Privacy Policy for marketing and growth agency Align2Compete Privacy Policy (Effective: January 1, 2025) 1. Introduction This Privacy Policy explains how Align2Compete ("Company," "we," "us") collects, uses, and shares information about you when you use our services. We are committed to protecting your privacy and handling your data in an open and transparent manner. 2. Information Collection and Use We may collect personally identifiable information (such as name, email, address) and non-personal information (like usage statistics). This information is used to improve our services, for marketing, and to comply with legal obligations. 3. User Rights You have the right to access, rectify, or delete your personal information and to object to or limit its processing. 4. Data Security We implement robust security measures to protect your data from unauthorized access, alteration, and destruction. 5. Sharing and Disclosure Your information may be shared with third parties only in specific circumstances, such as to comply with legal obligations or to provide you with our services. 6. Compliance with Laws We comply with all applicable data protection laws, including GDPR for European users and COPPA for children under 13. 7. Changes to This Policy We may update this policy from time to time. Users will be notified of significant changes and are encouraged to review the policy periodically. 8. Contact Us For any questions about this policy or your data, please get in touch with us at Dave Hiebeler Telephone Number: (720) 218-2374 Mailing Address: Align2Compete 9928 W. Morraine Pl. Littleton, CO 80127 9. Governing Law The laws of Colorado govern this policy, and any disputes related to it will be resolved in Colorado's courts. By using our services, you acknowledge that you have read and understand this Privacy Policy.

Cookie Policy for Align2Compete, LLC This Cookie Policy explains how Align2Compete, LLC ("we", "us", or "our") uses cookies and similar technologies on our website. By using our website, you consent to the use of cookies as described in this policy. What are Cookies? Cookies are small text files that are placed on your device when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently and provide information to website owners. Types of Cookies We Use We use the following types of cookies on our website: 1. **Essential Cookies** : These are necessary for the website to function properly and cannot be switched off. 2. **Analytics Cookies** : These help us understand how visitors interact with our website, allowing us to improve our services. 3. **Functionality Cookies** : These enable enhanced functionality and personalization. 4. **Advertising Cookies** : These are used to deliver relevant advertisements and track ad campaign performance. How We Use Cookies We use cookies for the following purposes: - To provide a better user experience on our website - To analyze our website traffic and performance - To personalize content and advertisements - To remember your preferences and settings Third-Party Cookies Some cookies on our website are placed by third-party services. We do not control these third parties or their use of cookies. Please refer to their respective privacy policies for more information. Your Cookie Choices You can manage your cookie preferences through your browser settings. Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings preferences. However, limiting cookies may affect the functionality of our website. Changes to This Policy We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated revision date. Contact Us If you have any questions about this Cookie Policy, please contact us at: Dave Hiebeler Telephone Number: (720) 218-2374 Mailing Address: Align2Compete 9928 W. Morraine Pl. Littleton, CO 80127 Last updated: February 11, 2025

Terms and Conditions for Align2Compete, LLC Welcome to Align2Compete’s website. By accessing or using our website, you agree to comply with and be bound by the following terms and conditions: 1. Acceptance of Terms By using our website, you accept these terms and conditions in full. If you disagree with any part of these terms, please do not use our website. 2. Use of Website You agree to use our website only for lawful purposes and in a manner that does not infringe upon the rights of others. Prohibited activities include, but are not limited to: - Attempting to interfere with the proper functioning of the website - Attempting to bypass security measures - Engaging in any activity that disrupts or impairs the website's functionality 3. Intellectual Property All content on this website, including text, graphics, logos, and images, is the property of Align2Compete, LLC and protected by copyright laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, or use our content without express written permission. 4. Disclaimer of Warranties Our website is provided "as is" without any representations or warranties, express or implied. Align2Compete, LLC, makes no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information on this website. 5. Limitation of Liability Align2Compete, LLC shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages arising out of your access to, or use of, the website. 6. Governing Law These terms and conditions are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Colorado. Any disputes relating to these terms and conditions shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Colorado. 7. Changes to Terms Align2Compete, LLC reserves the right to modify these terms and conditions at any time. Your continued use of the website after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the modified terms. 8. Contact Information If you have any questions about these terms and conditions, please contact us at: Dave Hiebeler Telephone Number: (720) 218-2374 Mailing Address: Align2Compete 9928 W. Morraine Pl. Littleton, CO 80127 By using our website, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these terms and conditions. Last updated: February 10, 2025

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Challenge the 'easy button' myth in marketing with our tailored customer acquisition marketing strategies. We prioritize niche, long-term approaches over massive ad spend, ensuring sustainable growth. Our founders, Mike Higgins, and Dave Hiebeler, oversee each campaign, offering unmatched commitment and expertise. Why us. We can tell you the wrong way to do things. When you have been fortunate to have long careers, you find out that experience and wisdom come not necessarily from all the wins but more from not getting what you wanted, when things go pear-shaped. We are very curious by nature and will challenge the assumptions you have. Marketing is F#@*ing hard . Everyone wants to hit the ‘easy button’; it’s the biggest lie in marketing. Google, Facebook, and big tech have sold this idea for over a decade. Huge short-term ad budgets won’t save your declining revenue trend. A niche process strategy to own your small patch over time will win the day. We start slow and cautious on strategy, and then we turn it up. Trial means you test theories on a smaller scale to confirm they are promising before you pour money into scaling your tactics. The trial process takes longer, but ‘slow and steady always wins the race.’ If you choose to own your patch then 'trial and s oak it' . We are very close to order fulfilment with staff stability. Your business receives the dedicated attention it deserves because Mike Higgins and Dave Hiebeler, the owners, also serve as your account managers. Unlike agencies with hundreds of accounts, we purposefully limit our clientele to a manageable load. We value a work-life balance just like you do. This deliberate approach ensures that each client benefits from our undivided focus and personal energy. In contrast to publicly traded large media entities, our philosophy allows us to stand out with a level of care, expertise, and media prowess that some of the larger shops struggle to match. Your business isn't lost in the shuffle. Founded in 2019, our agency is built on the fundamental belief that our clients deserve nothing less than our full attention to help them improve their business conditions. Dave Hiebeler Mike Higgins Co-Founder Co-Founder Mike's Story Dave's Story So now what ? This is usually where other websites jam in calls to action, like booking a call on their calendar or filling out a form field. We would, instead, rather have you think about and decide if our ideas resonate with you. If the next step is a discussion, then choose your preferred means. Contact Us

The case study shows how revenue growth marketing can help charter schools and community colleges attract more students during open enrollment periods. ADVERTISING CASE STUDY: BMW Dealer Franchise Stores About this client . This family-founded, owned, and operated BMW dealership is dedicated to providing its customers with the ultimate motorsport experience. Their unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction has recently led to the expansion of a second dealership location. Their family brand for BMW has become one of the largest pre-owned centers in their local designated market area and earned BMW’s highest customer satisfaction ratings. The local franchise has continued to expand its market footprint by introducing the latest BMW models, adding a MINI franchise, and opening a new location within 20 miles of its founding store. They are on the leading edge of Electric Vehicle Sales and the Hybrid model lifestyle revolution. The owner honors his father’s commitment to customers and the local community – and views each client as part of their founding family. He likes to say, “We are your BMW center.” Results CONSISTENCY OF MESSAGE CAMPAIGN ATTENTION 6 MILLION EMAILS SENT 50,000 PER MONTH, EVERY MONTH FOR 10 YEARS 1.08 MILLION EMAILS OPENED AND READ RETURN ON AD SPEND 70 VEHICLE SALE MATCHBACKS PER MONTH FROM EMAILS SENT GROWN OVER TIME USED TO BE 25 PER MONTH Services used: Permission-Based Email Marketing, Retargeting Display Ads, Vehicle Sales Email Matchbacks. Client: BMW Franchise Dealer Stores. Location: Northeast, United States. Industry: Automotive. Time Frame: Annual Campaign. We want to dominate and own our local franchise market; how do we get there? Like every dealership, we are looking to gain an edge over our closest local competition. We actively market in all the typical places and channels that our competition uses each month. But here is where we are different; we look for unconventional places we can dominate with our brand message that our competition for luxury vehicles are not active in. Execution, stamina and long-term commitment to a solid strategy is key here. If the right vendor has that solution then we are all-in. We recommended a non-obvious tactical channel that the dealer had to warm up to. Having purchase intent data is a strong advantage over standard age, income, and education typical demographics. "Auto-Intenders' are ideal for a store to reach in that they are in a buying research process that they are most apt to be influenced with the right messages. They are in mid-funnel stage and can be nudged over time to the next step. We were able to isolate these auto intender prospects by geo to the two top counties this dealership identified as their core market. 1 Dealers value most Auto Intenders , those open to influence now. 2 This seems obvious, but it cannot be underestimated: It is the reason this dealership's campaigns work. Many companies are too quick to call off the hunt, which impacts effectiveness over time. Not this dealer; they work it to perfection. On Thursdays at 8 a.m., the third week of every month, we send out 50,000 broadcast emails to luxury auto intenders in two counties in their trade area. It's always the same two counties, always the same count. Each month, they inform this audience of prospects about the new and pre-owned vehicle specials they have for that week. The email always has the same creative brand look, but the vehicles change. This audience, conditioned to see their specials every month, clicks on ads like this one over 1,000 times per month. Each vehicle listed in the email has its own page on their website. Their email effectively turns a stranger into an engaged prospect deep into their site. Time, frequency, and consistency win the day! 3 Then change the channel and remarket the same audience with display banners. When people talk about "The Power of Three" in brand positioning, this is the definition. The same audience already saw the dealer's message and offers in the email blast. Next we remarket to that audience of "Auto Intenders" via display ads, on websites they like and spend time reading content stories. Not only does it extend the brand voice of the current campaign it drives additional engaged new visitors to their website and more vehicle sales. So given what you have just read, do you feel that your current marketing team and resources are fully aligned with your business objectives? Where do you see disconnects or areas for improvement? Results that help the dealership group sell more luxury vehicles. A ten - year marketing campaign. 1.08 Million EMAILS OPENED AND READ. Average open rate of 18-20% 120,000 clicks New and Returning visitors to their website. 70 VEHICLE SALE MATCH BACKS EVERY MONTH. Return on ad spend each month. Vehicle sales that were matched back to our email audience. Low Email Unsubscribe rate. An important indicator of both audience appetite for the dealer's message and that time and consistency wins the day, this dealer never misses a month. Mike, I just saw that report for the dealership campaign, WOW we are killing it!! These results reports are dynamite; thanks for your help! -Agency Principal Marketing agency of record for this dealer. Are your vehicle sales down and your inventory holding costs growing? We know we can help. If the next step is a discussion, then choose your preferred means. Contact Us

Dave's story For over 35 years I have been fortunate to have a varied career in marketing and advertising helping customers get the word out. I have served clients while with large-scale media channels like The Denver Post, Freedom Communications, Cars.com, and Trulia, a Zillow Company. As a Principal and Co-Founder of Align2Compete over the last 5 years, I focus on using my market instincts and insights to crawl into the heads of what motivates your best prospects. I directly oversee campaign strategy, results analytics, creative, and business operations. Building our marketing and advertising agency into the customer-centric brand that it is today has been one of my joys. As a freelance ghostwriter, I also founded SoultionsDH, LLC to help clients generate professional content articles that give them the confidence to publish and improve their brand. I have a passion for golf and a degree in Economics from The University of Minnesota – Twin Cities. I look forward to collaborating with you to improve your business significantly. Mobile : 720.218.2374 Email: Email Me LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davehiebeler/ Dave Hiebeler Principal and Co-Founder Align2Compete, LLC

Mike's story Mike Higgins Principal and Co-Founder Align2Compete, LLC For the past 25 years, I have worked in all things digital sales and marketing. As a principal and Co-Founder of Align2Compete, I focus on assisting our customers in developing a deep understanding of the consumer and business owner segments that comprise their core audience and then developing tactics to speak to that audience in the appropriate tone and language. I also founded Brushfire Sales, which assisted companies in optimizing outbound sales channel efficiencies. Brushfire helped digital ad agencies with novel tactics and strategies to support their end customers. As EVP/COO of Media News Group Interactive, I oversaw tech strategy, product, training, strategic partnerships, and revenue for the 2nd largest newspaper publisher in the U.S. As a digital pioneer, I was on the ground floor at MapQuest and Weather Labs, a start-up that the Weather Channel acquired. Mobile: 303.332.3370 Email: Email Me LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelghiggins/

The case study shows how revenue growth marketing can help charter schools and community colleges attract more students during open enrollment periods. MARKETING CASE STUDY: Charter/STEM School Open Enrollment About our client . This STEM/Charter and Middle school is part of a network of public, open enrollment, free charter schools in the Colorado area. Their eight campuses serve middle and high school students. They are widely considered to be among the leading open-enrollment STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) schools in the United States. They have become a destination for educators nationwide. 100% Of our graduates have been admitted into college, university, or a postsecondary program. Results Client: Charter/STEM School. Location: Colorado, United States. Industry: Education. Time Frame: 1-Month Campaign. SCHOOL ENROLLMENT GOAL CAMPAIGN ATTENTION FULL CLASSROOMS OPEN ENROLLMENT RERIOD 23,157 EMAILS OPENED AND READ RETURN ON AD SPEND $1.53 COST PER CLICK Services used: Permission-Based Email Marketing. But we had a big problem with 50 empty seats . "Our STEM/Charter school had empty classroom seats; this was a recurring problem for us. Open seats are critical, lost opportunities to grow our school. We had to move fast in a concise open enrollment window that only occurs a few times annually. We must notify parents/families of the details during open enrollment periods. We were looking for additional marketing channels that are cost-effective for us to bolster what we were already doing to drive attention to attract new students." We felt we could help them, but that depended on isolating the right audience . Before we recommended the tactical execution of any strategy or budget, we pulled a count from our proprietary database audience by demographics and zip code. The counts matched the target households that the School needed to reach. The counts looked strong to reach adults that had children present in their homes, ages 9 -11. This gave us the confidence to push this strategy forward with the client. We recommend a total of 14 zip codes that are in a tight radius of the two school locations. 1 This is where we find out if we can help you or not. 2 Don't screw up the creative; make it compelling. This looks like a small thing, but it is a big thing. Many businesses get this very wrong with email marketing. We designed two custom HTML email blast creative pieces for each school to communicate all the details of their open enrollments and when Open House Tours would be available for the families. We crafted their subject line to create excitement about open enrollment and included their video to help drive the message home emotionally. 3 Got the word out fast with repetition. This is where creative strategy meets with just enough message repetition to get attention without being annoying. Over the four weeks of the open enrollment campaign, we sent out five email blasts of 25,000 each time for 125,000 email sends. Each school's target market was the focus with the intent of reinforcing, with repetition, the core message that open enrollment was here for great school choices for the parent's children. So given what you have just read, do you feel that your current marketing team and resources are fully aligned with your business objectives? Where do you see disconnects or areas for improvement? Results that put students in open classrooms. 1-Month marketing campaign. 23,157 EMAILS OPENED AND READ. 1,867 CLICKS TO OPEN ENROLLMENT LANDING PAGE AND OPEN HOUSE INFO. $1.58 RETURN ON AD SPEND COST PER CLICK. FULL CLASS ROOMS MET THEIR OPEN ENROLLMENT GOAL. This campaign put butts in seats. Your agency allowed us to specifically target the parents of families with school-age kids in the household. This email marketing tactic was delivered to our school when we needed it. It is 'our new go-to strategy' because it puts new students in our classrooms when we have open seats. -Admissions Director Colorado STEM/Charter Middle School Are open classroom seats weighing on your mind? We might be able to help. If the next step is a discussion, then choose your preferred means. Contact Us

This marketing case study shows the actual results from revenue growth marketing by an agency that helped a specialty retailer draw more in-store traffic to achieve their sales goals. MARKETING CASE STUDY: Specialty Retail Stores - Texas MARKETING CASE STUDY: Specialty Retail Stores -Texas About this client . This client is a franchisee owner of 15 specialty soap stores in the key Texas communities of Houston, Dallas, and Austin. Each store takes tremendous pride in handcrafting every soap bar in their Soap Makery with delightfully scented, handmade plant-based soaps. They are the definition of specialty retail with brick-and-mortar locations aligned with a major grocery chain and associated retail around them. Client: A Franchise of 15 Specialty Soap Stores. Location: Texas, United States. Industry: Retail Specialty, Brick & Mortar. Time Frame: 10-Day Campaign. Results STORE SALES ENGAGED SESSIONS AD ENGAGEMENT BY PRODUCT 270 377 131 SOLD TUBS OF LAUNDRY SOAP THAT WEEKEND CLICKS TO RSVP TO THE EVENT AND PRODUCT PAGES CLICKS TO LAUNDRY SOAP AS THE MOST POPULAR ITEM Services used: Permission-based Email Marketing. Store Foot Traffic Studies. But they had a store traffic problem. “In the last 14 months, we aggressively opened eight new retail stores in various Texas locations in larger metros. We also opened stores in smaller Texas towns. In each case, our grand openings were very successful, but once the buzz died down, we started to see store visits dip, especially during the early days of the week and even on some weekends. We were searching for an additional way to create a new buzz about our first anniversaries and raise store traffic numbers, which meant more in-store sales. We asked the agency if there is a cost-effective way to reach more of our core audience of women, ages 30 - 55, in the zip codes within a 10-mile radius of our stores? Most of our store's anniversary dates were coming quickly so we needed to add juice to our current tactics.” What our agency did. 1 Researched store foot traffic. Researched their store foot traffic data vs. their competition, going back one year before suggesting any messaging strategy. Kind of like a time machine, we determined who they shared store traffic with and who they didn't from mobile device ID geo-recognition. We found some surprise data points in the local shopping patterns of shared store visits with complementary competitors that they did not realize they had. 2 Align2Compete got the word out locally with a small test permission email blast that was recommended to support their Houston stores' First Anniversary Sale Event. At 8 AM the Tuesday before the weekend, we sent 25,267 emails from our proprietary list within a 10-mile radius of one of their Houston stores that needed enhanced attention. The emails were sent only to women, ages 30 - 55, who had children present in their households. We ensured the emails had information about their RSVP for doorbuster and laundry soap special offers. Chose the audience and got the word out fast. 3 Designed a creative message that was compelling. This looks like a small thing but it is a big thing. Many businesses get this very wrong with email marketing. We designed a custom HTML email blast creative piece for the client to communicate the tremendous in-store events and specials they had going. We crafted their subject line to create excitement and counseled the franchisee on which products to feature. 4 Provided in-store visits attribution from the email. We provided Mobile Device ID tracking attribution for those who saw the email blast and as a result, went to that store for 30 days after the blast was delivered. So given what you have just read, do you feel that your current marketing team and resources are fully aligned with your business objectives? Where do you see disconnects or areas for improvement? Their best results were with laundry soap sales, their highest margin, and customer retention items. SOLD TUBS OF LAUNDRY SOAP THAT WEEKEND. 270 4,501 EMAILS OPENED AND READ. CLICKS TO RSVP TO THE EVENT AND PRODUCT PAGES. PEOPLE VISITED THE STORE ATTRIBUTED BY MOBILE DEVICE ID TRACKING. 377 19 Results from a 2-week campaign. Laundry soap was the most clicked product item. The actual number was closer to 76 over the month as only 1/4 allow themselves to be tracked this way. “At our Houston store, the best sales from this event were from Laundry Soap, our highest margin and customer retention item. This was the most cost-effective single-store sales event ever, with a great customer turnout. We liked the test so much that we will use Align2Compete to execute the same strategy on a larger scale for our April anniversary sale events for our 5 Austin, TX stores.” -VP of Marketing For the Texas Franchisee. Get the word out fast out about big store events just like this franchisee did. If the next step is a discussion, then choose your preferred means. Contact Us

Our agency specializes in customer marketing and growth tactics that demonstrate our expertise in adapting to change and seizing significant opportunities. Specializing in marketing and advertising solutions for various industries, including Hiring Talent, Automotive Dealers, Charter/STEM Schools, Local Events/Festivals, Home Services, State/Local Government Programs, Health Care Open enrollment, Charter Schools, and B2B Business Development. Client wins . The following case study wins came from adjusting to changing information and spotting the largest opportunities in trial and error. What you ultimately learn unlocks hidden market strategies that drive success. The case study evidence . Lincoln Franchise Dealership State Government Charter/STEM School Home Services BMW Franchise Dealerships Retail Brick & Mortar Liquor - Specialty Retail The industries we specialize in marketing + advertising solutions. Hiring Talent. Automotive Dealers. Charter/STEM Schools. Local Events/Festivals. Home Services. State/Local Government Programs. Health Care Open Enrollments. Catering Companies. Community Colleges. B2B Business Development. So now what ? This is usually where other websites jam in calls to action, like booking a call on their calendar or filling out a form field. We would, instead, rather have you think about and decide if our ideas resonate with you. If the next step is a discussion, then choose your preferred means. Contact Us