Nora's Copy

Chief Storyteller 

Big Change Makers

As a Social Impact Coach, I : 

- Mentor purpose-driven entrepreneurs to turn their purpose into projects
- I help you identify social missions and craft sustainable strategies to achieve them
- Refine business models so you can create social impact without a financial trade-off
- Provide guidance on securing funding, accessing resources, and building strategic partnerships
- Offer ongoing support and accountability to help you navigate challenges to your social goals
-Facilitate networking opportunities and connections within the social entrepreneurship ecosystem

Practitioner Coach

Nora's Needle

www.norasneedle.com is a sustainable fashion brand that was registered with Nigeria’s Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) in 2014 and focuses on the designs of timeless pieces of female clothing using African print.  A sustainable, minimalist and urban brand, Nora’s Needle creates clothing that are elegant and at the same time eco-friendly. Using a variety of channels, Nora’s Needle advocates and raises awareness via its #whomademyclothes campaign on the environmental impact of fast fashion and why consumers should be interested in the global discussion using #whomademyclothes.

•      In this role, I managed internal communication, external communication and employee 
        engagement activities for Nora's Needle.

•	Led a 5-man team of designers to Conceptualize and create timeless and trans-seasonal clothing 
        designs that do not end up in landfills.

•	Generated web content and social media content for the brand.

•	Worked closely with the team to implement ethical and sustainable methods of production and 
        supply that ensures maximum benefits to customers while minimizing impact to the environment.

•	Designed and delivered strategic capacity building workshops that integrate ethical and 
        sustainable design principles to all employees, including but not limited to tailored tools, 
        resources, visual management or communications tools, one on one support and/or training 
        workshops.

•	Created pitches for collaborations with key partners and supervised marketing and public relations 
         efforts.

•	Supervised order fulfillment on all sales channels and general customer-retention strategies

Project Manager

Inspire Decisions Consulting

www.inspiredecisions.com is a social enterprise and certified ISO 20700 Management Consultancy Service Provider that collaborates with government agencies, civil society organizations, private sector companies and leading international development organizations to conduct research, analyse policies, develop strategies and implement programs that promote resilience, sustainable food security, improved nutrition, entrepreneurship and employment opportunities.
While with IDC, I : 

• Developed and conducted due diligence and organizational capacity assessments prior to  entering strategic relationships and partnerships with the company’s network of private  companies, financial institutions, civil society organizations, other public agencies, and 
Smallholder farmers’ cooperatives and associations while maintaining a Management Information System (MIS) for partners 
• Led the development of external advocacy and communication messages and campaigns for key donor-funded projects/assignments such as (FCDO/Palladium) implemented by Inspired Decisions Consulting Ltd.
• Managed all communication, branding, social media, video production, and web content creation processes.
• Managed the communications team and track performance 
• Managed company relationships with the media, and advertising and public relations agencies. 
• Generated sales leads through events and content marketing. 
• Supported local smallholder farmer cooperatives and associations executives to use and internalize effective mass and tailored media communication and information channels adapted to their contexts including channels such as radio, SMS, WhatsApp and interactive voice response channels (IVR).

Head of Partnerships and Communications

Seconded to Meadow Foods, I provided communications and public relations-related technical advisory services on its GrowIT Project. GrowIT targets 20,000 smallholder farmers in Adamawa and Gombe State and is funded by the Feed the Future Nigeria Rural Resilience Activity implemented by a consortium led by Mercy Corps, alongside Save the Children and IFDC as implementing partners. I was primarily responsible for leading communications and strategically positioning the GrowIT brand. To that end, I :

 *Led the development of external advocacy and communication messages and campaigns for key donor-funded projects/ assignments funded by USAID through Mercy Corps Nigeria's Rural Resilence Activity.
* Managed all communication, branding, social media, video production, and web content creation processes. (Create a social media calendar, create captions for each post and schedule posts on Hootsuite and other apps so I can Copy Once & Post Everywhere -COPE )
* Managed the communications team and track performance
* Managed company relationship with the media, and advertising and public relations agencies.
*Managed strategic communications for Meadow Foods Co-founder
*Worked with Directors, Deputies, and Program Managers or their designates so I can write, edit, design, and produce engaging, accurate, and useful knowledge products and resources including print and digital handouts, FAQs, talking points, newsletters, success stories, articles, blog posts, presentations, infographics, posters, journal articles, conference and event materials and training resources.
*Created and managed an editorial calendar while maintaining editorial vision: voice, image across all content and assets.
*Ensured that the GrowIT project is on the major screens, airwaves, social media, print etc so that the project gets measurable traction and mileage which eventually converted to sales.

Communications Consultant for Meadow Foods GrowIT Project

Ciphermedia Limited

www.ciphermedialtd.com is an information technology firm  with the primary objective of helping businesses leverage on the power of the internet by having an online presence in the forms of ecommerce sites, content management systems and/or online marketing. 

•	Led a 3-man team of content producers to ensure contents met clients’ brief and overall objectives of their website.
 
•	Collaborated with the design team to plan and develop content, style and layout that were consistent for 20 brands, across 10 industries.

• Provided audience mapping and created compelling content for Ciphermedialtd subscribers via
Mailchimp marketing.

•	Edited the "About" and "Services" pages for www.ciphermedialtd.com 

•	Built staff capacity through trainings on SEO and SEM to ensure that clients’ ranked high in search results.

•	Worked closely with the team to create business pitches to attract new projects for Ciphermedia Limited.

Communications Manager

Etisalat Nigeria

Etisalat Nigeria (now 9mobile) is a multinational Emirati based telecommunication services provider, with operations in 15 countries across Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

•	Provided superior customer service via phone and email both as a caller and receiver.

•	Employed questioning and listening skills to support callers/clients 

•	Escalated high level queries to support units

•	Appropriately communicated with different behaviour types on the telephone and via email and managed irate customers. 

•	Appropriately communicated with different behaviour types on the telephone and via email and managed irate customers. 

•	Marketed the company’s products and services through various cross-selling strategies.

Customer Care Executive

MTN Nigeria

MTN is an emerging markets mobile telecommunications operator at the forefront of technological and digital changes. Headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, its operations cut across a number of African, Asian and European countries. 

•	Answered incoming calls from Pay As You Go (PAYG) and contract customers. 

•	Provided first call resolution on customers’ queries on products and services as well as network-related issues. 

•	Referred advanced queries to high level support. 

•	Logged all call types for record keeping. 

•	Telemarketed and provided after-sales services

•	I used Single View, Minsat and other applications to check the status of callers’ lines.

•	Achieved Customer Satisfaction Rating of 98% within the first six months of joining the company, thus increasing customer retention.

•	Consistently maintained a Customer Satisfaction Score (CSAT) of over 95% for ten months.

Online Customer Care Rep

"I do this for Lucy. I'd do anything for her. Because if my presence doesn't make an impact, my absence won't make a difference".

One hot afternoon in May 2005, Nora walked into her friend Lucy's mother's empty restaurant. There, she found the woman in excruciating pain, sobbing as she rubbed some balm on her sore knees. It was clear her line of work exacerbated her arthritis.

Curious, Nora asked why she stuck with a job that worsened her health. 

"I do this for Lucy. I'd do anything for her. Because if my presence doesn't make an impact, my absence won't make a difference, she said."

Those words hit Nora hard and stayed with her through the years. 'No life is complete unless it impacts another'.

From Quilla Bohannon, who brings joy to kids with hair loss through "Free Wigs 4 Kids", to Nigerian Hydroponic Farmer, Samson Ogbole,  and all the purpose-driven individuals whose stories she has told…these impact stories, they're her jam.

With a background in development communications, feature writing, and digital storytelling, Nora has over 12 years of experience in humanitarian and gender-based issues.

In 2005, for example, she conducted the first-ever project on Female Genital Mutilation for the Department of Mass Communication at the University of Maiduguri. This research yielded vital recommendations and laid the groundwork for development communication efforts in the Zawiya Community.

In 2022, Nora kicked off "Tell Your Brand Story," a 51,000-subscriber-strong newsletter that has empowered professionals and entrepreneurs with the tools to master brand storytelling. 

She’s also the creator of “The 7-Day Personal Branding Email Challenge,” where she's trained 112 entrepreneurs from 7 countries to build stellar brands on LinkedIn.

She is a strong advocate for climate action, a loving wife, and a mom.

Nora is a LinkedIn Top Voice in Storytelling and Social Impact. She has been featured in LA Weekly, InStyle, Insights Success, the Guardian, Vanguard, Daily Trust, and Marketing Edge.

In 2023, she was listed as one of the top 100 Content Creators in Nigeria and #1 in Writing and storytelling by Favikon. 

Nora is committed to empowering organizations, entrepreneurs, and professionals to harness the power of storytelling for sustainable impact, influence, and income.

Nora Agbakhamen

Program Controls Inc

PCI is a professional engineering consulting firm committed to delivering professional services and engineering solutions. With a highly seasoned and professional team coupled with many decades of collective industry experience, it has become the premier provider of project controls and management services across Florida.  

PCI was founded in 2002 by two program professionals – Paul stein and Ashish Kumar – with a goal to build an operation primarily focused on all aspects of project controls and program management in Aviation. 

Originally, its core competencies were focused in Aviation but since 2012, the company has expanded and has been steadily growing. 

In recent years, with the augmentation of experienced and talented associates and industry leaders, the company has evolved into one of the premier firms providing controls, program and construction management services in Water, Storm-water, Port, Transportation, Mass-transit, Education and Commercial fields in addition to Aviation. PCI offers state-of-the-art customized systems, techniques and methodologies to keep up with the ever-growing environment of complex, competitive and compressed projects and programs.

I am currently a contractor for Miami-Dade County Public schools. Responsible for the purchase of FF&E (Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment) for all new schools and new construction, renovations and expansions.

I manage all procurement activities and perform quality control procedures on all orders and 
handle vendor issues/concerns as well as vendor management and evaluations. 
I supervise contract purchases and coordinate/monitor delivery of "direct deliver" items and 
facilitate the Requests for Quotes (RFQ) bidding process, contract amendments and/or contract extensions
I provide technical guidance to school and departmental personnel and facilitate regular meetings with Facilities FF&E (Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment) to review contract spend and vendor performance

Contractor/Sr. Procurement Analyst

WSP USA

WSP Global Inc. is a Canadian business providing management and consultancy services to the built and natural environment. It is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. After the purchase of New York-headquartered professional services firm Parsons Brinckerhoff in October 2014, WSP Global effectively became one of the largest professional services firms in the world, with approximately 36,000 employees in 500 offices serving in 40 countries.
In January 2017, WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff announced that it would assume the name WSP, effective from May 2017. WSP acquired three more companies in the United States and two in Latin America. In 2018, the acquisition of US-based international professional services firm Louis Berger added 5,000 employees to WSP’s workforce. In 2019, WSP acquired Ecology & Environment, a US-based environmental consulting firm. 

I am currently a contractor for Miami-Dade County Public schools. Responsible for the purchase of FF&E (Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment) for all new schools and new construction, renovations and expansions.

I currently manage all procurement activities and perform quality control procedures on all orders. 
I create solicitations, coordinate requirements with originating departments, write and evaluate specifications, conduct bid openings as needed. I evaluate bids, prepare bids for award including the completion of board items (if applicable), and issue/monitor contracts
I handle vendor issues and concerns as well as vendor management and evaluations. I coordinate work  and am a liaison with the School Board Attorney's Office.
I supervise contract purchases and coordinate/monitor delivery of "direct deliver" items and 
facilitate the Requests for Quotes (RFQ) bidding process, contract amendments and/or contract extensions
I provide technical guidance to school and departmental personnel and facilitate regular meetings with Facilities FF&E (Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment) to review contract spend and vendor performance

Contractor/Sr Procurement Analyst & Project Manager

Gamma USA

Gamma USA operated for more than 40 years and is known for complex custom curtain wall construction for large scale commercial projects. Gamma uses collaborative software to enable clients, and all members of the Gamma team, to track the construction progress and billing in real-time. This software allows the client to be reassured that every detail of the project is running on schedule, maintaining a clear and open line of communication.

Managed  a team of 4 purchasing agents in all procurement activities. 
Responsible for logistics and approvals on all purchases for field and production.
Extensive knowledge of sourcing raw materials such as Aluminum, Steel, Glass, Fasteners, etc. as well as sourcing fabricators and painters for exposed materials. 
Evaluated orders and bid documentation. 
Reviewed all contracts and agreements to ensure optimal contractual arrangements.

I worked on several construction projects including Brickell City Center, MGM Hotel & Casino, National Harbor, MD, and the new UN National Assembly Building

Performed cost benefits, trends and financial analysis. 
Met with and established relationships with new suppliers. 
Delegated buyer assignments and evaluated their performance. 
Reviewed with buyers the timeliness of requests. 
Worked with cross functional teams to assess their needs and develop business requirements.
Maintained inventory control of all purchased material in the shop and on site

Purchasing Manager

SCHEAR CONSTRUCTION, LLC

Schear Construction was founded in 1987. Starting out as a small contractor in Florida, Schear has grown into a multi-state commercial and residential contractor.

Projects include Margaritaville, Disney World Animal Kingdom, Star Wars, and others as well as Ft Lauderdale International Airport and Miami Metro Zoo

Coordinated all procurement activities for Atlas Apex, Concrecel & Schear Construction, and performed quality control procedures on all orders. Evaluated orders and bid documentation. Reviewed all contracts and agreements to ensure optimal contractual arrangements.
Identified appropriate vendors. Created RFQs, RFPs, purchase orders, change orders, etc. and negotiated contracts in accordance with company policies. 
Performed cost benefits, trends and financial analysis. Monitored the financial viability of all third-party vendors
Met with and established relationships with new suppliers. Evaluated vendor performance.
Created and updated spreadsheets.
Reviewed weekly committed cost reports to investigate old open POs. Obtained invoices for POs that had been filled.
Created/populated budgets by code for all construction jobs.

Sr Purchasing Specialist

The Stephan Company

The Stephan Company, operating out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is a manufacturer and distributor of haircare and personal products for both the retail and wholesale markets. The public company is comprised of three operating segments: Professional Hair Care Products and Distribution, Retail Personal Care Products, and Manufacturing. Business is conducted through eight subsidiaries. Foxy Products, Inc. offers the Magic Wave line of hair care products for African-Americans. Morris Flamingo-Stephan, Inc. serves the barber and beauty salon markets through catalogs under the Morris Flamingo and Major Advance labels. Old 97 Company sells more than 100 hair and skin care products, fragrances, and personal grooming aids under the Old 97, Knights, and Tammy labels.

The Stephan Co supplies products to all the Cruise lines under many different brands.

Responsible for MRO purchasing as well as sourcing all products & services, printing, equipment, chemicals, ingredients and fragrances. Performed quality control procedures on all orders and evaluated existing business processes. 
Processed and validated daily all purchase orders and verified in Cimpro the receipt of all orders placed.
Created RFPs and RFQs. purchased all supplies, equipment and maintained service contracts in accordance with company policies.
Followed-up on purchase orders in order to verify correct pricing, quantities and on time deliveries.
Received and reviewed all in-house requisitions for completeness, contract compliance and conformity to company policy and procedures.
Schedule inbound logistics and evaluate carrier performance.
Maintained logs for purchase orders that needed to be concluded and for inter-company material transfers.
Supported the sales team with issues in the field, product information and inventory control.
Received and reviewed vendor’s invoices for accuracy and obtain approval for disbursements.

Sr Procurement Specialist

Terremark a wholly owned subsidiary of Verizon

Terremark Worldwide was a leading global provider of IT infrastructure services delivered on the industry's most robust and advanced technology platform. Terremark delivered government and enterprise customers a comprehensive suite of managed solutions including managed hosting, colocation, disaster recovery, security, data storage and cloud computing services. 
Performed quality control procedures on all purchase orders, evaluated existing business processes and identified more efficient ways of accomplishing goals and meeting customer requirements across the organization.
Drove innovative business improvement projects, evaluated effectiveness of current procurement tools and modified solutions, tracked results and gathered feedback.
Validated purchase order details and general ledger account codes used on purchase orders.
Ensured that POs that needed to be resubmitted are followed through and the original orders are cancelled.
Served as liaison between the Procurement Dept and the Accounting Dept in order to resolve procurement issues.
Maintained logs for POs that needed to be concluded and for equipment resale orders.
Resolved ProcureIt Process issues and investigated and resolved PO inquiries.
Assisted order requestors with any ProcureIt Process questions or issues.
Provided training to users and other individuals as required.

Procurement QC Manager

VMS was a Public Relations and Communications service. It was best in class in advertising and media monitoring. It was ahead of it's time as the leader in Clipping Service, Competitive Media Reporting, Marketing Insights and Real-time streaming. It's scope ranged in all 210 Designated Market Areas (DMAs)

Directed all purchasing and properties management functions.  Managed a staff across the Purchasing, Mailroom and Facilities departments. 
Oversaw all technology and MRO purchasing. Involved in price and contracts negotiation.
Developed supplier RFPs, RFQs, & RFXs and analyzed proposals. 
Initiated and managed the research of data processing requirements, including the evaluation and recommendation of applicability, practicability and cost justification.
Coordinated and directed all computer technology and contract awareness activities including standards, guidelines and procedures. Evaluated vendor performance and managed supplier relationships.
Spearheaded the purchasing of capture servers for a major expansion project, increasing from 110 to 250 DMAs (Designated Market Areas).
Managed all outsourced services including contracted security, fire detection / protection and housekeeping.
Managed all compliance issues, training and other reporting requirements in addition to all issues relating to OSHA requirements for all properties.
Directed the construction/expansion and coordinated the relocation of multiple offices.
Negotiated favorable lease terms across the country. Oversaw the closing of 7 offices simultaneously. 
Prepared cost estimates and managed a $12 million, budget for Capital Expenses and CIP (Capital In Progress) Projects. Assisted in the preparation of departmental budgets.
Developed and implemented a comprehensive database and managed $1.2 million in software & hardware maintenance contracts and renewals. 
Created, executed and ensured compliance with corporate purchasing standards and guidelines.

Director of Purchasing, Properties and Facilities

MultiPlan

MultiPlan uses technology-enabled provider network, negotiation, claim pricing and payment accuracy services as building blocks for medical and dental payers to customize the healthcare cost management programs that work best for them. For 40 years, MultiPlan has made it a priority to cultivate strong provider relationships, resulting in long-lasting partnerships consisting of more than a million providers. 
Performed critical functions within the Purchasing, Mailroom, Facilities, Housekeeping, Maintenance, Security, Reception and Telecommunications departments. Obtained the best value in corporate purchasing by scrutinizing proposals and negotiating contracts for all FF&E.
Oversaw all mail, messenger, facilities, security and housekeeping services. Reduced cost, increased quality and improved service by reducing the number of suppliers and consolidated purchasing power through leveraging and standardization.
Managed the procurement of Cisco Telephony VoIP Telecommunications equipment, hardware and software.
Developed supplier RFPs, RFQs, & RFXs and analyzed proposals.
Managed all compliance issues, training and other reporting requirements in addition to all issues relating to OSHA requirements for all properties. 
Performed cost benefits, trends and financial analysis. Ran budget forecasts for existing hardware, software and telecom services. 
Drafted contractual terms and conditions to ensure optimal contractual arrangements
Managed all compliance issues, training and other reporting requirements in addition to all issues relating to OSHA requirements for all properties.
Implemented and ensured compliance with all corporate purchasing standards and guidelines, including local laws.
Reduced corporate expenses by consolidating and standardizing all computer, telecommunications and office equipment for the parent company and its subsidiaries.
Partnered with architects and contractors to coordinate expansions, relocations and closings of multiple offices.

Vice President – Purchasing and Office Operations

Air France

Oversaw the procurement of all products and services, including computers, telecommunications, office equipment, leases, furniture and office supplies. Prepared RFP’s, RFQs, LOCs, and U.S. Customs Forms for all locations.
Managed all mail, messenger and housekeeping services. 
Completed quarterly and yearly tax appraisals and property assessments for all US locations.
Achieved significant cost savings by securing an international office equipment contract, the first of its kind, and developing national accounts and contracts for operating sites in North and South America.
Supervised and managed the NY headquarters expansion and construction project. Worked with architects and contractors in the Terminal 1 project at JFK Airport. Moved the Call Center from NY Headquarters to SawGrass, FL.

Purchasing & Properties Manager

McKinsey & Company

McKinsey was founded in 1926 by James O. McKinsey in order to apply accounting principles to management. McKinsey died in 1937, and the firm was restructured several times, with the modern-day McKinsey & Company emerging in 1939. Marvin Bower is credited with establishing McKinsey's culture and practices in the 1930s based on the principles he experienced as a lawyer. The firm developed an "up or out" policy, where consultants who are not promoted are asked to leave. McKinsey was the first management consultancy to hire recent college graduates, rather than experienced managers.
In the 1980s and 1990s, the firm expanded internationally and established new practice areas. It had 88 staff in 1951, 7,700 by the early 2000s and 27,000+ by 2018.
Oversaw all purchasing, mailroom, facilities and security services for a renowned Management Consultant Firm. Prepared RFPs, evaluated proposals and negotiated contracts for computer and office equipment, including all maintenance and repair needs. 
Enhanced the efficiency of the purchasing department by installing a computerized purchasing system that centralized, consolidated and standardized the ordering of all office supplies, equipment, forms, printing and paper.
Directed major expansion and new construction projects to minimize disturbance to existing functions.
Slashed acquisition costs by negotiating national bulk accounts for all offices in North America. 
Served as Chairman of the Supervisors and Managers Advisory Group for 5 years.

Purchasing Supervisor (1987-1991)

Supervised the purchasing department and established a forms control system to improve existing processes.
Centralized and obtained discounted prices on supplies, forms, printing and office equipment for the office. 
Estimated usage, monitored inventory, and coordinated ordering of all office supplies and equipment.

Purchasing Agent (1983-1987)

Ordering Information Specialist (1980-1983)

Purchasing & Office Services Manager

Throughout my career, I’ve made countless contributions to improve operations, streamline processes and increase revenues. My greatest expertise lies in scrutinizing the current processes in place, recognizing areas for improvement and implementing cost-cutting initiatives that revitalize efficiency and increase profits.  I have improved organizational effectiveness from top to bottom and reengineered procedures to minimize costs and drive further organizational success.  

Specialties: PROCUREMENT, STRATEGIC SOURCING, VENDOR MANAGEMENT, CONTRACTS NEGOTIATIONS, BUDGET MANAGEMENT, FACILITIES, COST-CUTTING INITIATIVES, RISK MITIGATION, PROPERTIES MANAGEMENT, LEASE NEGOTIATIONS, OFFICE EXPANSIONS, RENOVATIONS, AND MOVES, QUALITY CONTROL, COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION

🐶Segundo A. Pinedo🐱, CPM, PMP, MBA❤️

TODAY'S QUOTES

Our purpose in life is not to accumulate wealth and power, but to make a meaningful impact through our actions. ~ Dr. Bennet Omalu

We must prioritize the health and well-being of individuals over profit and reputation. ~ Dr. Bennet Omalu

The truth must be spoken, no matter how uncomfortable or unpopular it may be. ~ Dr. Bennet Omalu

The love and utilization of knowledge is the highest form of living. ~ Dr. Bennet Omalu

Knowledge is power, and ignorance fuels injustice. ~ Dr. Bennet Omalu


Dr. Bennet Omalu is a Nigerian-American forensic pathologist and neuropathologist, best known for his groundbreaking research on a brain condition called Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). His work has drawn attention to the long-term effects of concussions and repetitive head trauma in contact sports, particularly American football. Omalu's discoveries have had a significant impact on sports safety protocols and sparked a national conversation about the risks associated with participating in such sports. 
 
Born on September 30, 1968, in Nigeria, Omalu developed a passion for medicine from a young age. He attended the Federal Government College, Enugu, where he excelled academically and later received a scholarship to study medicine at the University of Nigeria. After completing his medical degree, Omalu moved to the United States to further his education and pursue his medical career and completed his pathology residency at Harlem Hospital Center, affiliated with Columbia University. Omalu then went on to further specialize in forensic pathology, completing his fellowship at the Allegheny County Coroner's Office in Pittsburgh. It was during his time as the Assistant Medical Examiner in Allegheny County that Omalu came across the case that would change his career. 
 
In 2002, he conducted the post-mortem examination of former Pittsburgh Steelers football player Mike Webster, who had died unexpectedly at the age of 50. Intrigued by Webster's deteriorated mental state and the similarities he observed with other deceased football players, Omalu delved deeper into his research and published his groundbreaking findings in the journal Neurosurgery in 2005, coining the term Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy to describe the degenerative brain disease he observed in athletes with a history of repetitive head trauma. 
 
Omalu's research on CTE and his advocacy for player safety have ignited a global debate about the long-term effects of concussions in contact sports. Despite facing significant pushback and criticism from professional sports leagues and their supporters, Omalu remained steadfast in his mission to promote awareness and understanding of CTE. 
 
 
Bennet Omalu's commitment to advancing neuroscience and advocating for player safety has earned him widespread recognition and numerous accolades. He has received honorary doctorates from various universities and has been featured in prestigious publications such as Time magazine.

Segundo A. Pinedo MBA, CPM, PMP

RETIRED PROCUREMENT & STRATEGIC SOURCING PROFESSIONAL CONSULTANT, PROJECT & OPERATIONS MANAGER, CONTENT CREATOR, QUOTE COLLECTOR, ANIMAL LOVER AND ADVOCATE- NOT A BELIEVER OF CRYPTOCURRENCY

TODAY'S QUOTES

"In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart." ~ Anne Rice

Despite experiencing terrible events and witnessing great cruelty, one can still hold onto the belief in the inherent goodness and kindness of humanity. It is a powerful statement of hope and resilience.

"None of us really changes over time. We only become more fully what we are, or capable of."  ~ Anne Rice


"You do have a story inside you; it lies articulate and waiting to be written—behind your silence and your suffering." ~ Anne Rice

"The only thing between you and realizing your dreams as a writer is yourself." ~ Anne Rice

Anne Rice was born on October 4, 1941 in New Orleans. An October child and Libra like me. She was an American author of Gothic fiction and is best known for writing The Vampire Chronicles. She later adapted the first volume in the series into a commercially successful eponymous film, Interview with the Vampire. 

The novel centers on vampire Louis de Pointe du Lac, who tells the story of his life to a reporter. The film adaptation was released in 1994 with Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, Antonio Banderas and Stephen Rea along with a very young Kirsten Dunst. It starts off in 1791 with Louis as the young master of a large  plantation in colonial Louisiana who is distraught by the death of his family. He starts drinking heavily and becomes despondent. One night, he is approached by a French-speaking vampire named Lestat de Lioncourt, who senses Louis' despair. Concluding that the loss of his humanity will free him from grief, he accepts Lestat's offer to become his companion and is turned into a vampire.

I read Interview With The Vampire when I was 17 and loved it because it was beautifully written and it fascinated me. Through the years on Halloween I’ve been a 17th Century, 18th Century, 19th Century, Victorian Vampire as well as a 20th Century, Lugosi inspired, tuxedo clad, cape wearing vampire.

Rice's books have sold over 100 million copies, making her one of the best-selling authors of modern times. While reaction to her early works was initially mixed, she gained a better reception with critics in the 1980s. She was married to poet and painter Stan Rice for 41 years, from 1961 until his death from brain cancer in 2002 at age 60. 

Rice wrote The Feast of All Saints which was adapted for television in 2001 and Servant of the Bones, which formed the basis of a 2011 comic book miniseries. Several books from The Vampire Chronicles have been adapted as comics by various publishers. She authored erotic fiction under the pen names Anne Rampling and A. N. Roquelaure, including Exit to Eden, which was later adapted into a 1994 film.

TODAY'S QUOTES

“When you have no money, you need invention.” ~ John Carpenter

“What scares me is what scares you. We're all afraid of the same things. That's why horror is such a powerful genre. All you have to do is ask yourself what frightens you and you'll know what frightens me.” ~ John Carpenter


“The strongest human emotion is fear. It’s the essence of any good thriller that, for a while, you believe in the bogeyman.” ~ John Carpenter


“Fears are all psychological. Being afraid of death, loss of a loved one and disfigurement are all powered by your mind. That’s all powerful stuff.” ~ John Carpenter

Many of you know by now, October, is my favorite month because it’s my birth month and the colors of Autumn leaves are dramatic. Halloween was one of my favorite holidays growing up and I wanted to share the love I had for this day with my children. I’d decorate the house completely and would make it into a haunted mansion inside and out. Adults would drive by and stop to take photos of the outside. Kids from all over the neighborhood loved to come to my house on Halloween for treats and to be spooked.

John Carpenter was born on January 16, 1948 in Carthage, New York. He is an American filmmaker, composer, and actor. Most commonly associated with horror, action, and science fiction films of the 1970s and 1980s, he is generally recognized as a master of the horror genre.

At the 2019 Cannes Film Festival, the French Directors' Guild gave him the Golden Coach Award and lauded him as "a creative genius of raw, fantastic, and spectacular emotions". On April 3, 2025, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. 

Back in 1978 during Halloween week, my friends and I went to the cinema to see the film Halloween and it scared the living daylights out of all of us. It was a commercial success and helped develop the slasher genre. 

Carpenter both wrote and directed the Lauren Hutton thriller Someone's Watching Me!. This television film is the tale of a single, working woman who, soon after arriving in L.A., discovers that she is being stalked.

Eyes of Laura Mars, a 1978 thriller featuring Faye Dunaway and Tommy Lee Jones was adapted from a spec script titled Eyes, written by Carpenter, and would become Carpenter's first major studio film of his career.

Carpenter's early films include other commercial successes such as The Fog, Escape from New York, The Thing and Starman. Though he has been acknowledged as an influential filmmaker, his other productions from the 1970s and the 1980s later came to be considered cult classics.

Carpenter composes or co-composes the music in his films. He won a Saturn Award for Best Music for the soundtrack of Vampires and has released five studio albums. He also produces horror, science fiction, and children's comics through Storm King Comics, founded by his wife, Sandy King, in 2013.

TODAY'S QUOTES

"Visions are worth fighting for. Why spend your life making someone else's dreams?" ~ Tim Burton
You should pursue your own unique ideas and aspirations rather than working toward someone else's goals or a conventional path. This quote encourages originality, creativity, and self-determination by emphasizing that your own "visions" are a valuable, personal pursuit that is worth the effort, even if it requires a struggle.

“A lot of things you see as a child remain with you... you spend a lot of your life trying to recapture the experience.” ~ Tim Burton

Anybody with artistic ambitions is always trying to reconnect with the way they saw things as a child. ~ Tim Burton

For me, fantasy has always been a means of exploring reality… It explores the fact that your internal life, your dreams and the weird images and the things that come to you are things that are actually important tools for dealing with real issues. ~ Tim Burton

One person’s craziness is another person’s reality. ~ Tim Burton

“Every story has its own world.” ~ Tim Burton

Tim Burton was born on August 25, 1958 in Burbank, California. He is famous for his gothic horror and dark fantasy films and has received numerous accolades including an Emmy Award as well as nominations for two Academy Awards, a Golden Globe Award and three BAFTA Awards. He was honored with the Venice International Film Festival's Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement in 2007 and was given the Order of Arts and Letters by Culture Minister of France in 2010.

Burton made his directorial film debut with the comedy Pee-wee's Big Adventure and gained prominence for Beetlejuice and Edward Scissorhands. He also directed the superhero films Batman and Batman Returns; the animated films Corpse Bride and Frankenweenie; the science fiction films Mars Attacks! and Planet of the Apes; the supernatural horror film Sleepy Hollow; the fantasy films Big Fish, Alice in Wonderland, Dark Shadows and Dumbo; the musicals Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street; and the biographical dramas Ed Wood and Big Eyes. 

Henry Selick was the director of The Nightmare Before Christmas, while Tim Burton is responsible for the original story, character designs, and production. Danny Elfman  played a crucial role by composing the songs and musical score, and providing the singing voice for Jack Skellington. 

Starting in 2022, Burton has directed several episodes for the Netflix series Wednesday, for which he received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series. He also directed Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, the sequel to the 1988 film. Burton has frequently collaborated with composer Danny Elfman, who scored all but three of his films. He has released several books including The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy & Other Stories.

OUTSTANDING POST... Don't get caught up in the rat race. Please repost.

Top LinkedIn Trainer & Consultant | LinkedIn Profile Makeovers | Lead Generation Expert for Coaches & Founders | LinkedIn Automation Tools Expert | Grow with Organic Content

Just saw a thought-provoking video on social media —
 “How a 9 to 5 job slowly takes over your entire life.” 💭

It’s a reminder that sometimes, in chasing stability, we lose our freedom.
The endless routine, the waiting for weekends, the feeling that your dreams are always on hold.

But here’s the truth — life is too short to live only for a paycheck.
✅ Be your own boss
✅ Build something you’re proud of
✅ Create balance, not burnout
Freedom isn’t just about money — it’s about time, choice, and fulfillment.

💬 What’s one step you’ve taken toward designing the life you want?

#Entrepreneurship #FreedomLifestyle #MindsetMatters #WorkLifeBalance #BeYourOwnBoss

Great opportunity I wish to share with all my connections.

Driving Mission-Critical Control Room Solutions at Knürr® | German Engineering | 24/7 Heavy-Duty Performance |

Rony B - 🚀 🚀 STAND OUT - BE UNIQUE - BE YOURSELF 🚀 🚀

View Rony B  - 🚀 🚀 STAND OUT - BE UNIQUE - BE YOURSELF 🚀 🚀’s profile

URGENT ! La SNCF recrute : Bérenger cherche des super-héros du réseau électrique à Paris-Nord !

🚆 SNCF is Hiring in Paris IDF and Bérenger needs reinforcements! 🚨

Know someone who loves high voltage, behind-the-scenes action, and keeping trains running on time (without actually driving one)?
 Then this might be their next adventure. 👷‍♂️⚙️
📍 Paris-Nord | 📡 SNCF Réseau

Bérenger is looking for:
🔌 Superviseurs du Réseau Électrique
 (a.k.a. the people who keep the power flowing safely & smoothly)
⚡ Électriciens Haute et Moyenne Tension
 (because running a national rail network takes more than just tracks and trains)

Why it’s cool:
 ✅ You work on infrastructure that moves millions
 ✅ The team is dynamic and mission-driven
 ✅ You’re the invisible hero keeping the lights on and the wheels turning

 I’m just spreading the word, but if you're interested, or know someone who might be, feel free to reach out and I’ll happily connect you with Bérenger Lafarge.
Let’s get the right people in the right (high-voltage) seats!

#Jobs #Recrutement #SNCF #Electricité #ParisNord #HTMT #OffreEmploi #RailHeroes #InfraPower

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