Local News

Networth brings together local women, provides scholarships

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Tuesday, 06 August 2024

Written by Amber Little

Being a professional woman in 2024 means walking the tightrope of professional and personal life with the constant pressure from society to be Superwoman, making support groups all that more important.
Fortunately, there are groups like Networth, a collective of professional women started in the spring of 1980. What began as a one-time professional women-centered workshop, sponsored by the North Carolina Governor’s Council on the Status of Women at Fayetteville Technical Community College, has grown into something far bigger and impactful than anyone could have anticipated.
Locals Suzanne Barlow, Evans Clark, Mary Grace Cain, Vonna Biglione, Jean Smith, Jessica Steward, Anne Nimocks, Lucy Wofford, Omega Weeks, Jan Babcock, Suzan Cheek, Betty Chiles, Jeanette Council, Sandra Edwards, Phyllis McLeod Laslett, Virginia Thompson Oliver, Carol Parker, Sophia Pierce, Ashley Rabun, and Susan Sheref continued to meet regularly for lunches and discussions on how they could not only support one another but the community that they lived and worked in.
They eventually reached out to the Women’s Forum in Greensboro for guidance. September 27, 1980, marks the official establishment of Networth, and when the organization started meeting formally.
At the first meeting, the founders established the organization's mission, to recognize the success of the individual woman in her business, professional, and or community role; to exchange knowledge, experience, and encouragement with one another; to provide an informal, out-of-the-office atmosphere to create a network of professional friendships; to meet monthly for business-related programs designed to educate rather than entertain: and to limit membership to a manageable number (through a sponsorship-endorsement system) in an effort to nourish friendships and to build a well-balanced blend of talents within the group.
Although most organizations like Networth are open to all women in the community, Networth membership is by invitation only. This allows the organization to stay small with the maximum impact on the community.
“Membership is by invitation and is open to such professional and executive women as managers; licensed or degreed professionals, business proprietors, partners, or local agents; holders of elected or appointed public office; and others who, in the judgment of the Membership Committee, can contribute to and profit from the activities of the organization. A new member must be sponsored by two current members in good standing,” explained member Dena Breece.
Breece also said, “The purpose of Networth, then, is the mutual support of women on a professional level. We learn from one another by sharing professional information, experience, and ideas. We develop the confidence of women executives and offer educational experiences for them. We encourage one another and other women to aspire to higher career goals. Our aim is to create an influential forum uniting women who have excelled in their vocations, to lend support to one another, to encourage others, and to help the community at large.”
Networth not only pours life and knowledge into its members but also the community through its scholarship program. Every year, they give 3 local women each a $2,000 scholarship. Scholarships are given to those who attend one of three institutions of higher education in Fayetteville: Fayetteville Technical Community College, Methodist University, and Fayetteville State University. Scholarship winners are announced at the annual Scholarship Luncheon with members, scholarship recipients, and their families. This year’s scholarships were awarded to three brilliant and talented women.
This year's winners were:
DIAMOND FRANKLIN
Methodist University
Doctoral of Occupational Therapy
DANIELLE VINES
Fayetteville Technical Community College
Associate Degree in Radiography
ANDREA ROSS
Fayetteville Technical Community College
Associate Degree of Nursing

FTCC offers course in Biowork, a rapidly expanding field

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Tuesday, 30 July 2024

Written by Jaclyn Shambaugh

Fayetteville Technical Community College has added a new course focused on training students to start their careers in the growing biotechnology industry.
FTCC offered its first BioWork: Process Technician course through the Corporate and Continuing Education department this spring.
The NC Biotechnology Center developed the BioWork program about 20 years ago as a way to develop the biotech workforce pipeline in the state.
The coursework is standardized so any community college offering the course would prepare students for entry-level positions in the industry. Most of the jobs are in biopharmaceuticals — the manufacturing of drugs — but some can be found in chemical manufacturing or biomanufacturing.
The course lasts about 8 weeks and covers the fundamentals of biomanufacturing, including general manufacturing practices and safety.
Rick Lawless, who taught the initial offering of the course at FTCC, said industry employers around the state have come to recognize the BioWork certificate as a valuable resume piece for potential employees.
“Since it’s been around for 20 years, a lot of the companies in the area — most of them up in the RTP but some in Sanford as well — are advertising entry-level, high school-plus positions with BioWork certificate preferred,” said Lawless, who worked in biotechnology for 35 years before becoming an instructor. “So this certificate means something to hiring managers because it is standardized.”
Lawless said the biotech industry is growing quickly, particularly in North Carolina, where companies are moving to areas in and around the Research Triangle Park.
“We’re looking to build the labor force because companies are coming in so fast that we can’t keep up,” Lawless said. “We’re doing a lot for awareness to get people interested, but also to sponsor them taking BioWork to teach them the fundamentals.”
One sponsorship that is likely to draw interest at FTCC is through the Military Outreach and Veterans Engagement program.
Funds from the grant program cover the cost of the class for military veterans, transitioning service members and military spouses.
Katie Williams, a military spouse and member of the initial course at FTCC, had the cost of her course tuition covered through MOVE.
Williams developed an interest in pharmaceutical development and research after working as a clinical research coordinator over vaccine trials during the COVID-19 pandemic.
When funding for the trials dried up, Williams was laid off.
“Getting laid off was heartbreaking because there were all these studies that I was interested in,” she said.
When Williams came across information about the BioWork program, she signed up, recognizing it as a related field that would put her back in a career providing necessary help to people.
“It’s still in the vein of my goal, which is figuring out what I can do for my community. How can I help?” she said.
FTCC’s next BioWork course offering begins Aug. 18 and runs through Oct. 17. Registration for the class can be completed through FTCC’s WebAdvisor Continuing Education portal at webadvisor.faytechcc.edu/WebAdvisor/WebAdvisor?TOKENIDX=7840123713&SS=1&APP=ST&CONSTITUENCY=WBCE. Search keywork “biowork.”
Prospective students from the military community should contact Rick Lawless at lawlessr@faytechcc.edu to ask about sponsorship through the MOVE program.

Loretta Jae celebrates 1st anniversary in skincare

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Tuesday, 30 July 2024

Written by Amber Little

Loretta Jae Esthetics is celebrating one year of business in Fayetteville. To help commemorate the occasion, owner Lateifa Young isn’t just throwing a party for her business, she’s giving back with a back-to-school celebration for the kids.
Festivities start at 4 p.m. on Aug. 18 in the parking lot of the spa located at 402 Santa Fe Drive, Fayetteville. Kids will enjoy fresh off-the-grill hotdogs and hamburgers and fun giveaways, like teen facials and makeup vouchers, perfect for those upcoming special occasions during the school year.
Young has always loved looking pretty and she mastered the art of makeup and skin care early on. At first, she served as the family makeup artist, but with a little nudge, she decided to enroll in cosmetology school.
While she excelled, life had a side plan in store. Young took a break from school to take care of her family, a sacrifice she was more than happy to make. But a calling is a calling, and Young was destined to do what she loved: make women feel beautiful and teach them how to take care of their most precious and largest organ, their skin. A chance meeting with Montia Shardae, owner of Montia Shardae School of Esthetics put Young back on course.
“I started researching some of the schools [in the area]. I did Fayetteville Tech, I did a couple of private schools in Raleigh, and one other community college. But every time that I would call them to kind of get an idea of what was going on, they told me there was a waiting list or the school was packed and I couldn’t get in. And then I saw Montia post on Instagram that she had opened up a school and she doing enrollments. I was like this is my chance.’ So I contacted her, I went by the school and did a tour. And that was the day that really changed my life,” she said.
“I knew that's what I wanted to do, just having a conversation with Montia and her telling her story. I was like 'yeah this is the right place. This is where I’m going.' I paid my deposit that day and went home and told my mom. And she said, 'Lateifa that's it. This is what you’ve wanted to do your whole life. So why not go for it?' And that’s all the confirmation I needed.” Young’s mom is a huge part of her story and her strongest support system throughout the process. With a stretched budget, keeping up with her 9-5 was more vital than ever.
“It was a nine-month course. I went to work during the day and school at night. And my mom would help me with the boys back and forth. There were so many long days. It was not easy at all,” she said. “There were so many days I wanted to say, ‘oh no, I’m tired, I can’t do this anymore.’ And not to mention I was paying for it all out of pocket. That was difficult too. Keeping up with bills and children and study. It was a stressful time. But I would not change it for the world because it made it so much worthwhile.”
She credits her success and mastery of the business side of the industry to Shardae and the education she received at the school.
“She taught business classes, she helped us all get started with just thinking about our logo, our colors, and an idea of what we want our businesses to be. I started while I was in school. Just thinking about it about my name, my colors, my business, and for me, that was such a push because I had a name before but it didn’t resonate with me. When I came up with my name after that I was yeah this is it, this is something I can keep for the rest of my life and do other things not just esthetician business. I can do other things too.” Young said.
Loretta Jae Esthetics is by appointment only and offers a range of services for clients in a luxurious space fit for a queen. Services include facials (for men, women, and teens), waxing, makeup, and spa parties. One-on-one makeup tutorials and bridal party makeup packages and parties/tutorials are available as well.
Clients not only receive services but also a proper education on aftercare and taking care of and protecting their skin. To make sure clients are using the best products possible, there is a growing skincare line, Loretta Jae Skynn, available at the spa.
Young loves what she does and it is apparent in the way she speaks of her business and what she does for individuals.
“It has truly been rewarding for me because just to see the different transformations and people just coming back to me with confidence that they didn’t have before they started first going to me. Being an esthetician for me is more than just getting money or correcting skin. I friend my clients. It’s like therapy. I love my clients. It's more than just your booking. I want you to feel welcome. I want you to relax. I want my clients to take a self-care day and make them feel like they actually paid for a service, and it was valuable to them.” Young said.
Appointments can be booked online at https://www.lorettajae.com/s/appointments.

And the winner is… Fayetteville Kennel Club

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Tuesday, 30 July 2024

Written by Lisa Stevens

Winner of the 2024 American Kennel Club for the Public Education Award, the all-inclusive Fayetteville Kennel Club is one of the oldest kennel clubs in the country. Since its inception in 1952, FKC has been a hub for Obedience, Agility, Rally competitions, and Conformation shows. However, as the 21st century dawned, it became clear that the club needed to evolve to meet the changing needs of AKC and American pet owners.
Over the past few years, FKC has undergone a remarkable transformation. The club has grown from a small group of purebred enthusiasts to a vibrant, diverse community of 65 members, ranging from young children to seniors, as well as active and retired military personnel and disabled veterans. This newfound energy and inclusivity have breathed new life into the club, making it an exciting and fun-filled destination for dog lovers of all backgrounds.
FKC now offers various classes and activities, from Rally and Canine Good Citizen to Scent Work, Frisbee, and Barn Hunt. These classes are primarily for the benefit of members but are also open to the general public at nominal fees. Additionally, owners of dogs adopted from shelters only pay 50% of the class fee, making the club accessible to all.
The club's commitment to innovation is evident in its introduction of new events like the wildly popular FastCAT held monthly during mild weather. Club members have also learned to manage AKC events, gaining valuable insights into dog breeds, care, and behavior. The presence of a chiropractor at these events further enhances the care and well-being of the canine participants.
Yvette Piantadosi is the training director at FKC and has been involved with dogs for over 48 years, having worked with almost all breeds. Her certificates include AKC Fit Dog, Star Puppy, CGC, ATT, Farm Dog, Control Unleashed Certified Instructor, and Certified Council for Professional Dog Trainers.
“Animals provide me with a sense of enjoyment. Dogs are forgiving of our mistakes and give unconditional love. Dogs are the best form of therapy,” Piantadosi shares.
Piantadosi adds, “Since joining the Fayetteville Kennel Club three years ago, I have witnessed firsthand the remarkable growth and inclusivity that the club has fostered. Our talented members have created a welcoming and supportive environment for all. Their proactive approach and the dedication shown whether crafting fun ribbons, improving the facilities, providing free instruction, or volunteering at local shelters, all of the members of FKC exemplify the true spirit of community and service.”
FKC's partnership with the Fayetteville Animal Protection Society is another testament to its inclusive and community-oriented approach. Shelter dogs participate in fun runs free of charge to allow them to socialize and potentially find their forever homes.
The club's calendar is filled with various events, including ATT tests, Scent Work seminars, Farm Dog tests, and Frisbee/Trick Dog workshops. The most recent Barn Hunt practice trial in June 2024 drew over 60 participants, showcasing the club's growing popularity and the enthusiasm of its members.
As the Fayetteville Kennel Club evolves and expands its offerings, it is clear that this is a club on the rise – one that is committed to fostering a welcoming, inclusive, and dynamic environment for dog enthusiasts of all backgrounds. For more information about FKC, visit fayettevillenckennelclub.weebly.com or visit their facebook page at www.facebook.com/AKCFKC/

(Photo: Members of the Fayetteville Kennel Club pose for a photo at a FKC event. Photo courtesy of FKC)