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Thornton calls for respect for Black women in business | AFRO American Newspaper

Posted on Wednesday, January 21 @ 00:00:15 PST (15 reads)

By chrissy m. Thornton i have spent my career learning how to lead with vision, discipline, empathy and results. I believe i have earned my seat – through education, experience, sacrifice and outcomes. Yet still, as a black woman ceo, i am routinely reminded that credentials do not inoculate you from dismissal; that power, in america, is still often filtered through gendered and racialized lenses; and that for some men, seeing me – truly seeing me – remains optional. i am a professional woman navigating the relentless hardships of business leadership. I am black in america at a time where that feels even less safe than it always has. On top of that, i am a younger ceo, and each of these realities carries its own weight. Together, they compound into an experience that requires constant vigilance, emotional regulation and restraint that my male peers are rarely asked to perform. for the past three years, this has been my daily reality as president and ceo of associated black charities, an organization with an over four-decade legacy of advancing equity, strengthening black-led initiatives, cultivating leadership pipelines and investing in the economic, social and civic well-being of black communities across baltimore and beyond. I lead an institution that convenes government leaders, corporate partners, philanthropies, grassroots organizations and community members. I steward complex budgets, oversee transformative programs and carry responsibility not only for outcomes, but for trust. And still, even in rooms where our work is respected, my authority is too often negotiated. too often, men in leadership have deferred not to me (the ceo) but to other men on my board of directors; or even to my male subordinates. There have been occasions where they have bypassed my authority and engaged sideways, as if my title is symbolic rather than real. Emails from me and my senior female staff sometimes go unanswered, while it seems that business in the marketplace is routinely conducted over cigars and drinks with my counterparts. Male staff are invited to golf outings – despite having no interest or experience – while i, an avid golfer who took years of lessons as a child and refined my game on the course at vassar college, am never considered or invited. These are not oversights. They are patterns. Patterns over time that i had come to accept and tolerate. these patterns matter, though, because associated black charities exists precisely to dismantle inequitable systems, to challenge who is seen as credible, who is centered in decision-making, and who holds power. And yet, even as i lead this work publicly, i am forced to navigate its contradictions privately. The irony is not lost on me: the same systems we critique and seek to reform often show up, intact and unchallenged, in professional interactions that are supposed to reflect progress. the most jarring reminder came at a recent event in annapolis, where we gathered to hear from our governor, senate president, and the new speaker of the house. The room was filled with professionals. I was in conversation with a male colleague from my organization and a market leader (also male) from a major institution. Mid-conversation, a man unknown to me walked up and interrupted without apology, without pause. he greeted the market leader with a hug, marveling aloud at their reunion. He then turned to my colleague, shook his hand, and introduced himself. Having physically inserted himself between us, he stood directly in front of me—his back to my body, my presence effectively erased. He continued the conversation without a nod, a glance or the basic decency of acknowledgment. in one seamless motion, he interrupted me, ignored me, dismissed me and removed me from the exchange entirely. And at that very same moment, something in me broke. i felt it happen, even though i chose not to escalate the matter. Ultimately, i did not want to be disruptive. I did not want to be labeled difficult or emotional or aggressive – labels so easily assigned to black women who assert themselves. Afterward, when my colleague and i debriefed, he indicated that he, too, found the interaction profoundly disrespectful. and yet, what unsettled me most was not the man’s behavior. It was how familiar it felt. let me be clear. Something indeed did break deep within me, and with that came a decision. To the professional women of baltimore and beyond, please know that will never happen again. Never again will i allow that magnitude of disrespect to pass unaddressed in real time. I am making a commitment – not just to myself, but to every woman who has swallowed indignity to preserve “professionalism.” I will squash the anger and irritation that has often raised up in my initial reactions, and i will find the words. I will address it. Every time. Sure, with the class and refinement i carry everywhere – but without silence. while i deeply respect all of the professional men who get up every day and work hard to make our world operate, please know, when and if this happens again, i will not pull you aside. I will not handle it privately. I will correct you in the same public space in which you have harmed me. If that results in embarrassment, please understand that embarrassment is a consequence, not an injustice. what has made this reality even more painful is that, more often than not, these behaviors have come at the hands of black men. Meanwhile, i am your mother, your sister, your daughter and your niece – part of the same lineage, the same struggle, the same fight for dignity – yet too often denied the respect that solidarity demands. i join the ranks of black women who have carried this country – economically, politically, socially – while fighting for parity and equity at every turn. From enslavement to suffrage to civil rights to boardrooms, we have pushed, organized, endured and delivered. And when we have finally scraped and clawed our way into leadership, we still find ourselves forced to fight for what i believe is the bare minimum: basic respect. the psychological toll of this constant erasure is real. It undermines confidence, distorts decision-making, and drains creative and strategic capacity. It weakens organizations and markets by sidelining expertise. It sends a message to women watching closely that excellence is still negotiable if you don’t look the part someone expects. this damage does not stop at the individual level. It harms institutions like associated black charities that are doing critical work in leadership development, board diversification, nonprofit sustainability and community investment. When women leaders are diminished, entire ecosystems lose access to insight, innovation and lived experience that directly shape better outcomes for the communities we serve. this behavior is not power. It is small-mindedness. It is insecurity masquerading as tradition. And it is bad for business. Women (and black women in particular) have driven innovation, stabilized institutions and expanded markets while being systematically underestimated. Ignoring us is not only unjust; it is irrational. so here is my declaration to anyone who is inclined to render me invisible. I am a woman, and a strong one at that. When this happens, i am checking you. Not sometimes. Every time. do better. the opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the writer and not necessarily those of the afro.

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Meet Lesley Greenspan

Posted on Wednesday, January 21 @ 00:00:15 PST (11 reads)

We were lucky to catch up with lesley greenspan recently and have shared our conversation below. lesley, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story? from the outside, everything looked impressive. I was the girl who got into a lucrative program and became one out of only 252 students accepted. I earned my bachelor’s in fashion design, taking eight classes a semester, rarely living a “normal” college life. I didn’t party. I didn’t slow down. I was focused, disciplined, and determined to make something of myself — and i did. At the same time, i was dating someone i would eventually marry. And while i was building degrees, skills, and momentum — in fashion, fitness, health, and nutrition — i was also quietly living in an abusive relationship. Not the type people always recognize right away… but the type that slowly teaches you to shrink. The kind that convinces you that your worth depends on staying quiet, being agreeable, being “easy.” and still — i built. i built side projects and other companies. I trained clients. I created. I produced. I hustled. I made it look effortless, because that’s what strong women do when they’re trying to survive. but the truth is: i wasn’t living my life. I was hiding behind someone else. I was creating a life for “us,” while feeling completely disconnected inside it. I was unhappy and mistreated, yet still performing like everything was fine. i was on medication, numbing everything. I was masking trauma and pain so well that even i started to believe my own act. then came the turning point — not dramatic in the way movies make it look, but in the way life shatters you quietly and permanently. a series of events led to an ectopic pregnancy… and then a life-threatening emergency surgery. I remember everything around that time feeling foggy, like i was watching my own life from outside my body. After that, i lived numb. I survived, but i didn’t feel alive. until one day, i did. i realized something simple but brutal: if i stayed, it would cost me my soul. i had outgrown the life i was in. Not because it wasn’t comfortable — but because it wasn’t mine anymore. I knew leaving would create turmoil. I knew it would change how people viewed me. I knew i would “lose respect” in some people’s eyes. But i also realized those opinions had nothing to do with me — and everything to do with the kind of people i had allowed into my world. so i did the thing that terrified me. i spoke up. and i left. i started from nothing and built something again — from the ground up — on my own terms. it was march 2020, the beginning of covid, when the world felt uncertain and unstable. Most people were freezing in fear, but i was finally ready to bet on myself. I filed for divorce and threw everything i had into a new project: a mask company that shipped all over the world. it wasn’t just a business. It was purpose. we created fashionable masks, but also clear masks that helped teachers, speech pathologists, and children still see smiles during one of the scariest times in modern history. What started as survival became impact. Eventually, that brand evolved — “keen to be seen” became the foundation for a children’s clothing company, and we shipped worldwide. For years, we had products selling out — including a jacket that became a best-seller on multiple platforms. We had several factories in brooklyn and queens. and even during all of that, i never stopped growing. i trained. I studied. I sharpened my craft. I worked alongside chefs and creators because food has always been home to me — and it always will be. I’ve been in the kitchen since i was a young girl, learning from my grandma. I even have a tattoo on my hand — “1 cup sugar” — in her handwriting, taken from one of my favorite recipes of hers. It’s my reminder every day that the kitchen was never just cooking… its legacy and life should always be sweet we hold the pen and can overflow that measuring cup. Life is sweet! deep down, i always knew i’d return to the restaurant world — i just didn’t believe i could do it alone. then i took another risk: i moved to florida without much of a plan. I just knew i needed a new environment and a fresh start. And because of the track record i built through pure grit, an opportunity landed in my lap. I partnered with a restaurant, and it became my life, exactly what every project is for me: blood, sweat, tears, and pride. for two years, i worked 18-hour days. I gave everything. And while i’m grateful for it, it also taught me something critical: i had spent my life managing people, places, and things — putting myself last, even when it contradicted my beliefs. I realized i was no longer willing to build dreams that required me to disrespect myself or compromise my integrity for others. so i made another decision: no more shrinking. no more betrayal of self. no more building for someone else even if it’s “mine” eventually, after my parents experienced a car accident — i knew i needed to be back where my roots built me. now i’m back in new york, and i’m thriving. i have a training business i’m obsessed with — because it’s aligned with my purpose. I have clients who motivate me as much as i motivate them. I have a supportive partner who knows my past and still believes in my future. I have friends and family who love me deeply. and most importantly: i have myself. My experiences and everything in between. that’s what the risk gave me. today, i’m working on something new — a slow burn, but the kind that becomes a legacy. A brand that combines everything i’ve ever done: food, wellness, fashion, lifestyle, community — high-end, white-glove, deeply intentional service for a market i know is craving exactly what i’m creating. and i’m building it the way it should be built. No shortcuts, no easy way out, nothing easy but with self-respect. With integrity. With purpose. because being an entrepreneur isn’t just owning businesses. it’s choosing yourself when it’s hard. it’s rebuilding when no one is watching. it’s betting on your vision when the world thinks you’re crazy. and it’s understanding that your greatest success will never be what you created — it will always be the person you became while creating it. I have re-created myself numerous times and i know this will not be the last but so far it has been the most transformative project yet and i am very excited for whats to come. lesley, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations? some people discover health later in life — after a diagnosis, after burnout, after they feel their body start to fight back. for me, it was always there. when i was little, my mom had diet books everywhere. Not hidden away — they were just… around. On the kitchen counter, beside the couch, stacked on shelves like little clues. And i remember being so intrigued by them. I wasn’t reading them out of insecurity or because i thought i needed to “fix” anything — i was drawn to them because i wanted to understand. even as a kid, food felt like a mystery i wanted to solve. i would watch people eat and wonder why some foods made you feel energized, light, sharp, alive… and why other foods made you feel heavy, sluggish, inflamed, foggy. I was fascinated by the concept that what you choose to put in your body could literally shape how your body behaves. Calories in and out, hunger cues, energy levels, performance — it wasn’t just a curiosity. It was like my mind was naturally wired to study it. and then life gave me a reason to take that curiosity seriously. i was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, and it runs in my family — so in many ways it felt like it was always waiting for me. I probably held onto symptoms longer than i admitted, because i was young and i didn’t want to be “sick.” I didn’t want to be limited. I didn’t want my body to feel like a problem i had to manage. but uc doesn’t let you ignore it forever. it forces you to pay attention. and in a strange way… it became one of the biggest turning points of my life, because it taught me something i still live by today: food isn’t just food. Food is communication. Food is healing. Food is inflammation. Food is either working for you or against you. that’s when my relationship with food stopped being casual and became personal. i became deeply aware of what my body was asking for — what it could tolerate, what it couldn’t, what made me thrive, what made me crash. I didn’t want to take the route of simply masking symptoms and pretending nothing was happening. I wanted to understand my body. I wanted to respect it. So i chose the holistic route — not because it was trendy, but because i had to. and over time, i became living proof that you can turn discipline into freedom. i learned how to take control of my life through lifestyle — through the way i ate, the way i moved, the way i treated my health as something sacred. I learned how the body responds when it’s nourished properly… and how loudly it suffers when it isn’t. that’s why the businesses i gravitated toward were never random. They were always extensions of who i am. most of the food businesses i’ve been part of have always been rooted in the same values: health-forward, intentional, seed-oil free, ingredient conscious. Not because it sells — but because it’s what i believe. It’s what i live. and fitness became the other side of the same heartbeat. movement was never about punishment. It was always about power. The more i learned about health, the more i fell in love with the human body — not just aesthetically, but biologically. I loved what it could do. I loved how strong it could become. I loved how resilient it could be when you treat it right. and i never stopped learning. i studied food. I studied nutrients. I studied digestion. Macros, micros, inflammation, hormone balance, energy systems — i became obsessed, because the truth is: knowledge saved me. Knowledge gave me control. Knowledge gave me confidence. And when you never stop learning, you never stop evolving. that’s why i’ve stayed in this industry for so long. because it’s alive. there’s always new research, new information, new approaches, and new ways to become better — not just as a chef, or as a coach, but as a human being. It keeps me curious. It keeps me sharp. It keeps me aligned with my purpose. and when people ask why i do what i do, why i care so much, why i’m so passionate — the answer is simple: because i learned early that health isn’t something you “try” to have. it’s something you build. it’s something you choose every day, in small ways — meal by meal, habit by habit, choice by choice. and for me… that started in the kitchen long before i ever knew it would become my whole life. And the deeper i got into this world, the more i realized it wasn’t just about food or fitness — it was about the mind-body connection. that’s what truly hooked me. because once you begin to understand how connected the nervous system is to your gut… you can never unsee it. You start realizing that digestion isn’t just digestion. Inflammation isn’t just inflammation. Your stomach isn’t just reacting to food — it’s reacting to stress, to survival mode, to emotional overload, to the way your body holds trauma and tension. i learned that the gut doesn’t only respond to what you eat — it responds to what you carry. and for someone like me, with ulcerative colitis, that connection became impossible to ignore. I started noticing how my body spoke to me — how stress could trigger symptoms just as quickly as a food that didn’t serve me. How sleep, cortisol, adrenaline, anxiety, and even unspoken emotions could change what my body did. How the nervous system affects everything: digestion, absorption, inflammation, bowel health, energy, cravings — the entire rhythm of your body. and then comes the powerful part: once you realize that you can actually take back control… when you learn that you can influence what goes in, what stays, what gets absorbed, and what comes out — through nourishment, movement, nervous system regulation, breathwork, rest, and conscious lifestyle choices — you stop living like health is a guessing game. you stop feeling like your body is betraying you. you start treating it like a system you can support and stabilize. and that changed everything for me. because once you understand the nervous system and gut health are deeply connected — once you experience how much power you truly have — you don’t go back. You don’t unlearn that kind of truth. i will never live a different lifestyle. not because i’m “strict,” but because i’ve seen the difference. I’ve felt the difference. I’ve lived both sides — and the version of me who is nourished, regulated, and aligned is the version of me who thrives. what’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory? for a long time, i lived with a belief i didn’t even realize i had. not a belief that i said out loud — but one that shaped everything i did, every decision i made, and every way i moved through the world: that i had to prove i was worth it. that love had to be earned. that safety only came from being needed. that i couldn’t survive on my own. i didn’t wake up one day and decide to believe that — it was conditioned into me over time. Through relationships, through environments, through the subtle ways you learn that being “too much” is inconvenient to everyone else. So i shrank. I over-functioned. I over-achieved. I performed. I carried everything. I made myself useful. I made myself palatable. and i confused that with strength. the truth is, i didn’t think i could exist without attaching myself to something outside of me — a relationship, a role, a business, a version of myself that felt acceptable. and the hardest part? i didn’t just feel different. i felt like different meant wrong. my brain didn’t work the way other people’s did. I processed deeply. I felt intensely. I noticed everything. I cared too much. I questioned everything. I was sensitive, but also driven. I was emotional, but also ambitious. I was the girl who could build a business and still cry in the car because someone’s tone changed. so i tried to control it. i tried to “fix it.” i spent years believing that if i could just be calmer… quieter… less intense… less weird… less emotional… i’d finally become lovable. I’d finally become safe. I’d finally become chosen. but what i didn’t realize was that the very thing i was trying to erase was actually the most powerful part of me. my weirdness. my personality. my intensity. my mind. my drive. my emotional depth. that wasn’t a flaw. that was my gift. i have struggled with mental health issues — and i used to carry shame around that. I used to think it made me broken or difficult or weak. But now i understand something completely different: it made me aware. it made me able to read people without them speaking. It made me learn how to regulate myself when i felt like i was drowning. It made me build a deeper relationship with my own mind and body. And because i’ve been through it — because i’ve fought through it — i can support other people in a way that comes from real experience, not theory. i can sit with people in their darkness and not run. i’ve learned empathy in a way you can’t learn from a textbook. and the biggest shift came when i started unlearning the most dangerous lie of all: that i wasn’t capable on my own. i had to teach myself — slowly, painfully, repeatedly — that i am worth it even when i’m not performing. I am safe even when i’m alone. I am powerful even when no one is clapping. I can survive on my own. I can build on my own. I can hold myself on my own. that unlearning changed my entire life. because once i realized i could survive, i stopped settling. once i realized i was worthy, i stopped begging. once i realized my difference was beautiful, i stopped hiding. i’m grateful that i’ve always been the black swan — in every group, every family dynamic, every relationship. The one who didn’t fit the mold. The one who thought differently. The one who felt too deeply. The one who asked the questions no one else wanted to ask. The one who couldn’t pretend. and yes, for a while that made me feel lonely. but it also created something priceless: a love for myself that is unshakable. a work ethic that doesn’t come from ego — it comes from survival and purpose. a drive that doesn’t need permission. a vision that isn’t borrowed from anyone else. being different didn’t ruin me. it made me. it separated me. and it built the kind of inner strength that no one can ever take away. how did you build your audience on social media? i’ve built businesses from scratch more than once — and every time i do it, i’m reminded that the hardest part isn’t the product… it’s building belief. belief in yourself. belief in the idea. belief in something that doesn’t exist yet. when you create something from the ground up, especially on social media, you’re not just selling a product — you’re creating a world. You’re asking strangers to trust your vision, connect with your message, and invest in a feeling before they ever touch what you’ve made. And i’ve learned that the only way to make that work long-term is to be authentic. not performative authenticity — real authenticity. because people can feel when you’re chasing a trend. But they can also feel when you’re building something that’s personal. Something you believe in. Something you’d create even if nobody was watching. that’s how i’ve found my greatest success: staying true to my brand and staying true to myself. But authenticity doesn’t mean being random — it means being intentional. It means knowing who you are, what you stand for, and how you want people to experience you. whether i’ve been selling food, fashion, wellness, or lifestyle — the approach has always been the same. i don’t just sell products. i sell meaning. and i learned that from my mom. She always taught me to focus on “the why” — the cause, the effect, and everything in between. Not just what something is, but what it does for people. How it makes them feel. How it solves a real problem. How it becomes part of their life. that mindset became everything during covid. when the pandemic hit, the world didn’t just change overnight — it became unrecognizable. Everyone was scared. Everyone was isolated. And suddenly, even something as simple as a smile felt like it had been taken from us. that’s when keen to be seen was born. it wasn’t just a “mask company.” It was a response to a moment in history. i created fashionable masks, yes — but what truly mattered was the meaning behind them. We started creating clear masks, and people instantly understood why. Teachers, speech pathologists, schools… they needed children and students to be able to see facial expressions. They needed connection. They needed comfort. in a time when the world felt cold and distant, we found a way to bring back something human: expression. and social media became the platform that carried that message. i didn’t have big investors. I didn’t have a massive team. I didn’t have a traditional storefront. What i had was a story, a mission, and the ability to communicate it clearly. Social media became my customer service desk, my marketing department, my community hub, and my storefront all at once. i wasn’t just shipping products — i was building trust in real time. every post mattered. every caption mattered. every interaction mattered. people weren’t buying from a faceless brand — they were buying from me. and the best part was, it worked because it was real. then as the world started pivoting post-pandemic, i did the same — because entrepreneurship is adaptation. The roots of keen to be seen stayed the same: expression, identity, visibility. We took that mission and evolved it into a children’s clothing company. one of the biggest products was a jacket with clear pockets, designed for kids to express themselves — little collections, art, toys, personality — right there on their body. It was such a simple idea, but it represented everything i believe: that kids deserve to feel seen. that self-expression is powerful. that “different” is something to celebrate. and in a world where social media is often criticized for being shallow, i used it the opposite way — as a tool for storytelling and purpose. that’s what building a platform really is. it’s not about going viral. it’s not about perfect aesthetics. it’s not about copying what’s trending. it’s about creating a brand that feels like a real person — with real intention — and showing up consistently enough that people trust you. i’ve learned that the formula isn’t complicated, but it does require discipline: be authentic. Be consistent. Be clear. Be personal. Be intentional. because when you build something from scratch on social media, you’re not just selling what you made. you’re selling the fact that you believed in it enough to create it. and that belief is contagious. contact info: - website: https://www.Bodiesbylesley.Com - instagram: @lesleyagreenspan @anavrin @keen_tobeseen - facebook: lesley greenspan - youtube: keen to be seen suggest a story:canvasrebel is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.

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Activations abound at CFP Playoff Fan Central, other sights and sounds from the

Posted on Wednesday, January 21 @ 00:00:15 PST (9 reads)

If fans didn’t have enough to do on south beach, the college football playoff’s roster of sponsors filled the days leading up to monday’s title game. the miami beach convention center served as the host spot for fan fest on saturday as indiana and miami patrons littered the massive space a stone’s throw from the ocean. a couple highlights included: - chick-fil-a hosted an obstacle course for kids to test their nfl combine-esque skills with cones, tires and other obstacles set up. - at&t, which serves as a presenting sponsor of the cfp, had a number of activations throughout the weekend, including a booth that enabled fans to call iconic plays on an interactive broadcast booth. The company also sponsored “at&t playoff playlist live,” which featured performances from djs calvin harris, john summit and xandra; singers alvaro and peso pluma; and the band latin mafia. - anyone who wanted to test their speed could visit a capital one booth that timed fans in the 40-yard dash. - allstate, which has long been a major player in college sports, had its iconic field goal nets set up for fans to attempt kicks. college sports leaders flock to miami where fans were getting their fun in, plenty of people from the sports business world flocked to south florida for a slew of major events. learfield hosted its annual gathering for clients at cecconi’s on miami beach sunday night. Ceo/president cole gahagan was joined by his senior team of kim damron, ben mathan, cory moss, among other key staffers. Patrons included a handful of athletic directors in clemson ad graham neff, arizona’s desireé reed-francois, tcu’s mike buddie and toledo’s bryan blair. Indiana deputy ad stephen harper represented the hoosiers at the event. women leaders in sports hosted its annual cfp roundtable event on saturday. The speaker lineup included vanderbilt ad candice storey lee, disney advertising svp/sports streaming and brand solutions danielle brown (a 2025 sbj game changer), marlins president of business ops caroline o’connor and acc commissioner jim phillips. adidas had its own major presence throughout the weekend (more on that later), including hosting a party on sunday night at faena forum. Those in town included adidas president john miller and adidas north america vp/sports marketing chris mcguire (a 2025 sbj power player). the company’s party on friday night — which had “no competitive logo policy” and saw a few patrons turn back to change their footwear or find electrical tape to cover them up — hosted a number of former miami stars, such as willis mcgahee and bryant mckinnie. Others at the party included opendorse’s blake lawrence, fanatics college evp derek eiler and svp tommy gray, altius sports partners’ andrew donovan and leona marketing group president dan gale. a number of sports business execs stuck around in south florida the day after the cfp title game to take in tgl up in palm beach gardens. Among those seen before jupiter links gc took on los angeles gc were espn’s jimmy pitaro, roz durant and burke magnus; the sec’s greg sankey; caa evolution’s alan gold and fabian stechel; caa’s mike levine and howie nuchow; the pga tour’s brian rolapp; former usmnt player and bills investor jozy altidore; and media agent sandy montag. Espn talent that pulled cfp-tgl double duty included scott van pelt, matt barrie and marty smith.

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SH School Board approves network upgrades for district

Posted on Wednesday, January 21 @ 00:00:15 PST (9 reads)

Sweet home school board members took a step monday, jan. 12, to modernize the district’s it network capabilities by approving the purchase of nearly $1 million in new hardware and internet services. board members, all but amanda carter of whom were present for the meeting, approved a $201,792 purchase contract with questivity, 80% of which will be covered by federal e-rate funding. Thus, it is contingent on receiving that funding, according to a staff report presented to the board. the e-rate program helps schools and libraries afford internet access and network infrastructure by providing substantial discounts on such services, according to the staff report. It is financed by fees that telecommunications companies charge on consumers’ phone bills – usually listed as the “universal service fee.” the winning bid came from questivity, based in california, which provides it infrastructure equipment, training and services to customers such as the school district. Questivity has also worked with the philomath and north santiam school districts, according to the report. district it chief sam nothiger told board members that the district’s current online hardware “is aging quite a bit,” from seven to 13 years old, which is causing bandwidth and other issues, and requires a continuous subscription for use. “that’s never fun to deal with every single year,” he said. the new equipment would include a router/firewall, 80 switches, 203 access points and several network racks and cabling/connectors, according to the staff report. The “next-generation” firewall will help with security, intrusion detection and prevention, and improved wifi speed and security, nothiger said. “it would be a massive upgrade that would set us up for the next five or 10 years,” he said. questivity’s bid for the project was the second-lowest of the four responses received by the district, which included a cheaper price that lacked some of the components the district wanted, according to the report. business manager kevin strong told the board that the district has saved for the project, which will cost it about $40,000. “increasingly, technology is a cost of doing business in education, so it’s something that we need to keep up with, just so we’re serving the classrooms well,” he said. the board also unanimously approved a $775,500 contract with fatbeam fiber to provide internet service to the district’s four elementary schools. currently, the school district leases a 200-megabit-per-second fiber connection from centurylink/lumen technologies to supply internet to those schools. the new contract with fatbeam would increase capacity to 10-gigabits per second, with the ability to scale up to 100 gbps. as with the hardware, the project is contingent on receiving federal e-rate funding and a grant from the connecting oregon schools fund, which has already been confirmed, according to a staff report from nofziger and strong. according to the report, fatbeam’s bid was less than half of what two others proposed. The report noted that funding is already confirmed for that project. Fatbeam has provided similar projects for larger school districts – bend-lapine, st. Helens and tigard-tualatin, according to the report. nofziger said he hopes that, once all the funding is approved, the underground installation for the fatbeam services, which would be followed by hardware installation, could start in mid-summer and would likely last about a year. He said he’s hoping to complete it by october of 2027. “it’s a major project,” he said. ”It’s going to have to be done on weekend or when people are not in school or not at work because it does require bringing down the system to replace the equipment.” he noted that the fatbeam work may cost the district “zero,” due to federal and state grants it has received. also at the meeting, the board voted unanimously to give district staff the go-ahead to create language for a bond resolution and ballot title for a proposed bond measure that, if passed by voters in the may election, would qualify the district to receive $12.25 million in oregon school capital improvement matching grant funds. strong suggested that board members approve five “guiding objectives” for the bond: - maintain the current tax rate being paid by local property owners from the bond approved in 2017. - prioritize student safety and security in spending. - upgrade classrooms and career learning facilities. - create durable, long-lasting schools that, strong said, should last into the next century. - leverage grants to reduce local costs. he told the board that, although “there are a lot of needs,” improvements to the high school, which has some 40 unsecured entrances, would be the primary focus of the bond and grant funds. he said board members would be asked to approve the actual language in their february meeting. in other action, board members: n voted 8-1, with mary speck opposing, to appoint former board chair and longtime member jason redick to the district’s budget committee. n heard a report from high school leadership teacher tomas rosa on the program, which, he said, includes 40 students, 20 upperclassmen and 20 sophomores and freshmen, the latter taught by ryan adams. rosa said one of the more recent high points of the program has been visits from local community leaders, including mayor susan coleman, police chief/city manager jason ogden, fire chief nick tyler, ctc president milt moran, former usa wrestling president steve thorpe, former ups regional manager jim hagle and others such as college professor brandon harvey and rob younger, longtime football coach at sweet home and current executive director of the oregon athletic coaches association. “the overall goal is to get leadership kids some experience listening to people who are leaders, so they understand the pathways to becoming a leader,” rosa said, adding that young people often have trouble figuring out how the problem-solving experience they get in leadership classes translates into the real world. – accepted the resignation of sweet home high school vice principal luke augsburger, who is taking a job at western governors university, of which he is an alumnus of two master’s degree programs. his last day will be feb. 4 after 18 years with the district. Augsburger was a teacher at the high school, then served as principal at foster school from 2014 to 2023 before moving to the high school. board member rachel maynard made a statement regarding his departure: “i accept your resignation with extreme sadness, both for our community and staff members. Your contributions, commitment, integrity and grace have meant a great deal to me. You will be truly missed and i am grateful for your 18 years of service to the sweet home school district.” board member mary speck made it a point to get up and shake augsburger’s hand. thorpe, who heads the district’s certified employees union, also expressed appreciation for augsburger’s service. “i appreciate what you’ve done, luke,” he said, looking augsburger’s way. “it has been absolutely incredible having him at the high school and what he brought to, as (principal ralph brown) calls it, ‘the team,’ and what he did for students is very commendable.” in remarks to the board, augsburger expressed “heart-felt thanks to the sweet home community, the staff, the families, for 18 years that i was able to serve… in this capacity. I’ve really appreciated it and i’ve appreciated my time spent in sweet home and with sweet home students.” – heard a request from thorpe, representing the certified employees union, to consider making the monday after winter break a prep day for teachers. He noted that many school districts have incorporated that into their calendars. Otherwise, he said, teachers have to come in during the break on their own time to prepare for the resumption of classes – “and many do,” he said. “i’d just like us to look at that,” he said. “I do know that a friend of mine who teaches in the newberg school district said that once they did that, they’ll never go back. What it does for the teachers coming in, getting everything ready to go, it’s been good. “it’s a two-week break and i’d love to pull the numbers on attendance of students on that monday when they come back, but it’s down. But it’s a scramble when you come back.” board member rachel maynard said her sister is a teacher and had mentioned how the off day in her district after the winter break was “really nice.” board members discussed the issue as they discussed the proposed 2026-27 academic calendar. supt. Terry martin told the board that the state has mandated a certain number of instructional days for students and adding an extra prep day for teachers would require “tweaks” to the calendar. he noted that the calendar is subject to a 30-day review period by district employee unions before it will be submitted to the board for approval. board member jenna northern asked whether there were extra days built into the schedule for weather closures, to which martin replied that there were none. He said decisions to close or delay schools are always made on the morning of those school days. “you have to have transportation and meals available for it to count as a school day.”

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Chad Amond, passionate advocate for Westmoreland County, dies at 51

Posted on Wednesday, January 21 @ 00:00:15 PST (10 reads)

Chad amond shared his passion for westmoreland county at countless events, pushing for growth, collaboration and development in the place where he grew up, leading the westmoreland county chamber of commerce for 11 years. amond died monday after a battle with primary progressive aphasia, which forced him to step down from the role in 2022. He was 51. amond, a derry township native, lived in unity with his wife of 27 years, amy, and their four children. “chad built this chamber. This will always be his chamber,” said dan debone, president and ceo of the westmoreland county chamber of commerce. “He reached thousands of lives, elevated our business community and laid a foundation that continues to benefit westmoreland county every single day.” amond was a high-profile community advocate as president and ceo of the chamber starting in 2011. That often meant breakfasts, dinners, business meetings and speaking engagements to promote the region as one of westmoreland county’s loudest cheerleaders. jim smith, president and ceo of the economic growth connection of westmoreland, recalled regular speaking engagements with amond and jason rigone, executive director of the westmoreland county industrial development corp. And department of planning and development. “he was by far the best communicator among us,” smith said. the work started to get difficult though in more recent years. Amond was diagnosed in march 2020 with primary progressive aphasia, a rare form of dementia. That left him with memory troubles and issues at times finding words. after the diagnosis, triblive interviewed amond and his family, who wanted to spread awareness about the illness, which has no cure. Even through those challenges, amond continued to lead the westmoreland chamber, whose members number about 1,000, eventually with help. Debone was appointed executive director in summer 2021 . the pair spent plenty of time together visiting the restaurants and businesses once debone was hired. Amond said then he planned to continue working as long as possible. debone was named president and ceo in march 2022 upon amond’s departure. “we are honored and privileged to continue the work he started, to build upon his accomplishments and to move the chamber forward in a way that reflects his vision, leadership and commitment to this community,” debone said. smith called amond a dynamic speaker and presenter who sought to build a consensus as a highly respected leader. “he will be greatly missed, but his contributions to this county and region will endure,” smith said. amond previously served as president of the monroeville area chamber of commerce and held marketing and communication positions at forbes hospital, the philadelphia flyers and philadelphia 76ers. He received a lifetime achievement award upon being inducted into the derry area school district hall of fame in 2025 and was honored by the westmoreland county commissioners in 2021 . he served as a board member for community organizations including westmoreland county community college and the economic growth connection of westmoreland. during the triblive interview in 2020 , amond said he wanted a way for researchers to launch more clinical trials to study potential treatments for primary progressive aphasia in hopes of helping others. “awareness,” he said, “to help people in the future get cured.” arrangements are being handled by lopatich-brinker funeral home in latrobe. Visitation is 3-8 p.M. Thursday at the funeral home, 601 weldon st. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.M. Friday at trinity evangelical lutheran church, 331 weldon st.

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SBJ College: Indianas path from cellar dweller to CFP champion

Posted on Wednesday, January 21 @ 00:00:15 PST (10 reads)

Activations abound at cfp playoff fan central, other sights and sounds from the weekend - chick-fil-a hosted an obstacle course for kids to test their nfl combine-esque skills with cones, tires and other obstacles set up. - at&t, which serves as a presenting sponsor of the cfp, had a number of activations throughout the weekend, including a booth that enabled fans to call iconic plays on an interactive broadcast booth. The company also sponsored “at&t playoff playlist live,” which featured performances from djs calvin harris, john summit and xandra; singers alvaro and peso pluma; and the band latin mafia. - anyone who wanted to test their speed could visit a capital one booth that timed fans in the 40-yard dash. - allstate, which has long been a major player in college sports, had its iconic field goal nets set up for fans to attempt kicks. college speed reads - the sbj media newsletter comes from the cfp title game this week, with austin karp reportingon the downstream effects of any potential playoff expansion, the big ten network’s success this season and how florida citrus sports is keeping an eye on the cfp’s future. - This week’s magazine features my report on college sports commissionand how ceo bryan seeley is overseeing its move into a new phase of its existence: investigation and enforcement. Indiana qb frank mendoza’s nil playbookstarted with burritos from a taqueria in berkeley during his time at cal. It now includes brands such as adidas, jlab and more.- More than 1.7 million fans attended the 47 fbs postseason games since dec. 13, down 9% from the 2024-25 bowl season, reports sbj’s david broughton and emma grace jimenez. - Caa’s jimmy sexton represented more hires in this latest coaching carousel and the most new coaches in the power four than any other agent in the business, reinforcing how a small number of agents shape leadership at the collegiate coaching level, writes me and my sbj colleague, irving mejia-hilario. Sbj’s mary gaughan takes a tourof the acc’s hq in charlotte and reports on the high-tech game day operations center and other innovations that help the conference not just operate but grow its business efforts.

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If the Weather Outside is Frightful, that Means its Puzzle Time - Alliance for A

Posted on Wednesday, January 21 @ 00:00:15 PST (10 reads)

And there are lots of american-made options. it can be hard to find things to do when winter weather forces you to stay indoors. Instead of binge-watching or scrolling, try puzzling. This activity is a great way to get your brain working and a fun way to bond with family. When looking for a puzzle to get started, we recommend choosing one of the many american-made options. Here are nine awesome puzzle companies that do their manufacturing domestically. dowdle puzzles dowdle puzzles is one of the more famous made in usa puzzle options. It’s especially popular at tourist sites, since dowdle is well known for its depictions of places (such as seattle and greece). All of the art is done by eric dowdle himself, giving these puzzles a unique and instantly recognizable style. Dowdles are full of little details, with something going on everywhere you look. It’s not only fun but also may make doing the puzzle a little easier! Be sure to check labels, though — dowdle puzzles that display the made in usa label prominently are made in utah, while others may be made elsewhere. true south puzzle company when susan taylor tried to start puzzling during a vacation that was ruined by cold weather, she ran into a problem: the puzzle she chose wasn’t of high quality. So, she decided to take her 35-year experience of running a picture framing store and use it to guide her own puzzle business. Now, nashville’s true south puzzle company is going strong. Most of its puzzles feature scenes from across america, from tennessee to acadia national park. There’s also pop culture options (my favorite is this taylor swift puzzle). The designs are all done by independent artists, and the puzzles themselves are manufactured in indiana. These 500-piece puzzles are great for anyone starting out on their puzzling journey. You can learn even more about true south puzzle company in this profile of taylor on our blog. new york puzzle company any lover of vintage art will appreciate new york puzzle company. This company, founded by two college friends, sells a huge collection of vintage-inspired puzzles. My personal favorite options from them are their collaborations with the new yorker, featuring puzzles with art from the iconic magazine’s covers over the last hundred years. There’s more than just these classy designs to choose from, though. If you’re a harry potter fan, you have to check out the many puzzles featuring the original book art. Plus, 1% of all sales goes toward supporting environmental non-profits. But keep in mind: this company’s website sells other products that may not be made in the u.S., So check labels! white mountain puzzles white mountain puzzles is another iconic puzzle company you’ve probably seen before. These are your super simple, classic puzzles. White mountain is perhaps best known for its huge collection of collage based puzzles, like this patriotic-themed one. But what you may not have known is that white mountain is based in the small town of jackson, n.H. And does all its manufacturing domestically, mostly in massachusetts and indiana. That’s impressive for a brand that’s so notable! Plus, these puzzles are extremely affordable — the average price is only $20. artifact puzzles for a unique, artistic puzzle, you can’t go wrong with artifact puzzles. It’s based in port townsend, wash., Which is also where it does all its manufacturing. Artifact puzzles makes its products in small batches with environmentally friendly ingredients to avoid waste. There’s a lot of unique options to choose from; you’ll find puzzles with a “whimsy piece”, a specially shaped piece that corresponds with the puzzle. There’s puzzles with unique edges and mystery puzzles with no image given that provide an extra challenge for intrepid puzzlers. For another challenge, try out artifact’s small (but extremely hard) puzzles where every piece can fit together — meaning, you’ll have to solely rely on the image to make sure your puzzle is correct! mosaic puzzles can’t get enough of those not-so0typical puzzles? Try out mosaic puzzles. It’s relatively new on the scene, but this alpharetta, ga. Company is making waves. Much like companies such as artifact and liberty, mosaic focuses on puzzles with uniquely shaped pieces. What sets these apart, though, is that they offer puzzles you can solve in two ways — the traditional way, and the 3d way. Each puzzle is essentially two puzzles in one, and provide a whole new experience for any puzzler. Plus, some of these puzzles even move! heritage puzzle heritage puzzle is based in the small town of pfafftown, n.C. That heritage (pun intended) shines through its simple puzzle options. Many of the puzzles from this family-run business have a beach or carolinas theme, like this smoky mountains puzzle or this adorable puzzle featuring baby turtles waddling out to sea. Even if you’re not from the carolinas, you’ll be sure to find something that calls to you. liberty puzzles are you a longtime puzzler looking for something different and exciting? Then you need to check out liberty puzzles. Yes, they’re expensive, but that’s only because each and every piece is completely unique, with intricate designs you won’t find in any other puzzle. These puzzles are perfect for anyone who likes to save their work and display it, since the designs are truly a work of art. If you want a puzzle no one else has, you can even order a custom-made puzzle. This boulder, colo. Family business is truly one worth celebrating! For more information about liberty puzzles, check out our blog post featuring the company. springbok puzzles finally: springbok puzzles is an extremely well-known puzzle brand that’s been around since 1968 and shows no signs of slowing down any time soon. This kansas city company is an affordable puzzle staple. You’ll find puzzles of all sizes here, and you can even sort by difficulty depending on if you’re starting out or are a seasoned pro. And all of springbok’s puzzles are made with recycled materials, too!

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Events | Campus Events

Posted on Wednesday, January 21 @ 00:00:15 PST (11 reads)

January 22 @ 8:00 am - 9:00 pm est soe situation room and data management carh 113 campus: main campus january 22 @ 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm est faculty research forum – college of engineering, business and education man 104 campus: main campus 230 park avenue, bridgeport january 22 @ 12:30 pm - 2:30 pm est adopt a desk buddy – center for student involvement wahl library lobby a campus: main campus 126 park avenue, bridgeport january 22 @ 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm est police department graduation ceremony abc 118 campus: main campus 84 iranistan avenue, bridgeport

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Faculty Research Forum - College of Engineering, Business and Education | Campus

Posted on Wednesday, January 21 @ 00:00:15 PST (10 reads)

Skip to content main menu « all events faculty research forum – college of engineering, business and education january 22 @ 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm est add to calendar details date: january 22 time: 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm est event category: academics venue man 104 campus: main campus 230 park avenue bridgeport , ct 06604 united states

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NMIMS NMAT Cut Off 2026: Check score, percentile, selection process

Posted on Wednesday, January 21 @ 00:00:15 PST (10 reads)

Nmims nmat cut off 2026: check score, percentile, selection process new delhi: narsee monjee institute of management studies narsee monjee management aptitude test (nmims nmat) 2025 cutoff is the minimum score required to apply for master of business administration (mba) admission at any of the nmims campuses. The cut off is released by the respective nmims college once the entrance exam concludes. the nmims nmat cut-off usually ranges from 200 to 235. The nmat cutoff score is announced after the declaration of the nmat result. The result is announced within 48 hours of the exam. The cut-off score varies from institute to institute. Candidates who........ © news9live visit website

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