo gained marketing and communications experience at Siena House. These experiences demonstrate how a paid internship can provide more than a paycheck. Interns build confidence, develop professional relationships, and gain experience that strengthens future job and college applications. How to Apply Young adults interested in exploring available positions are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. To view internships and apply: Visit Santa Cruz Works - Paid Internship Opportunities. Cabrillo College students may also complete the Student Interest Form linked on the program webpage. Parents, teachers, counselors, community organizations, and youth mentors are encouraged to share these opportunities with eligible young adults. About the AHSC Internship Opportunity Program The Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Internship Opportunity Program is funded through a grant awarded to the City of Santa Cruz. The City has partnered with Santa Cruz Works to create paid employment opportunities that connect young adults from underserved communities with local employers. Launched in June 2025 in partnership with Digital NEST, the program expanded in its second cohort to include Cabrillo College as a workforce development partner. The initiative supports economic mobility, career readiness, and a stronger local workforce. About Santa Cruz Works Santa Cruz Works is a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening the economic vitality of Santa Cruz County and the greater Monterey Bay region. Through entrepreneurship programs, workforce development, industry partnerships, and community events, Santa Cruz Works connects businesses, educators, innovators, and emerging talent to create economic opportunity. Learn more at www.santacruzworks.org. About Cabrillo College Cabrillo College is a leading California community college serving Santa Cruz County and the greater Monterey Bay region. With campuses in Aptos and Watsonville, Cabrillo offers academic programs, career education, associate degrees, certificates, and pathways to four-year universities. As a major transfer pathway to UC Santa Cruz, Cabrillo plays a vital role in developing the region's workforce. Through hands-on learning, internships, and partnerships with local employers, Cabrillo connects education with real-world career opportunities while supporting economic mobility and regional prosperity. Learn more at www.cabrillo.edu. Media Contact Santa Cruz Works Email: Email Contact Website: www.santacruzworks.org
  2. FinanceSchoenberg Family Law Group Expands to Beverly Hills, Enhancing Statewide Legal ServicesBeverly Hills, CA Thursday Oct 22, 2026 @ 5:00 AM Central — Schoenberg Family Law Group, P.C. (SFLG), a California family law firm founded by Certified Family Law Specialist Debra R. Schoenberg, has opened a new office at 9665 Wilshire Blvd, M10, in Beverly Hills. The office marks the firm’s first permanent location in Southern California and gives Los Angeles County clients direct, local access to a firm that has handled complex divorce and custody cases for nearly 40 years. The Beverly Hills office will serve clients throughout Beverly Hills, Bel Air, Holmby Hills, West Hollywood, and the greater Los Angeles area. Attorneys at the new location handle the full range of family law matters, including contested and uncontested divorce, legal separation, child custody and visitation, child and spousal support, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, and post-judgment modifications. “The opening of our Beverly Hills office marks an exciting new chapter for our firm and expands our ability to serve families across California,” said Debra Schoenberg, Founder and Principal of Schoenberg Family Law Group. “For nearly four decades, we’ve guided clients through some of life’s most difficult transitions with compassion, thoughtful counsel and a strategic approach. We’re proud to extend that same personalized service to individuals and families in Southern California and throughout the state.” A Focus on High-Asset and Complex Family Law Cases High-asset divorces are common in Beverly Hills and the surrounding communities, and they often involve business interests, real estate portfolios, investment accounts, executive compensation, and entertainment-industry income such as residuals and royalties. SFLG’s attorneys work with forensic accountants and valuation experts to identify, value, and divide community and separate property under California law, and to uncover assets when a spouse fails to make full financial disclosure. The firm often resolves cases through negotiation and mediation, maintaining privacy in sensitive family and financial matters. If settlements fail, SFLG's trial attorneys litigate in the Los Angeles County Superior Court, including the Stanley Mosk Courthouse. SFLG aims for negotiated resolutions but prepares each case for trial to ensure clients negotiate from a position of strength. Led by a Board-Certified Family Law Specialist Debra R. Schoenberg is a Certified Family Law Specialist designated by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization, a Board-Certified Family Law Trial Specialist through the National Board of Trial Advocacy, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. The Daily Journal has named her one of California’s Top Family Lawyers each year from 2022 through 2026. SFLG was voted the No. 1 Family Law Firm in California for six consecutive years, 2021 through 2026, in a statewide poll of judges, attorneys, and law firm administrators conducted by The Recorder. The San Francisco Business Times has also named the firm one of the Best Places to Work in the Bay Area. Together, the firm’s attorneys bring more than 400 years of collective family law experience. About Schoenberg Family Law Group, P.C. Schoenberg Family Law Group, P.C. is a California family law firm representing clients in divorce, child custody, support, property division, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, and post-judgment matters. Founded by Debra R. Schoenberg, the firm has practiced family law for nearly 40 years and maintains offices in San Francisco, Beverly Hills, San Mateo, San Jose, and Roseville. People in the Los Angeles area who need guidance on divorce, custody, or another family law matter can schedule a confidential consultation with the firm’s Beverly Hills family law attorneys. Contact Us: Schoenberg Family Law Group, P.C. Beverly Hills 9665 Wilshire Blvd, M10 Beverly Hills, CA 90212 Phone: 310-340-1846 Web: https://www.sflg.com/beverly-hills-family-law/
  3. AIWolfson Group Brings Men's Wellness Brand TestoPrime to OneLaviBoca Raton, Florida Thursday Oct 22, 2026 @ 5:00 AM Eastern — Wolfson Group, a Scotland-based international consumer wellness company, today announced that TestoPrime, its established men's wellness brand, is now available to U.S. consumers through OneLavi.com, expanding the brand's online retail presence beyond Amazon. The addition of TestoPrime to One Lavi represents another step in Wolfson Group's ongoing U.S. expansion strategy, which focuses on increasing consumer access to its portfolio through additional online retailers and brick-and-mortar distribution opportunities. TestoPrime serves the men's wellbeing category, with a focus on vitality, everyday performance and healthy ageing. The brand is part of Wolfson Group's broader portfolio of wellness products designed around different consumer lifestyles and priorities. "Men's wellness is an important part of our portfolio, and we're pleased to expand access to TestoPrime through another U.S. retail channel," said the founder and CEO of Wolfson Group. "Our focus is on building a stronger retail presence while making our established brands easier for consumers to find." The expansion comes as conversations around men's wellness increasingly encompass a broader range of lifestyle priorities, including physical activity, nutrition, maintaining vitality and healthy ageing. Wolfson Group believes this broader approach reflects changing consumer interests, with more men considering everyday wellbeing as part of their long-term lifestyle goals rather than focusing on a single aspect of health. TestoPrime is already available to U.S. consumers through Amazon. Its new availability on OneLavi provides another online purchasing option while supporting Wolfson Group's strategy of expanding its distribution network across multiple retail channels. The company recently participated in the ECRM Vitamin, Weight Management & Sports Nutrition Session in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, where it presented its portfolio during scheduled meetings with U.S. retail industry participants. TestoPrime is part of Wolfson Group's multi-category portfolio, which also spans weight management, cognitive wellness and gut health. The company continues to develop its U.S. retail presence while investing in consumer education and science-led brand development. "Expanding into additional online retail channels is an important part of our long-term strategy," the founder said. "We want to create more opportunities for consumers to discover our brands while continuing to build relationships across the U.S. retail marketplace." Wolfson Group said it plans to continue broadening its U.S. distribution footprint as it develops additional retail relationships and supports growth across its consumer wellness portfolio. About Wolfson Group Wolfson Group is an international consumer wellness company focused on building science-led brands that help people live healthier lives. Its portfolio spans weight management, cognitive health, gut health, men's wellness, beauty and healthy ageing, serving millions of consumers worldwide through direct-to-consumer, marketplace and retail channels. Wolfson Group's portfolio includes the established wellness brands PhenQ, TestoPrime, NooCube and YourBiology, spanning categories such as weight management, cognitive wellness, gut health and men's wellbeing. The brands are currently available to U.S. consumers through Amazon while the company pursues broader retail opportunities nationwide.
  4. AIAgeReverse RESURGE Now Available on OneLavi.comBoca Raton, Florida Thursday Oct 22, 2026 @ 5:00 AM Eastern — AgeReverse, a Canadian longevity company focused on healthy aging and cellular vitality, today announced that its flagship RESURGE formulation is now available to U.S. consumers through OneLavi.com, marking another milestone in the company's expanding U.S. retail presence. The One Lavi launch follows the recent availability of RESURGE on Amazon and reflects AgeReverse's strategy to build a broader U.S. distribution network through multiple retail and e-commerce channels. "Expanding our availability through OneLavi is another important step in introducing AgeReverse to more consumers across the United States," said Kubi Turkmen, Founder and CEO of AgeReverse. "Our goal is to make RESURGE accessible through established retail destinations while continuing to build awareness of our comprehensive approach to healthy aging." AgeReverse developed RESURGE around the scientific framework of the 12 Hallmarks of Aging, which describes interconnected biological processes associated with aging. Rather than emphasizing a single ingredient or isolated wellness benefit, the company designed its flagship formulation to bring together multiple ingredients in a simplified daily regimen. The 90-capsule RESURGE formulation includes NMN, Resveratrol, Quercetin, Fisetin, CoQ10, Astragalus Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Aronia Extract and Noni Berry. Key features of RESURGE include: Developed around the scientific concept of the 12 Hallmarks of Aging Combines multiple ingredients associated with antioxidant support and everyday wellness Supports nutrient metabolism, cardiovascular health and immune function Helps support collagen formation, connective tissue development and joint health Simplifies what the company describes as 12 or more individual products and 15 or more capsules per day into a three-capsule daily regimen Manufactured in GMP-certified facilities in Ontario, Canada using vegan capsules Registered as a Natural Health Product with Health Canada under NPN 80130202 The expansion onto OneLavi comes as AgeReverse continues developing its presence in the U.S. longevity and healthy aging market. The company recently participated in the ECRM Vitamin, Weight Management & Sports Nutrition Session in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, where it introduced RESURGE and its broader product strategy during scheduled meetings with retail buyers across health, specialty, food, drug and mass retail channels. Beyond RESURGE, AgeReverse is developing a range of products focused on both internal wellness and external skin aging. Its broader plans include biological age testing, daily skincare, professional aesthetic formulations and non-invasive mesotherapy technology. "Our long-term strategy is about more than a single product or sales channel," Turkmen added. "We are building a complete range of healthy aging solutions while expanding the ways consumers can access the AgeReverse brand." The OneLavi availability represents another step in that strategy, complementing the company's existing Amazon presence and its ongoing efforts to develop additional U.S. retail relationships. RESURGE is now available on OneLavi.com and Amazon. Visit the AgeReverse Website and follow the company on Instagram and LinkedIn. About AgeReverse AgeReverse is a Canada-based longevity wellness company focused on developing science-driven products designed to support healthy aging and cellular vitality. Founded by Kubi Turkmen, who has more than 30 years of experience in anti-aging innovation, the company’s approach combines longevity research, telomere science, and wellness innovation to create comprehensive healthy aging solutions. The company’s expanding AgeReverse platform includes longevity supplements and other wellness technologies designed to support multiple biological pathways associated with aging and long-term vitality. Products are manufactured in GMP-certified facilities in Ontario, Canada. Learn more at the company’s website. FDA Disclaimer These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
  5. FinanceOklahoma HB 3127: Medical Marijuana Doctor Advises Patients on Workplace Drug RulesOKLAHOMA CITY Wednesday Oct 21, 2026 @ 7:00 PM Central — An active Oklahoma medical marijuana license has never been an absolute guarantee of job security. Starting November 1, 2026, that legal distinction becomes significantly more critical. According to a statewide patient advisory issued by Medical Marijuana Doctor Oklahoma, licensed cardholders face substantial shifts under House Bill 3127, which allows employers to take adverse employment action following a positive marijuana test if the action is carried out under a lawful written drug and alcohol testing policy. Signed by Governor Kevin Stitt on April 17, 2026, HB 3127 amends 63 O.S. § 427.8 of the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana and Patient Protection Act. While the legislation preserves the foundational rule that employers cannot penalize someone solely for being a registered Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority (OMMA) license holder, it substantially narrows the positive-test protections that many working patients currently rely on. Before November 1: How Existing Law Protected Positive Tests Under current OMMA patient-rights guidance, an employer generally cannot refuse to hire, discipline, or terminate a licensed patient solely because of a positive drug screen for marijuana components or metabolites. Existing law permits exceptions only when: The individual does not hold a valid, active OMMA license; The employee possesses, consumes, or is under the influence of marijuana at work or during work hours; The individual holds a position with safety-sensitive job duties; or State protection is preempted by federal law or where compliance is required to maintain federal funding or contracts. As detailed in the enrolled HB 3127 legislative history, the amendment does not eliminate all patient safeguards, but it fundamentally rewrites the positive-test exception. A Compliant Written Policy Becomes the New Dividing Line Beginning November 1, an employer may act solely on a positive marijuana test result when that action is taken pursuant to a written drug and alcohol testing policy adopted and enforced in accordance with the Oklahoma Standards for Workplace Drug and Alcohol Testing Act. This statutory change means a valid patient license may no longer defeat an adverse employment decision based on a drug screen. However, Medical Marijuana Doctor Oklahoma emphasizes that employers do not receive unchecked authority simply because they possess an internal document labeled "drug policy." As noted in recent workplace legal analysis by Crowe & Dunlevy, an employer’s policy and testing workflow must comply strictly with state testing standards, which govern: advance written notice to employees; clearly articulated testing criteria (who, when, and what substances are tested); certified collection and laboratory procedures; employee rights to explain or rebut a positive result; and strict statutory confidentiality protections. Safety-Sensitive Jobs Move to Mandatory Zero Tolerance HB 3127 creates an explicit statutory rule for safety-sensitive positions: applicants and employees in those roles "shall be subject to a zero-tolerance drug and alcohol standard," even if the employer applies an impairment-based or more flexible rule to non-safety staff. Crucially, the amendment eliminates the former statutory wording that permitted employers to designate positions as safety-sensitive based merely on what management "reasonably believes" could impact health and safety. Under 63 O.S. § 427.8, the law ties the classification directly to actual performed duties, including: Handling, storing, disposing of, or transporting hazardous, volatile, flammable, or combustible materials; Operating a motor vehicle, machinery, equipment, or power tools; Repairing or monitoring equipment or manufacturing processes whose failure could cause personal injury or property damage; Firefighting; Operating or overseeing utilities and critical public infrastructure; Dispensing pharmaceuticals; Carrying a firearm; or Providing direct patient care or direct child care. While this statutory list is not exhaustive, it restricts employers from applying arbitrary, self-created safety-sensitive labels. Because HB 3127 does not define every operational detail of "zero tolerance," patients in potentially qualifying roles should inspect their formal job descriptions, company policies, and applicable federal regulations. Core Safeguards and Legal Remedies That Survive Unchanged Despite the expansion of employer authority, two vital legal protections remain in force: Status Discrimination Ban: Unless mandated by federal statute or federal funding agreements, an employer may not penalize an applicant or employee solely because they hold an OMMA patient card. Civil Legal Remedy for Willful Violations: Patients subjected to unlawful adverse actions retain legal recourse. The statute maintains remedies under the Oklahoma workplace testing act, which authorizes civil actions within one year of an alleged willful violation (40 O.S. § 563). At the same time, state law reiterates that medical cannabis licenses do not authorize workplace consumption. Employers maintain the absolute right to prohibit possession, use, sale, transfer, and impairment on company property or while performing job functions. What Oklahoma Patients Must Do Before November 1 Medical Marijuana Doctor Oklahoma recommends that cardholders take immediate proactive steps: Request the Written Policy: Obtain and review your employer's current written drug and alcohol testing policy to verify that it complies with the Oklahoma testing act. Review Real Job Duties: Compare your daily tasks against the statutory list of safety-sensitive functions to evaluate your risk level. Never Assume Automatic Protection: Do not assume that off-duty therapeutic use, an active card, or the lack of visible impairment will shield your employment after November 1. Preserve Documentation: Retain dated copies of testing notices, chain-of-custody documentation, laboratory results, and written employer correspondence. Seek Timely Counsel: If facing an adverse employment action that appears non-compliant, consult a qualified Oklahoma employment attorney immediately to preserve statutory claims within the one-year limitations window under 40 O.S. § 563. This advisory provides general educational information, not legal advice. Oklahoma law and workplace policies can change, and federal rules may produce a different result. Verify current requirements through the Oklahoma Legislature, the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority, and qualified legal counsel.
  6. FinanceGracchus Partners Launches The Growth Sequence, With One Growth Leader in Place of CMO, CRO and CCOHouston, Texas Wednesday Oct 21, 2026 @ 5:10 PM Central — Gracchus Partners LLC, a growth company based in Houston, today announced it has completed its pilot phase and launched The Growth Sequence. It is one integrated system that aligns a company's market edge, marketing, sales and operations, in that order. It is built for founders, owners and executive teams who want exponential growth, meaning revenue that grows faster than the cost of getting it. Most companies buy growth in pieces. They hire an agency for marketing and a consultant for sales, then add software for operations. None of them starts from what makes the business hard to copy. Each part works alone, and the owner is left stuck at the same revenue with a bigger bill. The Growth Sequence replaces the pieces with one order: Compelling Market Edge (CME) → Marketing → Sales → Operations Compelling Market Edge: what makes the business hard to copy and what makes a buyer act now. Marketing: product, price, place and promotion, all built on that edge. Sales: turning demand into closed revenue. Operations: delivering so the promise holds as volume grows, without costs growing at the same rate. “Most businesses can achieve growth. They get some by working harder or spending more,” said Brandon Fears, founder and managing partner of Gracchus Partners. “Exponential growth requires a sequence. That means revenue growing faster than what you spend to get it, and it only happens when marketing, sales and operations all run off the same edge. Most businesses have never found theirs, and that's usually why the rest of the plan hasn't worked.” “I've run growth at the speed of tech, and I've run it through the red tape of a conglomerate,” Fears said. “Different speeds, same sequence. Find the edge a competitor can't copy. Then market it, sell it and deliver it, in that order. The order doesn't move. What fills it in does.” The same sequence cuts cost. One growth leader takes the place of three executive hires and the overlap between them. Promotion waits until the foundation is ready, so ad budgets stop draining before they can return anything. In operations, Fears separates a true cost increase from a positioning problem that only shows up as a cost problem. Owners cut what is wasting money and protect what is winning buyers. “Most owners think they have a cost problem,” Fears said. “Often the costs didn't change much. The reason to choose them got less clear, and suddenly every line item hurts. Fix the reason, and you know exactly what to cut and what to keep.” Fears built the method across a 25 year career, including 23 years inside the Fortune 500. He joined Compaq in product marketing in 2001 and stayed through its acquisition by HP and HP's later split, which created Hewlett Packard Enterprise. Over 15 years there, his work included the ProLiant DL360 server line, a $2 billion portfolio. From 2016 to 2021 he was a Global Account Manager at Intel Corporation, where he carried a sales bag. He then led offering management as Senior Director in Honeywell's Performance Materials and Technologies organization, then an $11 billion business. He has worked both sides of the revenue equation: building demand as a marketer and closing it as a seller. That experience is why Gracchus Partners replaces three roles that most growing companies hire separately: the Chief Marketing Officer, the Chief Revenue Officer and the Chief Commercial Officer. One leader owns the sequence from edge to revenue, so nothing is lost in the handoff between departments. “Marketing says the leads were good. Sales says the leads were bad. I've sat in both chairs,” Fears said. “When one person owns both sides of the equation, the argument ends and the revenue shows up.” The sequence doesn't change by industry. Results from the pilot phase: Independent visual artist: sold three original works and now earns ongoing income through Instagram. Commercial cleaning franchise, San Antonio: closed contracts for nine locations in its first 28 days, adding more than $60,000 in annual revenue. Early stage SaaS company: grew to 15,000 paying subscribers after repositioning. With the pilot phase complete, Gracchus Partners is now opening a limited number of engagements to new clients in Houston, San Antonio and Las Vegas, and with companies worldwide. “The pilots had one job: prove the sequence works across businesses that have nothing in common,” Fears said. “An artist, a cleaning franchise and a software company all grew on the same order. The proof is in. Now we grow.” “I've had launches fail,” Fears said. “Anyone who tells you they never have is selling something. Twenty five years of watching what scaled and what didn't is what built this sequence.” Engagements range from a guided growth map that the client's team runs to an embedded growth partner who leads the work. Fears brings the same testing discipline to his brisket rub. “Ask me about the sequence,” he said, “and I might bring you a plate to prove the point.” Business leaders can book a Sequence Snapshot at www.gracchuspartners.com. The Sequence Snapshot is a 30 minute diagnostic call, and its fee is credited toward a full engagement. At a Glance Company: Gracchus Partners LLC, Houston, Texas Founder: Brandon Fears, Founder and Managing Partner. MBA, Rice University Jones Graduate School of Business. BA in Political Science, UNLV. Philosophy: Most businesses can achieve growth, but exponential growth requires a sequence. Method: The Growth Sequence (CME → Marketing → Sales → Operations) Replaces: the separate Chief Marketing Officer, Chief Revenue Officer and Chief Commercial Officer roles, with one growth leader Cuts cost by: consolidating three executive roles into one, holding promotion until the foundation is ready, and separating true cost increases from positioning problems Definition of exponential growth: revenue growing faster than the spend required to produce it Fortune 500 background: Compaq, HP and Hewlett Packard Enterprise; Intel Corporation; Honeywell Serves: founders, owners and executive teams, from early stage companies to established enterprises Status: pilot phase complete; now opening a limited number of engagements Markets: Houston, San Antonio and Las Vegas, with clients worldwide Entry point: Sequence Snapshot, a 30 minute paid diagnostic About Gracchus Partners LLC Gracchus Partners is a growth company, not a marketing agency. Founder Brandon Fears serves as a Fractional Chief Growth Officer, one role in place of the CMO, CRO and CCO. He installs one system across market edge, marketing, sales and operations that grows revenue and cuts cost. The firm reports on one metric: revenue. The firm's philosophy: Most businesses can achieve growth, but exponential growth requires a sequence. Look out for a future episode of The Building Texas Show featuring guest, Brandon Fears.