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BEYA to honor the 36th annual Black Engineer of the Year

Dec 5, 2021 | Books, Business

BALTIMORE – Dec. 3, 2021 – PRLog — Career Communications Group (CCG) — BEYA recognizes outstanding achievements in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). This year, the Black Engineer of the Year Award goes to a successful engineer who has used his knowledge and power to mentor interns from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

Theodore “Ted” Colbert III, executive vice president of The Boeing Company and president and CEO of Boeing Global Services, will receive the award during the BEYA STEM Conference in February 2022. The award has been presented for more than 30 years to leaders who have made significant contributions to STEM talent development.

Following the announcement of the 2022 Black Engineer of the Year, STEM City USA—Career Communications Group’s city in the sky—hosted a welcome ceremony for the newest member of the club of Black Engineers of the Year. Ted said he had made it a mission to bring on board more leaders in technology and aerospace. He also told past BEYA winners that as a chief information officer (CIO) at Boeing he worked to change the face of information technology (IT), replacing minority leaders with minority leaders and women leaders with women leaders.

Ted is currently the vice-chair of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TCMF) and working to secure millions of dollars in funding to help recruit more students. During the spring of 2020, Colbert shared with LinkedIn his pride in speaking to a group of students from HBCUs who were beginning an internship with Boeing as part of the Boeing | TCMF Scholar program. Ted wrote glowingly of a partnership that will help the interns impact Boeing and the entire aerospace industry.

“It’s opened up a new world of possibilities,” Ted said during a US Black Engineer magazine interview. “The fact of the matter is all the data says that diverse organizations are more successful. Diverse companies, diverse boards, deliver more innovation to our society.”

The 36th Black Engineer of the Year Award will be presented at the BEYA Gala on Saturday, Feb. 19, at the Washington Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, D.C.

About the BEYA STEM Conference

The BEYA STEM Conference is produced by Career Communications Group in partnership with the Council of Engineering Deans of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and corporate sponsor Lockheed Martin Corporation. This year, Career Communications Group is proud to present the digital twin, or DTX, experience. This new model allows attendees to choose whether they would like to attend the conference in person or digitally. All events will be live on the online platform, reflecting what is happening in person!

About Career Communications Group, Inc.

Career Communications Group, Inc. is a leading media company that supports employers in promoting diversity in STEM fields through conferences and publications, such as US Black Engineer magazine. As nationally renowned experts and thought leaders, Career Communications Group also provides consultative support and expertise with its internal strategies and programs. Visit https://intouch.ccgmag.com

About STEM City USA

Powered by Career Communications Group, STEM City USA builds on its best practices and content, including the Black Engineer of the Year Awards (BEYA) and Women of Color in STEM conferences. STEM City USA combines the physical and digital worlds with unique digital moments (DIM). Experts in creating DIM experiences for audiences, Career Communications Group’s STEM City USA is designed to provide information on health, job training, professional mentoring, and lifestyle support. The DIMs (digital in the moments) are designed with rich content that delivers an immersive experience where people make up a diverse digital community.

Mariachi Herencia de Mexico presents “It’s The Most Wonderful Time of The Year”

Dec 5, 2021 | Books, Business

LOS ANGELES – Dec. 3, 2021 – PRLog — The Latin GRAMMY®-nominated group of young Mexican-American musicians ring in the holiday season with a new mariachi take on “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” Mariachi Herencia de México, comprised of both male and female musicians from Chicago, recreate the Andy Williams Christmas classic with a fresh and modern sound that is sure to leave you filled with holiday cheer.

Available now on all music platforms.

Watch video “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” : https://youtu.be/LmaPTNadygQ

“We’re excited to release our own version of this Christmas classic. It’s the perfect track for everyone’s holiday playlist,” says Ruben Núñez, lead vocalist and trumpet player with the band. “We made the track for everyone to enjoy, no matter where you’re from or how old you are, everyone loves Christmas,” Núñez adds.

Composed by Eddie Pola and George Wyle, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” was originally recorded and released in 1963 by pop singer Andy Williams. For this version, Mariachi Herencia de México collaborated once again with the band’s musical director Rigoberto Alfaro ( Latin GRAMMY® winning producer), one of the most revered and innovative composers of the mariachi genre credited for his work with the likes of Vicente Fernandez, Juan Gabriel, Joan Sebastian, Rocio Durcal, Alejandro Fernandez just to mention a few.

“Maestro Alfaro wrote a beautiful arrangement that combines references from traditional mariachi music, with the timeless pop sound of the original recording,” says Melanie Juárez, lead vocalist and guitar player for the band. “The song has such a happy and uplifting vibe, which is exactly what we wanted to share with our fans this Christmas season,” Juárez adds.

“It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” features a beautiful duet, a fusion of both male and female voices, with lead vocals from both Núñez and Juárez.

“It’s a masterpiece,” says Jonathan Clark, a mariachi expert and historian. “This is mariachi music at its most sophisticated and most modernistic. It’s almost the antithesis of folklore, almost futuristic. Maybe 20 or 30 years from now, all groups will sound like this, I don’t know. But it is state-of-the-art.”

Mariachi Herencia de México was formed in Chicago and is composed of 18 young musicians between 17 and 22 years old. The Latin GRAMMY-nominated band has released four highly acclaimed studio albums with chart-topping debuts on both the Billboard and the iTunes Latin Albums charts, defying a music industry trend and pointing to a revival in recorded mariachi music.

“In every recording, this group proves their commitment to Mexican music,” says Cesar Maldonado, the band’s Director and Founder. “These young musicians understand the essence of our music. They have an important role to play in helping to preserve mariachi music with new generations.”

To celebrate the Christmas season, Mariachi Herencia de México embarks on a special holiday tour titled “A Very Merry Christmas” on December 17, 18 and 19, 2021 at Chicago’s Thalia Hall and the Old Town School of Folk Music. Tickets are on sale now and available at www.mariachiherenciademexico.com.

Signed to IMG Artists, a major international talent agency, Mariachi Herencia de México has toured throughout the U.S., Mexico and Canada. The band has performed alongside major artists like Lila Downs, Aida Cuevas, Los Lobos, Pedro Fernández, and Mariachi Vargas de Tecatitlán, demonstrating that this group of young musicians has the talent, training and bravado to hold their own with the best in the world.

Facebook Mariachi Herencia de México

Instagram @MariachiHerMex

Twitter @MariachiHerMex

YouTube Mariachi Herencia de México

Website https://www.mariachiherenciademexico.com

TW Vending, Inc. Acquires Kimble’s Food By Design, Inc

Dec 5, 2021 | Books, Business

RIVER FALLS, Wis. – Dec. 3, 2021 – PRLog — T.W. Vending, Inc. dba TurnKey Corrections, a vertically integrated technology company focused on developing software and hardware to better serve businesses in the criminal justice and vending operations field, has acquired Kimble’s Food By Design (Kimble’s). Kimble’s, a vending operator also working in the field of criminal justice, is considered the leading jail services provider in the Southeastern United States. The move to acquire Kimble’s has been in the works for several months and after considering all potential outcomes for both companies, their combined clientele, ensuring continued excellence in customer service and the needs of all employees, the deal was signed on December 3, 2021.

“The acquisition of Kimble’s was carefully considered and very thoroughly reviewed prior to execution,” said CEO, Dewey Wahlin. Our similar companies are both very dedicated to excellence in service to our customers, employees and our communities. Doing what was right for the employees and clients of all businesses involved was at the forefront of our decision. The Kimble’s team is a tremendous asset, and we are very excited to join forces with such an experienced and effective group of business professionals.”

The acquisition of Kimble’s fits very well into TurnKey Corrections’ goal to expand their national footprint while continuing to provide relentless innovation, service, and execution. The addition of Kimble’s as a part of TurnKey Corrections is expected to merge the qualities and benefits of both companies in a similar business space, expanding the TurnKey Corrections service area and increasing its reach and services provided. “We are excited about this opportunity. It grows our company into a region of the Country we do not currently serve. This acquisition would not be possible without the help of our employees. From humble beginnings of filling vending machines to where we are today, is only possible because of our staff” said T.W. Vending owners, Tim and Todd Westby.

Kimble’s will continue to operate under the Kimble’s name and remains its own entity. Kimble Carter will remain with the company. “All said, the fit could not be better. We know Kimble’s and our customers will benefit from the stewardship of TurnKey Corrections,” said Kimble Carter, the founder of Kimble’s. “All of the folks our customers worked with here at Kimble’s remain here, so they can continue to reach out to their familiar contacts as issues arise,” said William Pendergraph, President of Kimble’s. “Kimble’s and TurnKey Corrections look forward to the continued business relationship with Kimble’s customers and vendors.” According to Kimble Carter, “Today is not only a day of celebration of new opportunities, but to celebrate how we got here. We cannot thank our employees, customers and vendors enough!”

About T.W. Vending:

T.W. Vending, Inc., is an industry leader in jail services, with its vertical integration helping it create state-of-the-art products for its customers and their clients, while keeping costs low. T.W. Vending operates in 22 states, primarily in the West and Upper Midwest of the United States. A family-owned business which first started filling vending machines out of Todd Westby’s van, the company has become an industry leader in software, technology, equipment and customer service. T.W. Vending has been pioneering innovation since 1997, being the first company to build corrections grade kiosks, the first company to offer video visitation, and still the only company that has complete control of its process and its equipment. New innovations, like The Hub, Jail Talk® and TEAM software allow T.W. Vending to continue to meet the needs of its customers while also helping jailers share best practices across the County. For more information about T.W. Vending, visit http://www.turnkeycorrections.com. You can also follow T.W. Vending on Facebook (@TurnKeyCorrections), Twitter (@TKCKiosk), YouTube (TurnKey Corrections), and LinkedIn (@TKCKiosk).

Press Contact:

Dewey Wahlin, CEO, T.W. Vending, Inc.

715-636-0411

DeweyW@tkc32m.com

http://www.tkc32m.com

About Kimble’s Food by Design:

Kimble’s Food By Design, Inc., is a leader in jail services in the Southeast United States. They currently serve the Corrections Industry through their Jail Commissary and Skillet Kitchen’s subdivisions. Kimble’s employees and their customers are at the heart of everything they do. They take pride in providing solutions that best serve their customers’ population, while also helping those customers save time, money, and resources. They have been providing industry leading customer and inmate service for over 20 years, with a staff that is second to none in experience and effectiveness. To learn more information about Kimble’s Food By Design, visit http://www.kimblesfood.com. You can also follow Kimble’s on Facebook (@kimbleseventsbydesign) and LinkedIn (@KimblesFoodByDesign).

Press Contact:

William Pendergraph, President, Kimble’s Food By Design, LLC.

706.884.5527

WilliamP@kimblesfood.com

Washington Home Care LLC Marks Second Anniversary With Influx Of Durable Medical Equipment Donations

Dec 5, 2021 | Books, Business

Washington Home Care LLC Founder Sara Guillemette

WASHINGTON, Conn. – Dec. 3, 2021 – PRLog — Sara Guillemette, the founder of Washington Home Care LLC in Washington, Connecticut, marks the second anniversary of having opened December 21, 2019.

As the COVID-19 global crisis continues, Washington Home Care has multiplied its ambitions to serve the varying needs of 63 families throughout northwest Connecticut. Plus Guillemette has been recognized as a community resource for matching durable medical equipment donations to local people with care needs.

Established by Washington resident Guillemette, Washington Home Care is a registry model whereby caregivers are hired by individuals, families, or legal healthcare representatives for private in-home medical care. The agency’s caregivers take their direction for care needs directly from their clients.

Currently, the agency’s vetted caregivers range from non-certified homemaker-companions to certified nurse assistants, certified home health aides, and certified personal care attendants. “Certified caregivers”, explained Guillemette, “are essential for individuals who have a long-term care insurance policy. This criteria also meets a growing nationwide trend of families preferring to have their loved ones recover and rehabilitate at home vs. entering a skilled nursing facility after surgery or illness.”

“During 2021,” commented Guillemette, “we have seen a noteworthy influx of durable medical equipment donations being offered to individuals and families in our community through our agency and our heightened social media postings. Significant anonymous donations we have posted on local area social media sites ranging from a prototype hospital bed valued at $18k+; unopened cases of disposable undergarments and underpads to 5-gallon industrial bins of hand sanitizers; collapsible transportable ramp systems; stand-up lifts; lift-assist recliners; chair lifts and transfer chairs; sit-to-stand lifts; and cross trainer bikes.”

Via an anonymous donation, a high-tech prototype hospital bed was delivered to the home of a Centenarian. The woman’s daughter wrote to Guillemette stating, “It’s a little miracle! My mom’s doctor reports Mom’s kidney functions have improved, her edema and congestive heart failure (CHF) situation have greatly improved. Plus she is sleeping so much better. I feel immense gratitude for the use of this bed. The results are amazing. Thank you for facilitating all of this including the transportation of the bed from the hospice facility to her home. Mom even attended a family funeral with her 97-year-old sister! Her nurse reported, “She’s just amazing, her results are all good.”

The Medical Equipment Loan Program of Cornwall, managed by Debbie Labbe, frequently contacts Guillemette to ask her to post anonymous gifts to Facebook’s Buy Nothing Washington site and the Washington, Connecticut community site. One such gift was a Telesensory B/W Aladdin Classic PRO Low Vision Video Magnifier 50X EAS. The Magnifier was lent by the Loan Program to an assisted living facility in Litchfield.

“The durable medical equipment needs throughout our community are significant,” observed Guillemette. “It is a true honor for Washington Home Care to become a conduit to matching donated items to local area people-in-need.”

Washington Home Care has serviced individuals in Bridgewater, Goshen, Kent, Litchfield, Middlebury, Milton, Morris, New Preston, New Milford, Prospect, Roxbury, Sandy Hook, Sharon, Southbury, South Kent, Warren, Waterbury, Watertown, Washington, Winsted, and Woodbury. Services to date have included very short-term transitional periods such as, after leaving a hospital to safely returning home, to clients needing longer-term care.

“As a registry business,” commented Guillemette, “there is no geographic restriction on where we can refer live-in caregivers, and we provide a necessary backup care plan for all service locations. If a client prefers a full-time live-in caregiver, and the client has more than one home or regularly travels, it is possible we can identify a caregiver for that client’s unique needs.”

Marking the second anniversary of her ‘vision’, Guillemette expressed her sincere gratitude to numerous non-profit and for-profit businesses that have supported her ambitions. These businesses have included the agency’s landlord, First Congregational Church of Washington CT, Ericson Insurance Advisors, National Iron Bank, Washington Supply Company & Outdoor Living Center, Titus Park Garage, Wright Electrical Co., Marc S. Johnson Furniture Restoration, On The Mend Medical Supplies & Equipment, Southbury Printing Centre, Inc., and Bantam Wesson.

To learn more, and to connect with Washington Home Care LLC, visit https://www.WashingtonCTHomeCare.com, call 203-577-8979 or write to PO Box 1244, Washington, CT 06793-9991.

Calumet City: Where Your Government Watchdog Needs to be Watched

Dec 4, 2021 | Books, Business

CALUMET CITY, Ill. – Dec. 2, 2021 – PRLog — Alyssia Benford, the auditor brought in by Calumet City Mayor Thaddeus Jones to conduct an unfounded and politically motivated review of the City Clerk’s office, has brought a history of conflict and entanglements to his witch hunt. They have ramped up the pace this week with a series of questionable actions.

Earlier this fall, the Mayor hired Cleo Jones as a Chief of Staff for Figgs, one who does not report to her but who appears to be receiving funds from the City Clerk’s budget. She did not hire staffer Cleo Jones, she does not know what he is doing, but he appears to be being paid by money she believes is being taken from the City Clerk’s budget.

Clerk Figgs can’t know for sure because she has not been allowed access to her own office’s financial system software for months. She was recently asked to approve expenses paid by her office funds of which she has no knowledge.

This week Benford & Jones broke into City Clerk Nyota Figgs’ office and re-keyed the locks. While they were at it, they installed video cameras in Figgs’ personal office. They did not ask her if they could take these actions, nor did they inform her that these actions were being taken. They simply took the actions with no reason nor apparent legal basis.

The actions raise additional questions. Why aren’t they installing cameras throughout City Hall if the Mayor believes there is a security problem? Will Figgs be allowed to see the footage from her own newly re-keyed office so that she can know who is being given access to her office?

“While I support government transparency, it needs to be truly transparent. I am very afraid because there are important election materials that are stored in my office. I don’t know who has keys to my office, the office where the clerk’s records and the election material are stored.

All I do know is that someone installed a camera in my personal office without my instruction or permission – a camera whose footage I am not allowed to see. How is this fostering transparency? I was already worried about Trump and the Republicans tampering with elections, but now do I need to worry about people from the Mayor’s office undertaking election fraud?”

Rikki Jones, longtime head of Cook County Democratic Women said, “It is appalling how Mayor Jones and his gang think that they can bully and harass a duly elected city clerk who happens to be a Black woman. What would people say if Lori Lighfoot locked Anna Valencia out of her office? Is Mayor Lightfoot allowed to hire Clerk Valencia’s staff and spend her budget? I don’t think so. The lack of respect, bullying and harassment being conducted by Mayor Jones is disgraceful. If it is not illegal, it sure should be.”

This incredible behavior by Benford & Jones comes in the wake of a myriad of questionable actions taken by Benford:

Benford’s tenure as a DuPage Township Trustee has been fraught with conflict, including being sued for the questionable firing (https://patch.com/illinois/bolingbrook/alyssia-benford-vi…) of a long-time DuPage Township employee.
There are suits and counter suits between her and her fellow DuPage Trustees. Benford’s pattern is to create chaos wherever she goes. First DuPage County, now Calumet City.
Like Mayor Jones himself, Benford double dips by simultaneously holding more than one taxpayer funded position. Benford is now drawing a salary from DuPage Township and Calumet City.
To date, Benford has been paid at least $57,000 and has not provided an update or report about the Calumet City Clerk’s office.
Unless she recently changed affiliation and denounced the GOP, Benford is a Republican so her running for other offices that way isn’t remarkable. She does have two failed campaigns for higher office under her belt. Republican candidate for DuPage Township Supervisor in 2021 and Illinois State Representative in 2018. There were no primary opponents but plenty of mud-slinging with Dems (https://willcountygazette.com/stories/579807134-dupage-to…).

Nigeria Postal Service, Nipost: The war room for the Igbo economic blockade

Dec 4, 2021 | Books, Business

The Biafran Conscriptors

LAGOS, Nigeria – Dec. 2, 2021 – PRLog — To my short-lived pleasant surprise, a package I sent to Nigeria arrived on time to Lagos and even made it to its destination at Owerri. But that was where my luck ended and the usual Nipost nightmare of delay and disgust began. When I became angry and began to ask why the package that reached Owerri was not released to the intended recipient, I finally received some answers. I learned that a supervisor in Lagos gave instructions to the Nipost staff in Owerri not to release the package. Following several calls to the Nipost office in Lagos, I spoke with the manager who issued an unbreakable order to hold the package.

“Why did you give the instructions not to release the package?” I asked. “For your own interest,” the manager said to me with a voice as harsh as it was patriarchal. “I held the goods so that I could save you money on customs duty.”

Even a child wouldn’t believe the manager’s story. I interpreted his actions as a deliberate intention to punish me and the recipient because we are of the Igbo tribe. Yet, Nipost’s staff was surprised that I got so upset about the matter. “Mr. Ajebolade,” I said to the manager, “in that package you held were diabetes and high blood pressure medicines going to relatives, including widowed women in their 80s. You dare not repeat this abuse next time without proper communication of the issues.”

Had my package landed in Igbo lands in Owerri, Awka, Orlu, Enugu, or Onitsha and the manager’s name was Chukwudi instead of Ajebolade, this kind of hostility would not have occurred.

Poor treatment of the Igbos is not new. It reached a climax during the Nigerian-Biafran civil war (1967-1970). In his book, There Was a Country: A personal story of Biafra (2012), Chinua Achebe discussed how Obafemi Awolowo, who was from the Yoruba tribe of Nigeria, devised a strategy for winning the Biafra-Nigeria war. Awolowo suggested to the Nigerian Head of State, Yakubu Gowon, to blockade food entry into eastern Nigeria, which was mostly occupied by Igbo tribes. Millions of Igbo children, along with their mothers and fathers, starved to death as a result.

Igbo kids were so traumatized by Yakubu Gowon and Awolowo that the memory is etched into their DNA. Some children managed to hang on to life by eating lizards, grasshoppers, and house rats

I do not think that efforts to keep the Igbos hungry, starved, and frustrated have decreased. Like a chameleon, those efforts have morphed with a changing world and a changing economy. Delaying the release of their goods and packages by Nipost is one such strategy to keep the Igbos down, demoralized, and defeated. Igbo merchants who deal in goods from inside and outside of Nigeria know this too well and bear the brunt of this hatred.

As to my package, it was subsequently set free.

Do you want to know how children look at Adults’ war? Read my memoir on Nigerian-Biafran Civil war:https://www.amazon.com/Biafran-Conscriptors-Memoirs-Niger…