Blackfern Media sponsored the Second Annual Black Excellence Awards with professional photos and video on June 13, 2023. It was a night of elegance and appreciation for popular members of the local minority community. Those individuals are artists, influencers, and business owners alike!
Andy is an Internationally Certified Executive and Leadership Coach receiving his formal training at the College of Executive Coaching in St. Pismo Beach, California. He is a Certified Trainer in Crucial Conversations, DiSC, Emotional Intelligence, Developing High Performance Teams, Improving Employee Engagement and Coaching for Behavioral Change.
He does dozens of workshops and trainings each year throughout the Southern Tier with many of them being sponsored by the Corning Area Chamber of Commerce. In addition, he has done trainings for organizations in Orlando, Florida and Shanghai, China.
Andy’s clients include
• Corning Inc.
• Cargill
• CemeCon
• The Corning-Painted Post School District
• HUNT Architects and Engineers
• The Radisson
• Socha Financial Group
• Horizons Federal Credit Union
• And many, many others
He lives in Corning, NY with his family. His wife is a Biology teacher at the Corning-Painted Post High School. They have an 10 year-old son, Bobby, who just started middle school.
Andy is a proud member of Corning Rotary and the Corning Area Chamber of Commerce.
Co-owner
KW Fitness Personal Training
mandy@kwfitnessny.com
Mandy Webb has had a career in sales since she was 19. She was the top sales rep for a Multi-Million Dollar Marketing Corporation and is still one of their all time career sales reps, even after leaving the company over 5 years ago. She was promoted to Executive District Manager, where she was responsible for training hundreds of college students and young adults to be successful in sales, with the philosophy that “you don’t have to be a salesperson to make a sale”. She almost didn’t get a job in sales for another company when she left her previous career because 2 mutual acquaintances with the sales manager said Mandy was “too nice” and “not aggressive enough to cold call”, yet when she was hired, she became their top new business rep for the year. This inspired Mandy to begin writing an e-book about being successful at sales without being “salesy”.
Mandy is now the co-owner of KW Fitness Personal Training, which has been in business for 5 years and has locations in both Vestal and Fayetteville NY. She and her husband Kevin just welcomed their first child, Chloe Webb, into the world and they look forward to continuing to help people and giving back to their community.
Noted educator, speaker, consultant, and author, Dr. Francis L. Battisti, offers individuals and organizations a pathway to explore their potential and move toward desired transformation. His national reputation in the fields of motivation, health enhancement, long-term care, and conflict disposition is manifest in his work with numerous corporations, major health-care organizations, and congressional, as well as governmental committees, with his workshops having been offered throughout the United States, Europe, Canada and the Caribbean.
Dr. Battisti is Executive Vice President and Chief Academic Officer at the State University of New York at Broome Community College, where he was the 2011 Recipient of the State University of New York Distinguished Professorship for Service and a 1989 Recipient of the State University of New York Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. He has been recognized by “The Morning Knights Toastmasters Award” for Excellence in Communication and Leadership. The Alzheimer’s Association Central New York Chapter as the honoree of the “Memory Makers Award” for his efforts to make the Southern Tier a better place to live and work. He is also the recipient of “The David Malcom Award”, in recognition of his Exemplary Service to the Homeless. Francis is the creator of a number of DVD’s and CD’s and the book, Checchino: A Father & Son Journey Toward Dusk. In addition, Francis is co-author of the book, Tomorrow’s Weigh…The No-Diet Way to Lose Weight. His most recent articles, “Leveraging Workforce Research to Attract, Manage, and Retain High-Performance Employees”, were published in the July/August 2011 issue of Infusion & “Harnessing the Diversity and Power of Your Team! Developing and Sustaining Highly Effective Teams Ensures Your Competitive Edge”, was published in the July/August 2010 issue of Infusion & “Advancing the Bottom Line and Service Quality via a Culture of Employee Retention”, was published in the September/October 2009 issue of Infusion, the magazine of the National Home Infusion Association.
Dr. Battisti received his Ph.D. in Human Development from Marywood University with research titled “A Father’s Response To Having A Child Who Is Overweight
In this two-part session, Mike Novotny and Shelby Fay will cover financial wellness topics relevant to a young professional. During Part 1, Mike will cover credits scores and tackling student loan debt credit. Your credit score can affect everything from your ability to obtain a loan, the cost of your insurance premiums, to pre-employment screening. Today it is more important than ever to understand how your credit score is determined and what you can do to control it. We will discuss the components of your credit score, the effect various scenarios will have on your score, and how you can use your credit report to help protect your identity. We will also review several techniques which can be used to tackle student loan debt.
In part two, Mr. Fay will discuss investing basics, and various asset classes and their characteristics/expected rates of return, risk tolerance, creating an appropriate asset allocation for various risk tolerances and time horizons. He will discuss active vs passive investing, the benefits/drawbacks of each and much more. Detail various methods of evaluating potential investments. Basic economic factors will be reviewed (interest rates and inflation). Overall, this will primarily be focused toward creating an appropriate asset allocation scheme for young people investing for their retirement and futures.
Shelby M. Fay joined Chemung Canal Trust Company in the summer of 2015. Mr. Fay has served the bank in several capacities and is currently a Portfolio Manager in the Investment Services Department of the Wealth Management Group. He is primarily responsible for the discretionary management of investment portfolios, trusts, and IRAs. In addition to this, he is responsible for identifying equities and mutual funds that are candidates for inclusion to our Guidance Lists.
Mike was born and raised in Elmira, NY. He graduated with an Associate’s degree in Business Administration from Corning Community College then proceeded to the University at Buffalo and earned a Bachelor’s degree also in Business Administration. He has worked for Chemung Canal Trust Company (CCTC) since graduation and currently hold the role of the Branch Operations Manager. Previous positions with CCTC include Consumer Lending Manager, Retail Loan Analyst, and several positions within the branches.
Arel Moodie is a national best selling author and has been a featured speaker at the White House and has been personally acknowledged for his insights on youth engagement by President Obama. He has partnered with NCCEP at national conferences and been a presenter at various GEAR UP conferences.
Inc. Magazine called Arel a “High-Energy, Motivator” and named him to their “30 Under 30 list” of top American entrepreneurs under 30 years old joining people like Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook.
Essence Magazine said “Arel should be the poster boy for rags-to-riches stories… He is America’s Top Young Speaker.”
Arel has been quoted in The New York Times, BusinessWeek, Forbes,
Huffington Post, & USA Today.
Black Enterprise Magazine named Arel as one of their “Tycoons Under 35”.
Arel grew up on welfare in the projects of Brooklyn, NY where he witnessed those around him being murdered and imprisoned. College became his only way out. Using determination and applying what he teaches in his presentations he was able to build a million dollar event production and education company by his 30th birthday.
As a professional speaker he has spoken to over 200,000 students in 48 states and 5 countries.
For fun, Arel likes to dance; he has performed at Madison Square Garden and his wedding dance video on YouTube has over three million views.
Rachel Jenks is the Founder and Art Director of Rtistry By Design branding and graphic design studio based in Binghamton, New York. She has been a professional graphic designer for more than 10 years. Prior to design, her unique journey spanned multiple roles in four countries, three cities, and two states – including professional ballet, management, copywriting, event production, business consulting, and national and international public relations
As a designer, she has had the opportunity to work with businesses of all sizes, start-ups, agencies, higher education institutions, and non-profits for projects in branding, brand strategy, print design, multi-media, advertising, digital design, presentation design, marketing, project management, live event production, e-learning, video, photography, art direction, and out-of-home. She also served as Marketing Director of Davis College in Johnson City, New York, before launching Rtistry By Design full-time in the summer of 2016.
Locally, Rachel serves on the board of AIGA Upstate NY as Binghamton Programming Director and organizes monthly “Coffee with Creatives” and “Cocktails with Creatives” networking events for designers, artists, writers, photographers, filmmakers, musicians, and creatives of all genres in the Greater Binghamton area. She is a proud member of the Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce, the Entrepreneurs Alliance, the Emerging Leaders Society, the Broome County Arts Council, past Vice President and board member of BCCOAD (Broome County Community Organizations Active in Disaster), and an active participant in the renaissance of the Southern Tier.
When not partnering with clients to craft memorable brand experiences, Rachel can be found playing in her garden and kitchen, savoring the beauty of the outdoors, keeping up with her fur kids, and spending time with friends.
Brianna Barnett is a native of Binghamton, NY and the president/co-founder of Broome County Cleanup Crew (BCCC). BCCC is a local, all volunteer organization that aims to provide an outlet for community members to give back in a positive way, while enhancing the appearance of our town. The crew hosts weekly community cleanups during the summer, and monthly cleanups during the colder seasons. Brianna is also a local dance teacher in the Southern Tier, and holds herself to very high standards when it comes to being a role model to our community’s youth. Working as a professional cheerleader/model in NYC from 2012-2017, she experienced a fast-paced, “only look out for yourself” type of lifestyle. Though traveling the world and performing on numerous television shows was what she had always thought was her dream, actually living it out is what drew her back to Binghamton. She felt as though there was a pressure put on performers that allows them to believe that they can only be great if they leave Binghamton. Through her experiences, she made the decision that that is simply untrue. She decided that she was going to begin taking steps to help the community she grew up in thrive, and become a place where people don’t feel they need to leave to be great. She wants to bring the greatness here. Though to some picking up trash around town may seem like it won’t make a big impact, Brianna believes that it’s a way to teach our youth the importance of caring for humanity through kindness, community empowerment, and environmental awareness.
In one session, small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs will learn tools and skills essential to navigating the business world that would otherwise take months or years.
Russell L. Swanger III is a lifelong Entrepreneur and a Creative. His extensive real-world experience comes from multiple business ventures as a creative, promoter, event producer, and more.
Through Russ The BIG Guy Consulting, Russ provides unique training for new business owners, aspiring entrepreneurs and creatives in the form of publications, keynotes, webinars and live workshops, which help students quickly acquire the skills necessary to navigate the business world, grow their businesses and make money. If you already have employees, Russ provides a rich experience for them designed to help you reach your business goals.
Founder and Art Director
Rtistry By Design
rachel@rtistrybydesign.com
Rachel Jenks is the Founder and Art Director of Rtistry By Design, a brand strategy and design studio based in Binghamton, New York. She has been a professional designer for more than 12 years. Prior to design, her unique journey spanned multiple roles in four countries, three cities, and two states – including professional ballet, management, copywriting, event production, business consulting, and national and international public relations.
As a designer, she has had the opportunity to work with businesses of all sizes, start-ups, agencies, higher education institutions, and non-profits for projects in branding, brand strategy, digital design, print design, presentation design, multi-media, advertising, marketing, live event production, e-learning, 3D animation, video, photography, art direction, and out-of-home. She also served as Marketing Director of Davis College in Johnson City, New York, before launching Rtistry By Design full-time in the summer of 2016.
Locally, Rachel serves on the board of AIGA Upstate NY as Binghamton Programming Director. She is a proud member of the Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce, the Entrepreneurs Alliance, the Emerging Leaders Society, and the Broome County Arts Council, as well as past Vice President and board member of BCCOAD (Broome County Community Organizations Active in Disaster), and is an active participant in the renaissance of the Southern Tier.
When not partnering with clients to craft memorable brand experiences, Rachel can be found playing in her garden and kitchen, savoring the beauty of the outdoors, keeping up with her fur kids, and spending time with friends.
CEO and Founder
Human Services Consulting and Training (HSCT)
607-239-5571
jsorrells@hsconsultingandtraining.com
Jesan Sorrells is the CEO and Founder of Human Services Consulting and Training (HSCT) based in Endicott, NY. Jesan has a Master’s Degree in Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation from Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas and is a Texas State Certified Divorce and Family Mediator. Jesan has leveraged that background into the training and development of a wide variety of both public and private organizations, in a variety of economic sectors ranging from long-term healthcare providers to public sector organizations.
His corporate training agency, HSCT is a full stack, independent, boutique, corporate training and consulting agency headquartered in the heart of Upstate NY. HSCT seeks to help organizations manage and reduce the impact of workplace conflict, encourage organizational innovation, and increase optimal outcomes around leadership development, conflict management and change management.
Jesan’s latest book My Boss Doesn’t Care: 100 Essays on Disrupting Your Workplace by Disrupting Your Boss advances the idea that people in workplaces deserve to be empowered to change by first empowering themselves. Audiences who have heard Jesan’s message have changed cultures, changed organizations, and changed their work lives by changing their bosses, their co-workers, and themselves.
Jesan maintains an active blog presence on his website, JesanSorrells.com as well as an ever-expanding social/digital content footprint on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, and LinkedIn, as well as a growing archive of inspirational and motivational YouTube videos through his channel, Jesan Sorrells Presents.
Jesan hosts and produces The Earbud_U Podcast, now in its 7th season and published a book Marketing for Peace Builders: How to Market Your Value to a World in Conflict, in 2016 and My Boss Doesn’t Care: 100 Essays on Disrupting Your Workplace by Disrupting Your Boss, in April 2019.
In 2015, Jesan was selected by Biz Events and the Central New York Business Journal as one of Central New York and the Southern Tier’s Top Forty Young Professionals Under 40.
Associate
Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP
607-723-9511
TLevine@cglawoffices.com
Theresa joined Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP in 2017 as an Associate in the Labor and Employment Practice Group. Theresa represents employers regarding federal and state employment and labor laws and regulations, including but not limited to workplace harassment, discrimination, retaliation, adverse action, and wage & hour issues. She has extensive experience drafting workplace policies & procedures, conducting workplace training, investigations, participating in conciliation and fact-findings before state and federal agencies, and negotiating. Additionally, she practices in the areas of General Business Litigation, Foreclosure Actions for Creditors, and Family & Matrimonial Law.
While attending law school, Theresa worked full-time as a Senior Employment Law and Equal Employment Opportunity Adviser in the legal department of a prestigious services and technology company.
In addition to her regular work, Theresa regularly authors articles for the New York Employment Law Letter, a monthly publication that helps employers understand new laws, regulations, and court cases. She is also a sought after presenter in the community on general employment law issues and practices. Theresa currently serves as Secretary for the Broome County Council of Churches and is on the board of directors for Mothers and Babies, where she continues her passion for supporting anti-domestic violence causes. She also actively represents local children in legal matters on Broome County’s Attorney for the Child panel. Theresa is active in many other law-related associations, including the Broome County Bar Association and serves on the Judicial Review Committee. Outside of the office, she enjoys tennis, golf, hiking, and camping, and playing fetch with her dogs, Matilda & Fiona.
Enjoy the story of how a small deli in Michigan used Visioning as the groundwork to build a $60 million a year business. Learn how a properly written Vision breathes life into personal goals and company mission statements. You’ll use a unique 3 step process to write a motivating vision and avoid common pitfalls. At the end of the Vision session, you’ll leave with your own personal or business vision so you can start implementing it immediately!
Joe is the president and founder of Synergy Athletics. In the fitness world, is a best-selling author, contributor to Men’s Health, Oxygen, and Experience Life magazines, and a featured speaker around the country. In business, Joe was selected to participate in Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business program and was awarded as the 2019 Small Business Person of the Year by the Greater Binghamton Chamber.
This session will provide the foundation necessary to ensure continual growth in your career no matter the industry. Most people ask, ”WHAT do I have to DO in order to get that promotion?” when you should be asking, ”WHO do I have to BECOME?” We’ll explain the difference and why it’s important to differentiate between the two.
Eddie Thomason was born and raised in Baltimore, MD in 1993. Growing up in a single parent home, Eddie found a passion for sports. He played football, basketball, and baseball at Chesapeake High School – BC but truly excelled in football. Eddie was the first person to ever earn a full D1AA scholarship in the school’s history. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Entrepreneurship from Bryant University in 2015. Eddie now works for Toshiba as a document imaging specialist and serves the community by assisting companies who look to optimize their office technology and equipment. Eddie is happily married to his wife, Colleen and a new father to his son Declan.
Impact all starts with knowing who you are and what you stand for – your values. Every business and organization have values, but most individuals have not thought about their personal values or even went as far as writing them down. Values create a filter through which we make decisions. Knowing our values allows us to do the things we love and bring us joy. But life was not meant to be lived in isolation – we are designed for community.
Steve is a community-minded business leader who believes that serving others through giving time, talent, and resources, may change someone’s life forever and recognizes that each individual has the capacity to make a significant impact on their community.
In her session, Qiana will cover the importance of mental health awareness and self-care. Participants will learn techniques to successfully address some of the most common mental health concerns like stress, anxiety and depression such as mindfulness, validation, and empathic communication. These can be detrimental as we work towards self-actualization and effective development in the workplace.
Qiana Watson is a licensed social worker at Cornell University’s Counseling and Psychiatric Services. Qiana also serves as an adjunct professor and field instructor for the Master of Social Work department. In her free time Qiana enjoys performing in community theater, spending time with family and friends, and free wine tasting on Fridays at Wegman’s!
The way we solve problems is broken—we’re trapped by techniques and assumptions of the past. Today’s big challenges like climate change, population growth, species extinction and new technologies emerge at an ever-accelerating rate. We struggle to find the imaginative answers we crave and when we do, biology and culture conspire to obstruct our progress. Find out how thinking wrong can conquer the status quo and help you do work that truly matters.
John Bielenberg is a designer, entrepreneur, and imaginative advocate for a better world. He is the founder of Project M, CCA Secret Project and co-founder of Future Partners, Pando Populus and Common.
John has won more than 250 design awards in his career, including the 2013 AIGA Gold Medal for leadership in the design for good movement. The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art staged a solo exhibition of his work in 2000. He is currently the Director of the Think Wrong Institute at the University of Kansas.
Nicholas Steven George is a published author and poet. While he works as a mental health professional, he has been writing since his youth in Newark, NJ. First born to his Trinidadian parents, Nicholas began performing his poetry at local open mics and slam competitions in Newark, crafting his skill and delivering his story. In 2013, Nicholas started a platform called “The Listening”, an organization that exists to challenge the perception of the performing arts being strictly for entertainment purposes and connect it to mentoring and social impact.
Whether it’s moving to a new area, or adjusting to a full-time work schedule, making friends as a young professional has its challenges. With recent research identifying how critical it is to have quality social connections, especially in relation to our overall health, figuring out ways to overcome these “challenges” is crucial. Join me and learn key takeaways from existing data around connecting with others and participate in an interactive activity based on shared interests. During the session, you will “friendwork” with those who enjoy the same hobbies. Crafters meet other crafters. Volleyball players socialize with other players. Bakers build connection with other bakers, and so on! Get ready to network, Friendwork!
Jordan graduated with a degree in psychology and has a master’s degree in organizational performance and technology from SUNY Potsdam. He currently works as a career consultant and instructor and has a passion for networking and public speaking. As someone who has transferred universities and started his first professional role in a brand-new community, Jordan has experience with building new connections and understands the importance of having a positive social network.
Come ready to clarify what is important to you and better understand the inner critic that holds you back. As part of her study of prosocial (as opposed to anti-social) behavior, Hadassah learned an Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT) tool called the ACT Matrix. The tool helps guide reflection on our thoughts, feelings and values and our behaviors that express them. This tool can be used by an individual or by a group. In this session, Hadassah will guide attendees through the start of their personal “Matrix” and then discuss how the tool can be used by groups.
Hadassah Mativetsky is a Software Quality Engineer at Universal Instruments. Prior to working as an Engineer, Hadassah was a coordinator at Binghamton University under Distinguished Professor David Sloan Wilson. She has been involved with David’s work on prosocial behavior since graduate school. In
2018, she completed facilitation coursework to guide groups through the Prosocial process. Because she is passionate about leadership, public speaking, and self-improvement, she recently served as the Toastmasters International District 65 Division D Director.
Do you take enough risks? This session will explore various risks a professional can take, such as applying for a promotion, volunteering to serve on a board, or submitting to speak at a conference. We will explore how risks can safely be taken, and the benefits taking risks can have upon your professional career. We will also explore the barriers which keep us from taking the risks which can help us get ahead, and how we can overcome them.
Sean J. Britton is the Telehealth Program Manager at UHS Hospitals, and a Paramedic with Superior Ambulance Service, Inc. Sean is a nationally recognized leader in the field of emergency medical services. He has authored over a dozen industry publications and spoken at both state and national conferences. Sean serves on several non-profit boards, including the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians.
We can most likely think of a person with whom we have a critical issue that we need to resolve. That is, we have a disagreement or conflict with someone where our opinions vary, the stakes are high, and our emotions run strong. The purpose of this session is to learn how to apply a proven six-step Constructive Conversation Process that uses a win/win approach for providing empathetic feedback, resolving conflict and producing sustainable solutions. This process is an underpinning for creating a culture of continuous feedback and trust.
Richard (Dick) Orth is a Transformational Facilitator, having over 39 years’ experience with IBM as a change leader, facilitator, trainer, leadership coach and business analyst. Dick has a proven track record of helping organizations and individuals improve their capabilities in the areas of leadership development, cultural transformation and process excellence. He has led hundreds of organizational change engagements by developing capabilities in transformational communication, Emotional Intelligence, collaborative problem-solving, team-based decision-making, conflict resolution and process facilitation.
Dick is also an IBM certified IT Specialist, a volunteer community mediator, and is on the Board of Directors for several community non-profit organizations.
Trust is the foundation of all successful professional relationships. When we trust our colleagues, we have rapport, we are more productive, and we experience a greater degree of job satisfaction. Most of us work in settings where our managers have high expectations of us, and where our organizations require that we do more, better, faster, with less. The best way to meet those challenges is through creating strong teams, supportive relationships, and a cooperative work environment. Beginning with establishing trust and rapport, we can develop relationships that will enable us to meet our career goals.
Diana serves as Sales Manager for Dale Carnegie Training of CNY and joined the company in February 2009. Diana has delivered programs for numerous local organizations throughout CNY. She is Past President of the Board of Directors for the CNY Chapter of ASTD She currently serves on the Board of Directors at CNY Works, as well as on the Board for Sales & Marketing Executives of Central New York and is also an active member of CNY SHRM and Mohawk Valley SHRM.
Skills such as self-awareness and self-control, adaptability, positive attitude, empathy, and a knack for developing effective relationships – play a central role in our success in life. Yet, many people, despite their intelligence (IQ) or the amount of formal education or technical expertise they possess, fail to reach their potential because of EI deficiencies. Raising the EI performance bar can improve interpersonal relationships, team dynamics, and overall organizational health. This session will give attendees a clear understanding of what makes EI so important and they will walk away with techniques and tools to use in their everyday interactions.
John Wojcio is a seasoned communications professional eager to share his perspective and insights about emotional intelligence – and the role of EI in our evolving world of work and AI. His compelling message is especially valuable for young professionals – for all who are in the early years of their careers. Like all of John’s presentations, this session will be informative, engaging, and interactive. Attendees will walk away with worksheets and tools to use in their work and personal lives.
Sales Manager
Dale Carnegie of CNY
315-263-0004
diana.wolgemuth@dalecarnegie.com
Diana serves as Sales Manager for Dale Carnegie Training of CNY and joined the company in February 2009. Diana has delivered programs for numerous local organizations throughout CNY. She is Past President of the Board of Directors for the CNY Chapter of ASTD She currently serves on the Board of Directors at CNY Works, as well as on the Board for Sales & Marketing Executives of Central New York and is also an active member of CNY SHRM and Mohawk Valley SHRM.
Founder and Owner, Russ The BIG Guy Consulting
CEO, No Tuxedo, LLC
Russ@RussTheBIGGuy.com
Learn more at www.RussTheBIGGuy.com and on LinkedIn
Through Russ The BIG Guy Consulting, Russell L. Swanger III provides unique training for new business owners, aspiring entrepreneurs and creatives in the form of publications, keynotes, webinars and live workshops, which help students quickly acquire the skills necessary to navigate the business world, grow their businesses and make money. If you already have employees, Russ provides a rich experience for them designed to help you reach your business goals.
Russ is a lifelong Entrepreneur and a Creative. His extensive real world experience comes from multiple business ventures (graphic design and exhibit display companies, music promotion, event planning, Tour Manager for Rock On 4-a powerful anti-bullying/self empowerment concert experience for school assemblies,) running fundraisers (American Parkinson’s Disease Association’s walk-a-thon, Endicott Performing Arts Center’s EPAC Idol singing competition, more,) volunteerism (Greater Binghamton Chamber’s Education Outreach Program, Binghamton’s Y.P. Summit, Host of #LinkedinLocalGreaterBinghamton, more,) and many personal adventures (Russ has toured the country and Ireland with his musician daughter Brenna, lived and worked in Fort Lauderdale and New Orleans as a Caricature Artist, piloted a WWII B17 Flying Fortress over the Finger Lakes of NYS, provided hospitality for multiple international touring musical acts, hosted Giggles Comedy Club, rode a tornado in a 1956 Airstream camper, more.)
Russ teaches the skill of Improvisation as an acting skill and as a professional development concept. Russ is hired by companies of all sizes, and educational institutions to provide an Improv FUNshop (or Improv SKILLS-shop) that provides an enrichment program, a theater component, or a professional/personal improvement opportunity for its members.
Lea is an award-winning activist who has successfully bridged the gap between the community and government agencies to bring about positive and lasting change in her community. Her greatest achievement includes being elected as the first–and youngest–African-American representative in the Binghamton City Council. She has 20 years of experience as a Community Organizer leading efforts on various social justice issues; quality education, health care, access to fresh foods. She has also served on community boards and created task forces whose goals are to address cultural competency and anti-racism. She has passed legislation supporting equal pay for women, the creation of a city based human rights commission, establishing a city wide climate action plan, and other equity based legislation.
She is the Coordinator of the UDiversity Educational Institute at Binghamton University. This Institute develops and provides diversity and inclusion trainings and programs for faculty, staff, and students at Binghamton University. Through her consulting firm, Webb Consulting, she is working with non-profits, education institutions, and businesses in creating culturally responsive organizations. She was recognized as one of tomorrow’s leaders by Oprah magazine and the White House Project, and was honored with the President’s Award by the Broome-Tioga Branch of the NAACP for her significant contributions to her community.
She’s also the President of the Broome County Urban League Young Professionals, alumni of Vote Run Lead and the Young Elected Officials Network.