---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001654954-23-007859"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "ACCS"
cik: "0000843006"
company_name: "ACCESS Newswire Inc."
filed_at: "2023-06-09T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-14T04:26:58.597332+00:00"
event_type: "other_material"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.25
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.25
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Issuer Direct elects five directors, approves equity plan, ratifies auditor; Nowlan named Chair

## Summary
- Five director nominees elected: Balbirnie, Galleher, Lazear, Nowlan, Rein; broker non-votes ~270k each.
- 2023 Equity Incentive Plan approved: 2,299,206 for, 180,729 against, 270,365 broker non-votes.
- Cherry Bekaert ratified as FY2023 auditor: 2,537,438 for, 213,867 against.
- Michael Nowlan assumed Board Chair role effective immediately after the meeting.
- Audit Committee: Graeme Rein (Chair), Galleher, Nowlan; Compensation: Lazear (Chair), Galleher.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001654954-23-007859
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: ACCS
- cik: 0000843006
- company_name: ACCESS Newswire Inc.
- filed_at: 2023-06-09T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: other_material
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.25
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.25
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.07, 8.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/843006/000165495423007859/0001654954-23-007859-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/843006/000165495423007859/isdr_8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001654954-23-007859
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001654954-23-007859.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001654954-23-007859.txt

## Key facts
- Shareholder Votes
  ACCESS Newswire Inc. shareholders approved To approve the Issuer Direct Corporation 2023 Equity Incentive Plan. at the 2023-06-07 meeting.
  - Proposal: equity plan
  - Outcome: passed
  - Meeting: 2023-06-07
  source text: PROPOSAL 2: TO APPROVE THE ISSUER DIRECT CORPORATION 2023 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN. Votes For Votes Against Votes Abstaining Broker Non-Votes 2,299,206 180,729 1,014 270,365
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/843006/000165495423007859/0001654954-23-007859-index.htm
- Shareholder Votes
  ACCESS Newswire Inc. shareholders approved Election of five directors to serve until the next annual meeting or until their successors are duly elected and qualified. at the 2023-06-07 meeting.
  - Proposal: director election
  - Outcome: passed
  - Meeting: 2023-06-07
  source text: PROPOSAL 1: TO ELECT FIVE (5) DIRECTORS TO SERVE UNTIL THE NEXT ANNUAL MEETING OR UNTIL THEIR SUCCESSORS ARE DULY ELECTED AND QUALIFIED. Votes For Votes Against Broker Non-Votes Brian R. Balbirnie 2,325,286 155,663 270,365 J. Patrick Galleher 2,065,177 415,772 270,365 Marti Beller Lazear 2,212,682 268,267 270,365 Michael Nowlan 2,292,465 188,484 270,365 Graeme P. Rein 2,461,916 18,983 270,365
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/843006/000165495423007859/0001654954-23-007859-index.htm
- Shareholder Votes
  ACCESS Newswire Inc. shareholders approved To ratify the appointment by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of Cherry Bekaert, LLP as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023. at the 2023-06-07 meeting.
  - Proposal: auditor ratification
  - Outcome: passed
  - Meeting: 2023-06-07
  source text: PROPOSAL 3: TO RATIFY THE APPOINTMENT BY THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF CHERRY BEKAERT, LLP AS THE COMPANY'S INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2023. Votes For Votes Against Votes Abstaining 2,537,438 213,867 9
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/843006/000165495423007859/0001654954-23-007859-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.