Author: David Callahan

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Hawaii DOE | HIDOE seeking feedback to develop financial literacy content standards

Hawaii DOE | HIDOE seeking feedback to develop financial literacy content standards


​Introduction

Financial literacy, or financial capability as it is currently defined at the federal level, is the capacity, based on knowledge, skills and access, to manage financial resources effectively. To develop this capacity, individuals must have appropriate access to and understanding of financial products, services, and concepts. Financial literacy empowers individuals to make informed choices, avoid pitfalls, know where to go for help, and take actions to improve their present and long-term financial well-being.

The Hawaii State Department of Education, Office of Curriculum and Instructional Design, is currently investigating ways to ensure
every student receives basic financial literacy before high school graduation. At this time, efforts are focused on financial literacy education at the high school level.

As part of this work, draft content standards have been curated for a one-semester introductory level high school course on financial literacy designed to help students develop the capacity to describe, analyze, and evaluate many financial topics that most students will directly experience in their personal and professional lives. While a one-semester course is not the only way in which financial literacy education can be provided to students, the standards are a vital step toward ensuring consistent financial literacy education across the state.




Hawaii DOE | HIDOE seeking feedback to develop financial literacy content standardsThe content standards are derived from the 2017 edition of the
National Standards in K-12 Personal Finance Education (pdf, pictured to the right) from the Jump$tart Coalition. These standards are consistent with both state- and nationally-recognized concepts that are important to healthy financial literacy.


The themes are aligned to the six major categories utilized in Jump$tartʻs National Standards: 1) Spending and Saving; 2) Credit and Debt; 3) Employment and Income; 4) Investing; 5) Risk Management and Insurance; and 6) Financial Decision Making.


The sample teacher guidance is a list of skills gleaned from Jump$tartʻs benchmarks which describes what teachers may ask students to demonstrate in order to meet each content standard. The guidance is not intended to serve as an all-inclusive list; rather, the guidance serves as a sample set of statements for teachers to consider how to best help their students meet the content standards.

Special thanks to Kelly Lee, founder of the Hawaii Coalition of Jump$tart, for lending her content area expertise to this effort.


​​THEME 1: Spending and Saving


Content Standard


The student shall:


​Sample Teacher Guidance


To help students meet the Content Standard, the teacher may ask students to:


​Content Standard MD.PFL.1.1

Develop a plan for spending and saving.
  • ​Describe ways that people can decrease expenses to save more of their incomes.
  • Discuss the components of a personal spending plan, including income, planned saving and expenses.
  • Compare the advantages and disadvantages of saving for financial goals.
  • Investigate changes in personal spending behavior that contribute to wealth building.


​Content Standard MD.PFL.1.2

Describe how to use different payment methods.
  • Compare and contrast different types of local financial institutions and the services they provide.
  • Summarize the advantages and disadvantages of checks, stored value cards, debit cards, gift cards and online and mobile payment systems.
  • Compare the costs of cashing a check with various third parties, such as a bank or credit union, check-cashing services and retail outlets.
  • Demonstrate how to schedule and manage bill payments.


​THEME 2: Credit and Debt​

​Content Standard


The student shall:


​Sample Teacher Guidance


To help students meet the Content Standard, the teacher may ask students to:


​Content Standard MD.PFL.2.1

Analyze the costs and benefits of various types of credit.
  • ​Explain how debit cards differ from credit cards.
  • Discuss potential consequences of using “easy access” credit.
  • Calculate the total cost of repaying a loan under various rates of interest and over different periods.
  • Compare the cost of borrowing $1,000 by means of different consumer credit options.

​Content Standard MD.PFL.2.2

Summarize a borrower’s rights and responsibilities related to credit reports.
  • ​Weigh the potential payoffs of a positive borrowing reputation versus the potential consequences of a poor
    borrowing reputation.
  • Explain the value of credit reports to borrowers and to lenders.
  • Categorize the information in a credit report and how long it is retained.
  • Analyze how a credit score affects creditworthiness and the cost of credit.


THEME 3: Employment and Income

​Content Standard


The student shall:


​Sample Teacher Guidance


To help students meet the Content Standard, the teacher may ask students to:


​ Content Standard MD.PFL.3.1

Explore job and career options.
  • ​Explain the difference between a career and a job.
  • Match personal skills and interests to various career options.
  • Compare the education and training requirements, income potential and primary duties of at least two jobs of interest.
  • Discuss how non-income factors such as child-care options, cost of living and work conditions can influence job choice.


​ Content Standard MD.PFL.3.2

Compare sources of personal income and compensation.
  • ​Explain the difference between a wage and a salary.
  • Calculate the future income needed to maintain a current standard of living.
  • Identify typical sources of income in retirement.

​THEME 4: Investing​

​Content Standard


The student shall:


​Sample Teacher Guidance


To help students meet the Content Standard, the teacher may ask students to:

​
Content Standard MD.PFL.4.1

Explain how investing may build wealth and help meet financial goals.

 ​

● Describe reasons for investing.

● Devise an investment plan for accumulating money for a major expense such as a college education or the down payment on a car.

● Describe the importance of various sources of income in retirement, including Social Security, employer-sponsored retirement savings plans and personal investments.

​
Content Standard MD.PFL.4.2

Evaluate investment alternatives.

 ​

● Explain the difference between stocks and bonds.

● Give examples of investments for current income and investments for future growth.

● Compare the advantages of taxable, tax-deferred and tax-advantaged investments for new savers, including Roth IRAs and employer-sponsored retirement vehicles.

​THEME 5: Risk Management and Insurance​

​Content Standard


The student shall:


​​Sample Teacher Guidance


To help students meet the Content Standard, the teacher may ask students to:

​
Content Standard MD.PFL.5.1

Identify common types of risks and basic risk management methods.
  • Predict the consequences of accepting risk with insufficient or no insurance.
  • Illustrate how to use insurance to share the risk of financial loss.
  • Discuss factors that affect insurancepremiums.

Content Standard MD.PFL.5.2

Justify reasons to use health, disability, long-term and life insurance.
  • ​Justify reasons to have health insurance.
  • Compare sources of health and disability insurance coverage, including employee benefit plans.
  • Explain the purpose of long-term care insurance.

​THEME 6: Financial Decision Making

​Content Standard


The student shall:


​Sample Teacher Guidance


To help students meet the Content Standard, the teacher may ask students to:

​Content Standard MD.PFL.6.1

Recognize the responsibilities associated with personal financial decisions.
  • ​Analyze money-handling decisions that young adults commonly face.
  • Compare the benefits of financial responsibility with the consequences of financial irresponsibility.
  • Predict how influences such as current fashion trends, peer pressure and procrastination can affect financial decisions.
  • Compare how financial responsibility is different for individuals with and without dependents.

​Content Standard MD.PFL.6.2

Make criterion-based financial decisions by systematically considering alternatives and consequences.
  • ​Explain how limited personal financial resources affect the choices people make.
  • Determine the cost of achieving a financial goal.
  • Give examples of how decisions made today can affect future opportunities.
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HPU Welcomes New Hires – High Point University

HPU Welcomes New Hires – High Point University

Large Position, N.C., Nov. 1, 2021 – Superior Place College not too long ago welcomed a number of new employees associates in the previous thirty day period. They are as follows:

 

HPU Welcomes New Hires – High Point University
Alexandra Hull

Alexandra Hull joined the Workplace of Accessibility Assets and Solutions as an accessibility technologies professional.

In her purpose, Hull is effective with pupils who have disabilities by having them established up for examinations, accessing textbooks and offering assistive technological know-how aid. Assistive technological innovation aids learners with productivity in course, though researching and all through screening. Right before coming to HPU, she was a particular education and learning trainer for Guilford County Educational institutions. She labored with equally elementary and higher school learners. Hull holds a Bachelor of Science in recreation treatment.

 

 

HPU Rachel Topper
Rachel Topper

Rachel Topper joined the Graduate Admissions Office as a graduate recruiter.

Topper is responsible for aiding potential pupils fascinated in HPU’s graduate systems. Topper aids college students discover their preferred graduate software by sharing what HPU has to give. Her former function practical experience incorporates advertising and marketing, social media, written content creation and celebration setting up. Topper graduated Summa Cum Laude from HPU with a Bachelor of Arts in advertising with minors in product sales and sport administration. She earned her master’s diploma in conversation and organization leadership from HPU.

 

 

HPU Betsy Warner
Betsy Warner

Betsy Warner joined the Wanek College of Purely natural Sciences as an administrative assistant.

Warner supports the College of Normal Sciences and Dr. Brett Woods, dean of the faculty, with a wide variety of administrative capabilities. She also serves as the liaison for the college and other university departments, coordinating college pursuits and events, and maintaining the departmental webpages. She is a communications professional with expertise in a selection of promoting, administrative, functions, finance, education and leadership positions that created integrated strategic systems and artistic initiatives for regionally and nationally recognized businesses. She holds a Bachelor of Science in journalism with a specialised minor in animal biology.

 

 

HPU Sam Carr
Sam Carr

Sam Carr joined HPU as a community relations professional in the Office environment of College Relations.

Carr serves as a liaison between the university and the Large Position neighborhood. He manages the university’s personal suite at Truist Point, property of the Superior Position Rockers and serves as the middleman between HPU and the Nido and Mariana Qubein Children’s Museum. Carr collaborates with the numerous university departments to assist in organizing and speaking about the university’s hundreds of neighborhood gatherings. He also facilitates particular assignments and hosts college company. Carr graduated from HPU with a Bachelor of Arts in political science. He was awarded the university’s “Male of the Year” and “Extraordinary Leader” awards for the duration of the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 school yrs and obtained the “University Award for Leadership” in 2021.

 

 

HPU Patrick McCullough
Patrick McCullough

Patrick McCullough joined the Office of Communications as web page manager.

McCullough ensures that the university’s net presence carries on to serve the requires of its local community, from new and future students and their households to employees and faculty, in an at any time-evolving technological surroundings. His knowledge involves working and instructing internet advancement, and he ran a boutique world-wide-web growth business. He has an affiliate degree in used science in marketing.

 

 

 

HPU Brittany Dickinson
Brittany Dickinson

Brittany Dickinson joined HPU as a human methods business lover in the Human Resources Department.

Dickinson is accountable for major and supporting HR pursuits in phrases of talent evaluation, general performance administration and the enhancement of staff. She also serves as a advisor to department leaders. She performs with the benefits and payroll professionals as necessary to satisfy the desires of employees. In advance of signing up for HPU, Dickinson labored as a human sources administrator for a telecommunications business. She retains a bachelor’s degree in liberal research with a emphasis on race, class and society.

 

 

HPU Diana Pattisall
Diana Pattisall

Diana Pattisall joined the Business of Institutional Progression as a gift processor.

Pattisall procedures presents to HPU. She is accountable for getting into and protecting data in the Institutional Advancement gift data program. She runs everyday stories linked to processing and balancing and completes deposit slips for day-to-day entries. She retains a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary instruction.

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Car Buyers Should Be Wary When Taking Out Loans: Consumer Reports

Car Buyers Should Be Wary When Taking Out Loans: Consumer Reports
us automakers struggle with demand for new cars, as the global chip shortage wreaks havoc on supply

Spencer PlattGetty Illustrations or photos

  • You can find not a ton of conveniently available information on the car personal loan landscape in the U.S., so Consumer Experiences collected info on practically 858,000 car or truck financial loans. Turns out, it can be unsightly out there.
  • For illustration, around the past ten years, the ordinary monthly payment for a new motor vehicle climbed pretty much 25 {ac23b82de22bd478cde2a3afa9e55fd5f696f5668b46466ac4c8be2ee1b69550}, to pretty much $600 right now. The complete total of vehicle personal loan financial debt out there currently in the U.S. is all over $1.4 trillion.
  • Building matters even worse, even vehicle shoppers with good to fantastic credit history rankings could be provided loans at absurdly superior interest prices. What is a consumer to do? Store close to aggressively for the best costs, and concentrate on the overall expense and the interest rate, not just the regular payment.

    Positive, automobile procuring during a pandemic can be challenging, what with shortages and extended wait times, but you can find a different trouble for automobile consumers out there, and this 1 isn’t going to have nearly anything to do with a virus or the supply of semiconductor chips. Buyer Reports a short while ago gathered facts about pretty much 858,000 automobile loans from 17 significant car loan providers and found that, in small, it truly is a mess out there.

    New-auto costs are way up, of system, but that is not the only reason why the average regular monthly payment for a new automobile these days is just about $600, a 25 per cent maximize from what it was 10 several years ago. The other purpose is that there is just not very good oversight of lending procedures. As Consumer Stories place it, the vehicle lending industry “operates in a regulatory morass,” and as a end result, quite a few shoppers whose credit is just wonderful are obtaining them selves trapped with subprime financial loans at higher curiosity charges.

    The total total of car loan debt held by Us residents now sits at a not-insignificant $1.4 trillion, and some of that will take the form of what CR calls “economical sinkholes” or significant-curiosity, extended-term vehicle financial loans that are a recipe for disaster for several men and women who acquire them out. At their worst, some have yearly share costs above 25 p.c, but even a 19 p.c APR can indicate customers are spending significantly, much above the price tag on the sticker in the conclude.

    CR’s guide case in point in its post about the exploration describes a borrower with “sterling credit score” who purchased a new 2018 Toyota Camry two years back and will finish up spending about $59,000 for it by the time the mortgage is paid out off in 2025. Though the normal financial loan for a human being with that buyer’s credit score was at 4.5 percent, the loan they acquired experienced a 19 per cent APR.

    And that’s not the only off-putting illustration. CR uncovered someone from Texas who bought a new Chevrolet Suburban in January 2019 with a mortgage from GM Financial. In spite of what CR phone calls a “key credit score rating,” this borrower finished up with a 13.55 p.c APR and a month to month payment of $1628 for additional than 6 decades. That means an all round payment of far more than $122,000 for a car or truck with a value of $71,148.

    This kind of lending suggests it’s not a large surprise that one particular in 12 persons in the U.S. with a motor vehicle financial loan or lease (just below eight million individuals) were being over 90 days late earning a automobile payment as of spring 2021. Practically 50 percent (46 percent) of the auto loans CR appeared at in the details set had been less than water, which means the buyer owed a lot more on the loan than the automobile was truly worth. The common these kinds of bank loan experienced a discrepancy of $3700.

    It is honest to use the expression unscrupulous for some of the persons handing out car personal loan income. CR’s facts analysis uncovered that some dealers and creditors ended up not only basing the desire charge on standard factors like threat but “also on what they imagine they can get absent with.” Even however the publication’s data did not involve ethnic information for borrowers, racial discrimination is widespread sufficient in the lending industry that it could influence the charges car consumers are available, CR claimed. And even while money experts suggest an car bank loan ought to not make up more than 10 per cent of someone’s profits, CR’s information discovered that almost 25 p.c of debtors and nearly 50 {ac23b82de22bd478cde2a3afa9e55fd5f696f5668b46466ac4c8be2ee1b69550} of subprime borrowers finished up with financial loans that ate up far more than 10 p.c of a person’s price range.

    A further difficulty is that vehicles are simply just a lot more high priced now than in the past, which drives up the base amount of money wanted to get a motor vehicle in the to start with position. Information from the Saint Louis Fed shows that the average amount of money financed for new-car loans at finance businesses went from around $25,000 in 2009 and 2010 to $33,000 – $34,000 in 2021.

    Putting all of these info jointly reveals a lending landscape that, in the serious earth, provides car consumers financial loans that may well not be harmless or even based mostly on their credit score. The amount of money they conclude up paying out is just as superior a price as the loan company can title without the consumer blanching. And consumers who don’t know that they can negotiate their personal loan conditions are much more probably to close up with their vehicle being taken away. Or, as Kathleen Engel, a exploration professor at Suffolk College Regulation School and vice chair of CR‘s board of directors, put it: “You are not assisting someone to get a motor vehicle if the odds are they’re heading to get rid of it . . . That’s having their income.”

    There is no uncomplicated solution, but there are points people can do to secure by themselves. First, consider to finance an quantity you can find the money for: As CR factors out, customers whose regular monthly motor vehicle payments are additional than 10 per cent of their every month profits are at bigger risk of defaulting. And never do what way too many buyers do and fall short to comparison store. Glimpse close to for the finest personal loan rate and conditions before you signal on the dotted line.

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Three Tips For Forming Quality Business Relationships

Three Tips For Forming Quality Business Relationships

Co-founder and Main Operations Officer at SetSchedule. Resident tech expert.

Request anybody who has worked in small business very long adequate and they will tell you the worth of networking. It really is crucial for any specific hunting to progress their profession, and it is even much more crucial for entrepreneurs on the lookout to get their companies off the ground.

Prioritize quality above amount.

In today’s electronic age, it is straightforward to merely add people today to the plethora of social networking choices readily available. But how important are these connections? How quite a few of them have you in fact talked to one particular-on-one, even at the time? Would you have faith in your connections to give you audio guidance or feed-back on your company? If they referred a mate to you for a company, would you give the suggestion any body weight?

Some of the strongest connections we have are cast in our formative a long time. I co-established SetSchedule with my pal, Roy Dekel, soon after being aware of him for a decade. A person of the principal factors the company relationship will work is because it is created on trust and mutual regard. He trustworthy me because when he would invite me to appear on board with matters, the reaction was normally “How can I do a little something?” and not “Why should really I do this?”

The moral of the tale, which seems straightforward, is to create relationships with the sorts of people today you want to be linked to, even outdoors of a strictly enterprise context. By getting a particular person of excellent that genuinely enjoys the company of other excellent persons, you are confident to mature relationships that will serve your enterprise, even if that is not the intention at the outset.

Be a “mensch.”

In accordance to Leo Rosten, the author of The Joys of Yiddish, a mensch is “someone to admire and emulate” and it is a thing that I always aspire to be. I definitely feel that by keeping myself to a bigger normal and by remaining superior to other men and women, irrespective of whether they be opportunity investors, employees or company partners, that it attracts high quality persons to me.

An acquaintance of mine moved to Los Angeles. With no query, I offered for him to continue to be with me as he was finding established. One working day he turned to me and requested, “Why are you letting me stay with you?”

So quite a few men and women expend psychological power coming up with techniques to say “no.” As a substitute, opt for to think of causes to say “yes.” Even if a connection starts out with to some degree unclear anticipations, be open to the likelihood of a real, legitimate relationship. I check out to go into interactions with no agenda other than to have pleasurable and make a mate. 

Deliver these identical rules to your enterprise.

As business leaders, we speak all the time about the need to constantly coach our staff. Some steps to this are evident, these kinds of as leading by example. But take the time to truly get to know your employees, and not in a superficial “once a thirty day period we have pizza in the breakroom” kind of way. Get to know them. Any individual can “thrust pencils,” but in my experience, when the persons doing work for you truly want to be there, they are far more possible to give every little thing they’ve obtained.

Routinely, I’ll make rounds in the office environment in the night telling staff members to end performing for the evening and go property. A lot of of them have been with us for decades, a miracle in the speedy-paced earth of startups wherever burnout is substantial and retention is reduced. I treatment about whether or not my staff devote time with their family members. 

All over again, my actions are not calculated with the purpose of growing productiveness, but that is the consequence of offering on your own as a chief and business individual and doing the right point each time the chance offers alone.

From time to time my workforce has to get the job done very long and hard to complete a task, and I have staff members who do so with out problem. Mainly because they know that I have a vested curiosity in observing them be successful and they have a vested fascination in aiding the firm for the reason that they know that, rather simply just, “I treatment.”

Forbes Organization Council is the foremost advancement and networking group for company house owners and leaders. Do I qualify?

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West Hartford Business Buzz: November 1, 2021 – We-Ha

West Hartford Business Buzz: November 1, 2021 – We-Ha

A round-up of openings, closings, and other news about West Hartford businesses.

By Ronni Newton

I’m writing this on Sunday, hoping I’m going to get interrupted by some cute (or scary) costumed kids ringing my bell!

Until I saw my Facebook memory from 2020, I had forgotten that last year on Halloween it had snowed, and also that we stood on our front stoop, wearing masks, dropping candy down a chute we had created every time a trick-or-treater approached. I’m glad things are a bit more back to normal – and very glad there isn’t any snow on the ground!

Thanks to the sports fans in the community who have helped supplement the great coverage that Paul Palmer has been providing of the Conard and Hall teams – which this week includes the Hall vs. Conard swim meet and Hall girls soccer. We’ve also been able to have a story about Conard boys soccer, and the 7-0 Hall football team thanks to contributors. There are a number of Conard vs. Hall contests coming up this week, so look for those stories!

My initial COVID-19 vaccine was a J&J shot, which makes me eligible for a booster – which I got on Friday afternoon. I received the Moderna booster, and was very glad I didn’t get the major side effects that so many people I know got from their initial Moderna shots. My arm is still a bit sore, and I had a headache Saturday morning and some slight achiness, but even if I had felt awful I would think it was a very small price to pay for the extra boost to my immune system.

For more information about vaccination clinics that are being organized by the West Hartford-Bloomfield Health District, and a guideline for who is eligible for boosters, click here.

Spicy hummus from Zaytoon’s Bistro. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Lamb Tomato Qalayeh from Zaytoon’s Bistro. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Lamb Mushroom from Zaytoon’s Bistro. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

I’m looking ahead to a busy start of the week with Election Day. I put together a complete guide, with information about polling places, last minute absentee ballot voting and Election Day registration, and links to all of the candidate profiles that you can find here. And tune in to WHCi (via cable, YouTube, or Facebook Live on the We-Ha.com page) on Tuesday night when John Lyons and Sandy Holland will be in studio and I will be bringing you up-to-date coverage, along with the team of Rocky Holland and Pat Kazakoff, at party headquarters. We did a tech run last week and are ready to go!

Tech run for Election Day coverage at Ocho Cafe.

We’ve gotten a ton of letters to the editor supporting various candidates (the deadline for submitting them was last Friday), and if you want to easily find them all just click this link.

And speaking of elections, I was very excited to learn earlier this week that We-Ha.com has been named among the “Top 15 Connecticut Politics Blogs and News Websites” by Feedspot. We are in some very esteemed company!

Please continue to support our local businesses, wear your masks indoors if you are not vaccinated – and stay safe and healthy.

If you have information to share about local businesses, please provide details in the comments or email Ronni Newton at [email protected].

**************************************************

Here’s this week’s Buzz:

Crowe Accounting has moved into the former Burgess office space at 62 Memorial Rd. in Blue Back Square. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

  • We don’t often hear about large-scale new offices moving into West Hartford, but it’s great news that Crowe, an accounting, consulting, and technology firm, has moved into West Hartford (from Simsbury, where they have been since 2015), taking over the roughly 8,000 square foot space in Blue Back Square at 62 Memorial Rd. (above The Place 2 Be) formerly occupied by Burgess Group. “Crowe Hartford personnel provide a range of services to clients that include property and casualty insurance carriers, captive insurance companies, various healthcare entities, and employee benefit plan clients,” the website states. The company has more than 4,000 employees in offices throughout the world, and West Hartford is their only Connecticut location. While not everyone may be physically back in the office full-time yet, there are 65 employees working out of the West Hartford space, according to West Hartford Economic Development Coordinator Kristen Gorski. “In a nationally slow office market, this is a really good relocation to town,” she said. The company is very forward-thinking, Gorski said, and “will be a great addition to the West Hartford community.” The “Crowe” sign is now in place in that prominent location at the corner of Memorial Road and Raymond Road, replacing the former Burgess sign. Burgess, a medical billing firm, was acquired by Blackstone Group in 2020, according to the Hartford Business Journal.

Children enjoy the soft playground equipment from Waddle & Climb. Courtesy photo

  • West Hartford resident Devin Shea is “moving full speed ahead” to focus on the business she recently launched. Waddle & Climb provides soft playground equipment for rent, and Shea, a former director of marketing and event and wedding planner, started the company after realizing a need when she was trying to plan a 1st birthday party last year for her daughter amid the COVID-19 pandemic. “We wanted to celebrate with our pod, but didn’t want to go anywhere,” she said. That’s when she started looking into renting equipment. “There was nothing. Everything was catered to bigger kids.” She bought a few items for her own yard and playroom that would be appropriate for kids from the crawling age through 5-year-olds, saw how engaged her daughter was, and that led to the launch of the Waddle & Climb business. “We go to any event – birthday, bridal, corporate events, fairs,” she said, anywhere there is a need for babies, toddlers, and other young children to have a safe place to play. The pandemic has really been really tough for parents of young children to make connections with others, and Shea said she’s very grateful to have found the Moms & More Club of West Hartford. “They have been so welcoming and supporting. Everyone has been truly wonderful,” Shea said. Club member Bobbi Castiglione has graciously offered to host a Moms & More event featuring Waddle & Climb at the business she owns with her husband, Eric, Viking Athletics in West Hartford. Events over the summer have been primarily outdoors, but as the weather is cooling, Shea is gearing up for more indoor events, and also has a new neutral palette package that will soon be available. She said after use she cleans everything “above and beyond” the standards set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Safety is our no. 1 priority,” she said. For more information about Waddle & Climb, visit their website or Facebook page. The photos were so cute that more can be found at the end of the column!

Children enjoy the soft playground equipment from Waddle & Climb. Courtesy photo

  • West Hartford Center and Blue Back Square businesses are gearing up for their annual “We Care Card” giving event where participants can “SHOP, DINE, STROLL and GIVE.” The We Care Card, now in its fourth year, will be available from Nov. 4-14. Donations start at $50 – all of which benefit Harc, an organization which supports individuals of all ages who have intellectual and related disabilities and their families so that they may enjoy lives of quality, inclusion, and dignity. We Care Card supporters also get up to 20{ac23b82de22bd478cde2a3afa9e55fd5f696f5668b46466ac4c8be2ee1b69550} off at all participating businesses for the entire duration of the event. Ken Cabral, president and CEO of Harc, hopes this is the start of a long partnership. “Harc is honored to be selected as the nonprofit to receive the proceeds from the We Care Card program. We are excited to further our connection with the businesses and shoppers of West Hartford beyond our LaSalle Road social enterprise, SockStarz. With this extended reach, we hope to educate a broader audience on Harc’s mission, and how we support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.” Kimberly Moster of Kimberly Boutique said, “This is a great way for all of us to give back. Everyone feels good about supporting Harc, and then to get 20{ac23b82de22bd478cde2a3afa9e55fd5f696f5668b46466ac4c8be2ee1b69550} off for 10 days in The Center – it’s a win-win!” We Care Cards are available for purchase starting Nov. 4 at SockStarz (18 LaSalle Rd.) and other participating locations – or you can text-to-purchase by texting WeCareCard to 41444. For any further information please contact Kimberly Moster of the West Hartford Center Business Association at 860-523-4894. See the poster below for more details!

  • Bluemoon Smoke Shop will soon be opening in the former Sprint store at 39 South Main St. The sign is now on the building and the business, based in the Boston area, “is very excited to join the West Hartford community,” West Hartford Economic Development Coordinator Kristen Gorski said.

The sign is now up, and Bluemoon Smoke Shop will soon be opening in the former Sprint store space on South Main Street. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

  • Ivy Rehab, a physical and occupational therapy business, has leased the final remaining vacant space in the Corbin Collection building where Shake Shack is located. They will be opening in the end space (closest to REI), next to Tavern in the Square, which is next to Hot Table – which we reported in this column last week is preparing to open at by the end of this year. Ivy Rehab has six other locations in Connecticut, with the closest in Southington. More information can be found on their website.

0 Degree Thai Ice Cream will be opening at 276 Park Rd. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

  • The sign is now in place, and 0 Degree Thai Ice Cream has applied for additional permits and continues work on the build-out of the space at 276 Park Rd. No word on an opening date.

AJ Shoham of Jerry’s Artarama helps unveil the Elmwood Business Association’s bear. It was painted by muralist Corey Pane, whose mother (at left) also assisted in the unveiling. West Hartford Center and Blue Back Square. Aug. 31, 2021. Photo credit: Ronni Newton (we-ha.com file photo)

Jessica Rosenworcel (we-ha.com file photo)

  • Congratulations to West Hartford native and Hall High School graduate Jessica Rosenworcel. In January she was named acting chairwoman of the Federal Communications Commission, and last week she was officially nominated by President Joe Biden to chair the FCC. “Jessica Rosenworcel is a star – supremely expert and experienced, steadfast and committed as an advocate for consumers and competitors,” U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, who along with 24 of his Senate colleagues urged the president to nominate her for a full term as chair, said in a statement. “Having worked with her over many years, I know first-hand her energetic dedication to cracking down on robocalls and other abuses, and expanding broadband access. She knows better than anyone else the vital role the Commission plays in protecting consumers and closing the digital divide by connecting Americans to essential services. I am especially proud of her deep Connecticut roots as a native of West Hartford and graduate of Wesleyan University. I look forward to working with soon-to-be Chair Rosenworcel as she continues her bold leadership of the FCC.”
  • Hartford Baking Company, which has its roots in West Hartford, is getting set to open their new location in the next week or so in Farmington, in the former Truffles space on Route 4 (767 Farmington Ave.). Follow their Facebook page for the announcement of the opening date.
  • We don’t typically post open jobs, but this one is for a position that will be closely connected to this column! The Town of West Hartford is hiring a part-time economic development specialist to work under the direction of Economic Development Coordinator Kristen Gorski. Details about the job can be found here.
  • ICYMI, Celebrate! West Hartford will be making a full return in June 2022, and newly-opened PeoplesBank has signed on as presenting sponsor. Click here for the details.

Remember, if you have any business news to share, add it in the comments section below or email Ronni Newton at [email protected].

Children enjoy the soft playground equipment from Waddle & Climb. Courtesy photo

Children enjoy the soft playground equipment from Waddle & Climb. Courtesy photo

Soft playground equipment from Waddle & Climb. Courtesy photo

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Raines Hires Vrinda Johnson as Managing Director, Expands FinTech & Business Services Practices | News

Raines Hires Vrinda Johnson as Managing Director, Expands FinTech & Business Services Practices | News

MIAMI, Nov. 1, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Raines Intercontinental, a single of the major talent consulting and government look for companies in the Americas, declared right now that fintech field advisor Vrinda Johnson has joined as Running Director dependent in Chicago, Illinois. Johnson, beforehand an Government Director with Russell Reynolds Associates’ financial providers apply, will direct Raines’ FinTech and Company Providers tactics.

“Owning an surroundings with a people 1st frame of mind, a culture of coaching, and a dedication to just about every other’s success that alongside one another drive worth for our purchasers and marketplaces – that is what will get me heading. And which is what I noticed at Raines,” Johnson said. “Raines’ verified lookup processes and outstanding staff, blended with its DEI & Unconscious Bias choices, are game-changers for shoppers. FinTech and Small business Products and services sectors are undergoing more transformation now than at any place in historical past, and I am honored to help customers build the suitable cultures and management teams.”

Johnson has put in more than a 10 years advising C-suite and board leaders and companies in the financial services sector as they make and develop their businesses. Prior to Russell Reynolds, Johnson was a director at PricewaterhouseCoopers, in which she specialised in FinTech, InsurTech, and Consumer Money Solutions and Engineering. She also co-founded and served as Chief Working Officer for social networking application ChekMarc. Johnson earned a Grasp of Small business Administration from the College of Chicago’s Booth University of Enterprise and a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and Accounting from Trinity College.

“Vrinda’s colleagues describe her as one of the most outstanding individuals they’ve ever labored with,” claimed Dan Smith, Main Government Officer of Raines. “She embodies the combination of deep sector skills, influencing abilities, and enjoyable-to-get the job done-with execution type that is a trademark of Raines. There is no a single superior to carry our platform to the fintech, organization solutions, and adjacent sectors.”

About Raines Worldwide:

Raines International is an advisory business fully commited to creating a distinction with executive look for, organizational consulting, and talent management alternatives. Raines is headquartered in Miami with ten workplaces throughout the Americas. Raines specializes in senior-degree management placements across industries and functions.

Media Make contact with

Sydney Kirchner, Raines Worldwide Inc., +1 212-997-1100, ssmith@rainesinternational.com

Twitter, Fb

 

Supply Raines International Inc.