Around the Table with Ann Cundy

Welcome to Around the Table, a regular series where we talk to people in our network and share the incredible work they are doing in their industry. Pull up a chair and join us for conversation and connection. 

Name: Ann Cundy

Company: Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission (CSPDC)/Harrisonburg Rockingham Metropolitan Planning Organization

Where to Find You: LinkedIn, Email

What drew you to the world of transportation planning?

Becoming a transportation planner was unexpected for me. I was drawn to urban planning from an environmental education and conservation background but took a chance on a job as a transportation planner in Charlottesville, VA while my now-husband stayed there to grow his small business.

I quickly discovered that transportation planning is fast-paced, exciting, and touches everyone. It’s a sphere where state and local government investments have the opportunity to positively impact the environment, address social inequities, improve qualify of life, and support the economy.

What are you proudest of in your work as a transportation planner?

Since I joined CSPDC in 2013, we’ve launched a brand-new MPO, the Staunton-Augusta-Waynesboro MPO, and brought those localities together to collaborate in a way that they hadn’t in the past. We’ve also succeeded in raising the profile of the Harrisonburg-Rockingham MPO, creating a value-add organization and a resource for those jurisdictions. Now they come to us for expertise to translate transportation concepts into projects, and to get those projects funded. Seeing projects that we’ve taken from a concept or issue to a study, to a defined solution, and through implementation to benefit the community is tremendously rewarding.

You’ll be presenting with Avid Core’s Ashley Dobson at the MetroQuest Conference for Virtual Public Engagement for Transportation Planning and at the Association for Metropolitan Planning Organizations Annual Conference. What do you hope people take away from your sessions?

I hope they are inspired by what we’ve been able to accomplish with a small staff and a modest budget! We committed a lot of our time and energy to implementing this robust public engagement and communications plan the Avid Core designed for us, and it has paid off!

What do you think is the biggest challenge your field is facing today?

Urban planners seem to be in short supply these days and, like a lot of other industries, many long-time planners are retiring or nearing retirement. It’s not a career path that I knew existed until my senior year of college. We need to do more with younger students to raise awareness of the field and how rewarding the work can be.

What’s the best advice you’ve received in your career?

A retiring planner once told me, “If you’re not ticking someone off, you’re not working hard enough!” I’m not sure that’s advice I would give someone, but I think the nugget of truth there is that it’s important to stand up for what’s right, even when faced with skepticism or push back. The beauty of being a planner is marshalling data and research to shift the needle for decisionmakers about what they can do to create great communities. 

When you aren’t working, what do you like to do?

I stay pretty busy parenting our kids (ages 11 and 8), but my personal happy place is on my road bike in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley where we live.

If we were literally “around the table” right now, what food would you have brought to share?

I love a good savory dip, and Ina Garten’s Israeli Vegetable Salad is my current favorite. Or pimento cheese! Can’t go wrong there.

Avid Fans of: Making Connections

Avid (adjective) – having or showing a keen interest in or enthusiasm for something. It’s more than just our company’s namesake. Passion for our work and for the things we love is part of our core values. In this recurring series, we’ll share some of the things we’re Avid Fans of with you.

Whether it’s a multiday conference, an online meetup, or even just after work hours at a local restaurant, potential connections are everywhere. Creating new workplace relationships is not only necessary but can also be quite enjoyable, especially if you find yourself having a conversation that leads to new experiences and opportunities. This month we wanted to share our team’s favorite ways to connect with new people from different industries.

Avid Core co-founder Amanda Roberts puts her advice for making connections into practice at the AFCEA- Bethesda Chapter EIE Summit 2021. (Photo Courtesy of AFCEA-Bethesda)

Amanda – Valuing People Over Pitches
The term “networking” elicits a physical response from me. I get sweaty, a knot forms in my stomach, and my mind starts to race.  The pressure of presenting yourself in a way that makes people want to do business with you makes me panicky. But I still go to conferences, industry days, and meetings that are heavy with networking. What I have learned over the years of attending these events is that it’s not so much of making a hard sell (which is something I’m awful at), but meeting people, making friends, and trying to help them with their problems (something I’m really good at). It’s cool hearing stories about people’s work and learning about their backgrounds. Sometimes there might not be a partnership or new business today, but there might be one a few years down the road. And at the very least, you’ve made a new friend! 

Virginia – Networking is Everywhere
As a mom of two kids under three, a bonus mom to a young adult and teenager, and wife of a softball coach, I’m always on the go. I meet new people at every turn — high school or travel sporting events, children’s birthday parties, the doctor’s office, library, grocery store…you name it! I enjoy connecting with people at conferences and networking events, but there is something organic about the connections we make when we least expect it and when you’re not actively trying to network.

Stephanie – Volunteering to Help
It can be intimidating to meet new people at events, but I’ve found myself most at ease when I volunteer to help either plan or pack up the events. Not only are you contributing to making the event a success, but you are also able to get to know people beyond the typical “what do you do?” question. I’ve joined a few associations over the years to help with social media promotion, planning, developing presentations and event evaluation. No one turns away an offer to help. My father was a great salesman and fundraiser. He helped me overcome my fears by telling me, “Find a way to help and follow up with people so they don’t forget you.”  Two helpful tips that I make sure to share with others.

Rossana – Virtually Engaging
After graduating college, I was looking for ways to continue growing due to the competitive job market. I looked for groups on LinkedIn for members who were in my desired field and for young professionals to network in general. A group I joined was Latino Professionals for America. It had very impressive members and they host a lot of conferences and networking events throughout the year all over the country. I ended up creating a post in the group asking for any tips on standing out and a lot of people were surprisingly helpful with their shared insight, willingness to network, and praise for putting myself out there. Even when you’re not always able to physically network, definitely try to keep making connections virtually.

Sarah – Finding Commonalities and Learning New Things
I have two ways I like to make professional connections. The first, obvious way is through professional events. It never hurts to arrive at a conference session early to make small talk with the person next to you or sidle up to the presenter and ask them about themselves and their work. I’m naturally reserved, but there’s safety in knowing everyone is there to learn and connect. Again, it may be obvious, but saying, hi, what do you do or where do you work is great way to break the ice. Once you find a commonality, conversion flows much more easily! This is easier at in-person events but following up with thanks to webinar presenters or someone who said something interesting at your last industry virtual meet-and-greet is always worthwhile. My other way—my favorite because it usually involves cocktails—is chatting with friends of friends at parties to learn more about the variety of industries and jobs out there. Being in the DC-metro area, I’m always learning about new aspects of the federal government, private enterprise, and nonprofit organizations.

Breana – Let Your Soul Speak
I always say that I love people, but I really dislike the façade that we tend to present. I enjoy being able to see someone’s true self behind the smoke and mirrors that we often try to put forth. Formal networking events often came across to me as a room of masks. I prefer to network in casual environments where saying the right thing is not the mandate but rather being yourself and attracting who your soul speaks to in order to create authentic connections.

Ashley – Body Language and Being More Approachable
I love to meet new people but can find it intimidating if I don’t have a coworker or friend by my side. When you’re by yourself at a conference or a networking situation, it can be really tempting to retreat into your phone or otherwise display body language that signifies that you don’t want to be approached. I try to put my phone away, keep a smile on my face (or a “smize” here in the mask era!), and not use the chairs around me in conference sessions as a place for my bag storage, indicating that I want to be left alone. Because I am making this conscious effort myself, I am also always on the lookout at events for people who do seem uncomfortable or nervous and strive to be the friendly face that puts them at ease!

Brennan – Listening More than Speaking
As a young professional studying and looking for work after graduation, expanding my network is key. Living in D.C. means that opportunities are all around me, and I try and take advantage of as many as possible. I recently had the opportunity to go to a large, two-day conference hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Like most of these events I’ve attended, I found myself to be one of the more junior level members of the audience. Still, when talking with other attendees, even senior level executives, conversations are entirely natural. By listening more than I talked, I learned about programs I could take advantage of, opportunities I need to look into, and overall career advice. The one takeaway for future events? Bring business cards!

Susan – Be a Team Player
Making new connections is very stressful and one of the biggest things I struggle with. Most people in my network, from college or high school, came from playing sports. I’ve always struggled with normal networking, but playing sports was always an outlet that allowed me to build friendships and connections with friends and fellow athletes. Even post-grad, sports are one way I can meet people in different fields of work. I can do something I love to do and network in a comfortable environment.

Around the Table with Joanna Lohman

Welcome to Around the Table, a regular series where we talk to people in our network and share the incredible work they are doing in their industry. Pull up a chair and join us for conversation and connection. 

Name: Joanna Lohman 

Occupation: Performance Coach, Professional Speaker, Athlete 

Where to Find You: joannalohman.com, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

What are the most recent projects you’ve been involved in?  

My mental performance piece is growing significantly. I just announced that I will be the mental performance coach for the George Mason University women’s soccer team coming up in the fall. With the professional speaking piece of it, I would say those two are the ones that I’m growing into more. I would like to transition a bit more off the soccer field into more of the mindset, speaking and boardroom type of lifestyle. 

You’ve been on so many different stages, platforms and fields. What has been your favorite experience?  

I think it must be playing for the Washington Spirit, because it’s my hometown team and it was at a point in my career where I was desperate for change. My 2014 season was so hard. I was playing for a coach who was an absolute monster at the Boston Breakers. I can count on one hand the number of times he should have been fired for what he said, and I wrote about it in my book. At that point I was engaged for a second time which was falling apart, so I was at a dark place in my life. Coming back to play for the Spirit, I felt like it reinvigorated my career. I felt safe to step even more into my authenticity. That’s when I started to cut patterns into my hair and express a more masculine side of my gender. I was starting to discover how I felt beautiful, so that translated to my performance on the field. I can remember feeling so happy, and almost being terrified because of how happy I was and knowing that these emotions are fleeting. It was a time in my career where I was playing the most minutes on the field, as my authentic self, in front of people I loved – I felt incredibly fulfilled.   

You wear multiple hats and juggle so many responsibilities. How do you manage everything? 

It can be challenging. One reason I’m proud of myself is that I’ve tried to stay true to what makes me happy. I’ve been offered jobs working for different companies, but I’ve always bet on myself that I could do it. Growing up, I would tell my parents that I wanted to get paid to be me, and my parents would laugh at me and say that it was very ambitious. I’m following what sets my soul on fire, and people want to hear from me about that. It’s tough juggling it. I have a schedule book that I write everything in, and then it’s just learning when to say no, when to say yes, and how to protect my own mental health.  

Where is Joanna going to be in five years?  

I will continue to be a leadership and performance coach for athletes, individuals, and organizations. I will be working heavily with Limitless Minds, a company founded by Russell Wilson who I work with now.  Through these avenues, I will dive deeper into the mental, social, and physical development of youth athletes. I have plans to release an article in the next month with my analysis on what’s wrong with the youth sports system in America. I want to be the antidote to what I think is somewhat of a runaway train, where the kids are suffering due to a broken system.

You’ve talked about your Diversity, Equity and Inclusion work, and you’ve worked to create safe spaces and such. How did you make the transition from soccer to that work specifically?  

I came out at the age of 21 after being engaged to a man, so my coming out transition had its own challenges. I was one the first “out” professional soccer players when it was not common to speak your truth. Even so, I felt extremely natural as a queer advocate. I got daily feedback from fans about how important it was and how much representation mattered for them. I kept getting these little bits of positive reinforcement. I felt privileged to be in that position and it reinforced my own personal journey of transitioning from the straight, long-haired Jo to the more gender androgynous, mohawked lesbian that I am now. What a beautiful thing to help other people feel more comfortable in their own skin.

I think for me, authenticity is one of the most important values in my life. I often believe that if you are your authentic self then you will be your best self, and that’s what we talk about in my book “Raising Tomorrow’s Champions.” I really believe that one of my missions on this planet is to help expand the definition of what a woman can look like. When people look at me, and I get misgendered in bathrooms and locker rooms, I can calmly look them in the eye and say, “I’m a woman,” hopefully making the path a little bit smoother for whoever walks behind me. It’s important to me to break stereotypes of gender and sexual orientation, and to push boundaries imposed by society. 

What’s some of the best advice you’ve received in your career?  

“You can be so much more than what society tells you.” When I think back to my own journey, I felt so boxed in. Sexual orientation had one option and that was straight; for gender, you always lived on the binary. I was someone who was a huge tomboy, so I sat smack dab in the middle. I didn’t know being gay was an option. It took me 21, 30, 40 years of my life to truly find that authenticity because I didn’t have those options, and no one told me I could be more than what I was shown. That representation matters for kids. It helps them to understand options for identity. When you feel forced to be someone you are not, then you’re not going to thrive. 

With the instability of soccer inherent to the league’s structure, what were your biggest challenges throughout your career, and how did you overcome them?  

That’s such a great question. A couple of situations stick out to me. I tore my ACL in my 2017 season, and it was supposed to be the best season of my life. The year prior I was the second leading goal scorer and started 18 of 21 games for a team that made it to the championship game. I was also 34 years old, so when I went down with a season-ending injury, I was heartbroken, and I was afraid my whole career was over. Talk about an overnight life shift – it was a huge piece of adversity that I had to overcome.

When I look back on the injury, I say that it was one of the most beautiful things to ever happen to me. It helped me to expand my own identity because so many of us wrap our sense of self around the one thing that we do. When I tore my ACL I couldn’t play soccer, so I was forced to figure out who I was outside of the game. That led me to be a part of a documentary called “Resisterhood,” I was able to go to my first ever Pride parade, and I realized I had a great deal to contribute to the world off the field of soccer.  That period of exploration made it easier for me to walk away from the game and retire because I saw myself as a whole human, as opposed to just an athlete.

The second biggest challenge in my life is simply waking up each day and striving to be my authentic self in a world that’s trying to make me someone else. When I get misgendered, it’s hard to not mentally fall down a shame spiral. When you face a considerable amount of resistance to the way you live your life, there can be doubts. I am reminded of the quote from Aristotle: “To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing.” I want to be someone who is unafraid to face criticism because my actions will elicit resistance. I have to push boundaries and feel uncomfortable to achieve fulfillment.  

In your work addressing equal pay issues, gender adversity and everything that comes along with that, are there any specific lessons that you’ve gathered?  

It is important we do not become complacent. Meaning, we must never stop advocating and fighting for women’s rights, equality, racial, and social justice. It’s going to take generations for the culture to change and for the laws to change. If you look at it too broadly it feels overwhelming, but just do something small every day. It took the U.S. Woman’s National Team since 1985, the first iteration of the squad, to finally receive equal pay. That is 35 years of women who were willing to really sacrifice their own careers for the sake of future generations. Through their story, it is clear we are most powerful when we collectively fight and do it consistently over time.

As a positive impact coach, what is the most impactful inspirational quote or words of wisdom that resonates with you?  

I always think of a quote from Steve Prefontaine, “To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.” I truly believe that each one of us has been given some sort of gift and the world needs that gift. I hope this encourages people to embrace their authenticity and speak their truth into the world. 

When you’re not working what are some of your hobbies? 

I love to play with my dog Dewey. We love to go hiking and swimming. I also love going out to dinner and spending time with my wife. My wife and I are expecting our first child at the end of December, so life is about to change but in a really good way. My family is also incredibly supportive, and I cherish every moment I get to spend with them.

If we were literally around the table right now, then what food would you have brought to share?  

My wife is Iraqi, and I consider her to be a great cook. She inspires many of our food adventures and in her and her families honor, I’d bring an Iraqi dish called maqluba. It literally translates to “upside down.” You cook a huge pot of rice, chicken, eggplant, and peppers, and then once it’s finished, you artfully flip it upside down (it can be tricky!). If done well, it’s a beautiful mound of slow cooked delicious ingredients and spices. YUM!

Remote By Design: Avid Core Invests in People Over Place

As a college student who was in his freshman year at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, I’m well acquainted with the practice of being forced online due to circumstances outside your control. But how many companies choose virtual work without any external factors?  

Avid Core is a remote-by-design company. While many were forced to pivot to virtual meetings and home offices at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Avid Core was already prepared.  

I talked to Virginia Quiambao Arroyo and Amanda Roberts, Avid Core’s co-founders, about this prescient decision and how they feel it is working nearly three years in. They said they had always planned to be virtual as they anticipated a lot of travel for client work.  

“If we’re going to be out of the office weeks out of the month, it doesn’t make sense to make that investment,” Roberts said. “We looked at potentially getting some short-term space, but then the pandemic happened, and we decided to continue being entirely virtual.”  

They have no plans to change their current strategy, as it has allowed them to get the best talent, while not being constrained by geography.  

“We’ve had full time [team] members and interns in other states, even across the coast in California, so it gives us a mix of options,” Roberts said. “We don’t have to buy office infrastructure, and we can instead invest in our people and ensure we always have a safety net, while overall building a sustainable business.”  

The boom of working from home, and consequently often a much more flexible schedule has been a cause for rejoice among those who dislike traditional office schedules. Research has shown that people who are hard-wired to sleep later are forced to battle their body and wake up early when forced to adhere to traditional 9-to-5 work schedules. This can make it difficult to reach full productivity in day-to-day work.   

An Italian study focused on office workers during the second wave of COVID-19 concluded that participants working remotely had gained the ability to properly align their work and sleep schedules. In addition, they found that those who considered themselves “night owls” were able to sleep longer and deeper, and even saw decreased symptoms of insomnia and depression.  

Avid Core’s policy of asynchronous work allows all team members to figure out what time they need to be online in order to attend meetings while making it work with their preferred schedules.  

For Stephanie Mace, Avid Core’s Vice President of Digital Services, working from home has allowed her “to be a better mother and learn more about the public education system,” as she’s found herself able to be more engaged as a parent and as a colleague. 

“It brings me so much joy to be able to volunteer to bring fun STEAM [Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math] activities to my children’s classrooms,” she said. “Seeing my daughters’ faces light up and interacting with their classmates is something I treasure.” 

As a business, remote-by-design has allowed Avid Core to work with clients across the continental U.S., simultaneously working on projects in L.A. County, California, Harrisonburg, Virginia, and Boise, Idaho. Not only that, Mace said it’s allowed her to reach more potential workplace partners while deepening their meaningful conversations.

“Pre-pandemic it was expected to meet people for coffee or in offices, which required more costs and time to get to/from those meetings,” she said. “In our field, virtual meetings allow us to share screens, use different engagement tools to gather feedback, and overall deliver final products more effectively.” 

Working virtually as an Avid Core intern has given me an immense amount of flexibility for where and when to work. Though I most often work at my desk in my apartment, I often take advantage of the asynchronous nature of Avid Core and bring my laptop to the park, to a café, or even just out onto my balcony.  

As Amanda Roberts said, “without an office space, we’re forced out of the box.” For Avid Core, that approach has been nothing but successful.  

Brennan Fiske is a senior at The George Washington University and the Summer 2022 Strategic Communications Intern at Avid Core. You can find him on LinkedIn.  

Around the Table with LaTrina Antoine

Welcome to Around the Table, a regular series where we talk to people in our network and share the incredible work they are doing in their industry. Pull up a chair and join us for conversation and connection.

Name: LaTrina Antoine

Occupation: Editor in Chief at DC and Baltimore Witness

Where to Find You: LinkedIn

What inspired you to work in court and criminal justice reporting?

My first career ambition was actually to become a lawyer, so I’ve always been fascinated with the criminal justice system. I’ve also sadly been the daughter of a person killed in a shooting, so I know the hurt, pain and confusion that surrounds the system for a victim’s family.

Ever since I can remember, I’ve wanted to be able to know the facts about violent crime cases, especially since I felt I was never really given all the facts in my father’s case. American Witness, the parent company of Baltimore Witness and D.C. Witness, enables me to make sure other families get the facts. It won’t stop the pain, but at least the facts can answer some questions. 

What is your favorite part of being Editor-in-Chief of Baltimore Witness and DC Witness?

My favorite part is being able to manage operations, so that American Witness can keep looking to the future, building, producing more valuable content, expanding and providing exceptional experiences for students.

What is the most interesting or impactful news story you’ve written or worked on during your career?

Well, I’ve worked on a lot of news stories during my career, and they’ve all been impactful in their own specific ways. I don’t really have one that sticks out because I always give my very best to the stories I write or edit. I like to make sure that considerable thought and consideration is given to each piece because I can’t even fathom how my words or the words in a particular piece will impact the person reading it. Sometimes I’ve been shocked at how some stories are received, and I think that’s because I put so much into getting the full story that I don’t see the full impact the story could have until after it’s published.

How has your experience as a professor contributed to your journalistic work? Is the role of a professor something you’d like to pursue further in the future? 

Being a teacher has impacted my leadership skills in journalism. As a teacher, I’ve learned patience but also understanding in the different ways students learn. Teaching has helped me understand how students and young adults write and think about the world. Teaching has also let me understand that the way I perceive things isn’t how everyone perceives them. 

Teaching has also shown me how to be a better manager. As editor-in-chief, I can really see how some of the same tools I’ve developed as a professor have helped me reach new and seasoned writers.

For example, I used to love class discussions when I was a student, but I’ve learned that not all students or writers learn through open discussions. Some need to try the assignment and learn from the mistakes. Being a teacher has shown me how to effectively guide writers, both beginners and advanced professionals, not only in improving their final piece(s), but also improving the system they go about to create those final piece(s).

I like helping to guide people to reach their full potential, so yes, I would like to pursue professor roles in the future.

What is the best advice you’ve received during your career? 

Question everything.

Is there a new venture or opportunity on the horizon for Baltimore and DC Witness that you’d like to share? 

American Witness is always working on better ways to reach the community.

There is a new venture that we are creating to notify victims or family members of both the victims and suspects of when court proceedings occur. Throughout our coverage, we have seen that many family members and victims are essentially shut out of the process. We would like to help keep them informed about what is happening through a notification system. 

If we were literally “around the table” right now, what food would you have brought to share?

Gumbo. Being a New Orleans native, I love savory food that keeps you full and it tastes good. Let’s not forget to mention, I love cooking with spices. No better way to give your mouth a party than with gumbo. 

Accessibility on Screen: How to Make Your Webinar More Accessible

Welcome to our series of posts about accessibility in communications.  Accessibility is the practice of making information, activities, and/or environments sensible, meaningful, and usable for as many people as possible. This is super-important because persons within your audience all have different needs. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 15 percent of people around the world—that’s over 1 billion—live with a disability. Imagine how many people would never get your message if you didn’t make accessibility a priority! 

Accessibility compliance is essential for organizations required to abide by Section 508 and related policies. More importantly, actively pursuing compliance is part of social responsibility and best communications practices. At Avid Core, we are committed to providing equal access and opportunity to people of all abilities and helping our clients and colleagues do the same. 

When I was 23, I landed a part-time graphic design job covering for a nice lady—let’s call her Carrie—who was out on long-term disability. I would put on my professional outfit my mom bought me, grab $7 for lunch, and then sit in traffic for an hour and a half. When I got to the office, I was welcomed by my mostly private cubicle and a Mac with the smallest monitor on the planet. 

No joke, it was a 9” display and the color balance was way off. I’d had a 15” iMac for about 4 years at this point. (Thanks again, mom!) 

At the left, an old computer with a 9 inch display is displaying the word hello on its screen. To the right, an old iMac in green is facing to the side.

During my jaunt with this diminutive machine, I could barely see the desktop icons. I made it work, but hinted many, many times to my new boss that we may want to upgrade before the Mac’s memory blew up, taking one of my cubicle walls with it. 

After being on the job for a few weeks, I was a fascinated to hear that Carrie’s disability issue was vision related. How long had she been staring into this small screen? Years. She had long-standing vision issues yet continued to work on this machine without any visual aids. At this point the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) had been around for a while and our boss would have happily purchased visual aids. 

I wonder about Carrie and how long she’d play around with the interface settings before calling it a day. I wonder how long I would have stayed at that job if they hadn’t upgraded my computer. I also think about Carrie as I’m creating or remediating content. 

What are people with visual impairments gathering from your communications? Can Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing people understand the conversation in your meeting or webinar? What are people looking at smaller screens able to see in your work?  How can people of varying abilities and technologies be expected to learn from the same format? 

At Avid Core, we ask ourselves these questions all the time, most recently while creating a webinar series for the public. What does this look, sound, read, and infer like from the user side? With today being the 32nd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, we’re reminded just how timely and impactful the answers to these questions are.  

It’s difficult enough to pay attention to a webinar that’s too long, inapplicable to you, or heavy-handed on the enthusiasm to mask a lack of information… and vice versa. Imagine that on top of this you can’t understand what your screen reader is saying because of an accessibility issue. Maybe the content isn’t in order; it’s not in your native language, so you can’t quite understand all the terms or phrasing; or there’s an ASL interpreter, but you only understand Signed English and there’s no Closed Captioning. Not only would you bail, but you’d be frustrated you weren’t given the option to stay or go based on the content’s value.

Webinars are tough already. The content needs to be engaging and valuable, but not too long, too dry, or too fluffy. The speakers need to be engaging, good on camera, personable, and prepared. Your registration form needs to be in place. Creative needs to be consistent; confirmation pages should be optimized and ready for social sharing; and God help you if you forgot to add a calendar tool. Add marketing strategy and messaging; polling, Q&A, chat, other group collaboration tools; and recording and on-demand options; and budget. You’ve got a lot to chew on for just one virtual event! 

While accessibility is multifaceted and requires research, time, and often funding, integration becomes much easier when you make a point of thinking about it during the planning phase. Here are a few things to start with: 

Users’ Points of View 

Do your best to create and update a list of perspectives. For example: 

  • Visual impairments can make it difficult to see slides, read screen shares, and collaborate. 
  • Hearing loss and speech impairments can make it difficult to collaborate, follow the conversation, or identify transitions. 
  • Physical impairments can make it difficult to type, click, or collaborate. 
  • Learning disabilities and language differences make subject changes and vague instructions more difficult. 
  • Your solutions to these could eventually become your impairment-to-best-practice checklist. 

The Tech  

Most major video conference technologies have built-in accessibility tools. Be sure you understand what can be done on the platform you’re using, so you’ll know where to fill in the gaps. (There’s a good list of virtual platform accessibly on the American Bar Association website along with a best practice list for running the webinar that includes many more tips than I list here.) Remember that if you’re paying to use a service, a representative should be at the ready to answer questions and assist you. 

Your Slides 

Before you create your beautiful, informative slides, browse these tips to make your show more visually accessible. 

  • The ratio of your slide deck should allow for the largest view in your chosen platform. Bigger is better for most people with visual impairments—and everyone else! 
  • Add alt-text to all images. This takes some time, but your efforts make a difference, so think about how you’d describe it if you were talking to someone else. 
  • Check and fix the reading order. In PowerPoint, this is called “Selection Pane” and the list automatically goes bottom to top for some reason. Thanks Microsoft! 
  • Use high contrast always and be careful with using palettes that can be confusing for people with color blindness. If you need help with this, check out Avid Core’s Accessibility in Color blog. 
  • Don’t rely on color to distinguish key elements. We see color differently and some of us see no color at all. 
  • Ideally, text shouldn’t be smaller than 18pt. If you need it to be smaller, consider the possibility that you’re using too much text.  
  • Slides should never have the same title—this makes bookmarks confusing. 
  • Tables are tricky and, I hate to say this, making them beautiful usually means they’ll be more difficult for screen readers. Keep them simple. 
  • Smart Art can get complicated for screen readers. You may want to ungroup it or save as a flat graphic and insert some brilliant alt-text.  
  • If possible, send the slides to participants ahead of time so they can have the opportunity to review the content at their own pace. This also gives them the opportunity to reach out with questions or accommodation requests. 

I know even this short article seems like a lot. Be encouraged that we all are continually learning. The good news for accessibility in webinars is that collective resources are always expanding and technologies are getting better. There are several links in this article that lead to more resources and head over to World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI)’s “How to Make Your Presentations Accessible to All” page for an all-encompassing list. 

More importantly, be encouraged by thinking of the Carries in your life and how included they’ll feel. It’s the right thing to do and it’ll pay off by boosting your reputation and ensuring the whole audience is understanding the message. So it’s a win-win!  

Accessibility becomes ingrained as you grow more aware and practiced. And for those of you in need of accessibility tools, know that we can do better than a 9” display. 

Thank You for Voting Avid Core as the 2022 Best Government Contractor in Prince William 

With over 150,000 votes cast this year, we at Avid Core are beyond proud to have been selected, for the second year in a row, as the 2022 Best Government Contractor in Prince William. Receiving any award of this caliber would feel incredible, but to once again be appreciated by the county I have called home for 40 years truly means so much to me.  

I would like to thank our clients, partners, friends, family, and staff for all you do. Your support is what makes our work possible every day, and it means a lot not only to me, but the entire Avid Core team. We were able to leverage the trust you placed in us last year to expand our stellar reputation with our clients and work on new projects focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion.  

We proudly support a diverse array of clients, including local Virginia government agencies like PlanRVA, Harrisonburg Rockingham Metropolitan Planning Organization (HRMPO), and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. We’re helping local Virginia communities plan what their transportation systems will look like in 2045. We’re developing DEI plans that will change the way the local governments connect with staff and residents. And we’ve grown our capabilities to include strategic planning, transportation planning, graphic design, website development, and so much more. 

Northern Virginia continues to be an incredible region for business, fostering new opportunities for small businesses and innovating public service. Despite the impacts felt throughout the pandemic, Avid Core was successfully able to reach our small business goals and recruit local talent to help us grow. We were certified by the Commonwealth of Virginia as a Small, Woman- and Minority-owned Business (SWaM) and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) in 2021 (and received our DBE certification in Maryland in 2022). We are also now certified as an 8(a) business by the Small Business Administration. These certifications allow us to make an impact on a local and federal level. 

The Avid Core team strives to live up to our title of Best Government Contractor every day. We hope to further deepen our connections and contributions in the Prince William community as we build on our ongoing commitment to transparency, equity, and inclusion.

Avid Fans of: Summer Blockbusters

Avid (adjective) – having or showing a keen interest in or enthusiasm for something. It’s more than just our company’s namesake. Passion for our work and for the things we love is part of our core values. In this recurring series, we’ll share some of the things we’re Avid Fans of with you. 

The sight of fireworks marks the time for the next big summer blockbuster movie. Groups of families and friends alike rush into the theater to escape the heat and experience the events of the season, from Jaws to Finding Nemo to the classic Independence Day. This month we wanted to share our team’s absolute favorite summer flicks from throughout the years. Grab your popcorn, find your seat, don your 3D glasses, and enjoy the show!  

Stephanie – Top Gun: Maverick 

Beach volleyball. A race between a motorcycle and fighter jet on the tarmac. Buzzing the control tower. Learning the importance of a wing man/woman. Those are a few reasons why Top Gun remains one of the most iconic (and played) movies in my archive. Independence Day seemed like a fitting day to see Top Gun: Maverick to catch up with Maverick, Iceman, and meet the new generation of pilots. While the filmmaker revives some of my favorite scenes, there are a few updated mantras, such as “Don’t think. Just do,” to help justify the need to break the rules. There were a few moments when I had to squeeze my husband’s hand, which was proof that I would never make it as a Top Gun pilot. After this rollercoaster of emotions, I left the theater thinking Top Gun pilots have one of the most challenging jobs in the world and a strong desire to watch both movies over and over again.  

Tom Cruise stands with his back to the camera. Assorted United States military patches are on the back of his jacket. He watches a plane fly off in the distance. The words Tom Cruise and Top Gun Maverick are on the screen.

Susan – Everything Everywhere All at Once 

“Swirl of genre anarchy” is the best way critics have described this movie. A film that focuses on the symbolism of despair, family, and existentialism. The three-part film takes the audience through a rollercoaster of emotions while Evelyn (main character) figures out if she wants to verse-jump to save all universes in existence or to remain unhappy with her life working at the laundry-mat [potentially destroying the universe]. The verse-jumping was cinematic- from the screen-splitting effect to the use of orchestrated music getting louder as Evelyn struggles to keep her sanity and lightness. The second part- ‘Everything’ was my favorite part; it had the most absurd but beautifully done scenes. Finding out the true cause of the main antagonist’s despair was very emotional. I left the theater with my breath taken and knowing that this is a film that deserves to be recognized as the best movie ever. 

The title in text is at the center. The main and other characters all stand in a circle around the center, with various psychedelic imagery around them.

Ashley – Mamma Mia! (and Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again) 

 While a far cry from the action films that typically dominate the box office in summer, my absolute favorite summer (and year-round) movie is Mamma Mia! This movie is pure joy! The first film came out the summer I graduated high school and my whole family went to see it together. My dad claims he only went to see Pierce Brosnan (his favorite James Bond), but I know it is because he is just as big of an ABBA fan as the rest of us. Following that summer, I have watched this film every time I need a pick-me-up and have chased it to drive-in movies and sing-alongs around the country. When its incredible sequel, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, was released I wasn’t sure if they could capture the magic, but somehow it was even better than the first! The whole cast is perfection, and the addition of Cher was just icing on the cake. Now to listen to the cast soundtrack all day… 

The main character stands in the center of an arch, with three middle aged men behind her. A man sits on the right side looking at them, and a woman stands all the way to the left against the wall.

Brennan – Ratatouille 

Bonjour! One of my favorite animated movies, Ratatouille creates an immersion in cooking and food that I have yet to see any other movie match. Though I did not watch it in the original summer when it first hit the box office, I consider Ratatouille one of my favorite summer blockbusters because of the fun, fresh and hopefully energy it brings to the table. Each character manages to be sympathetic in their own way, and its happy ending will leave anyone smiling as they walk away from the theatre, or out of their living room. As the days get hotter, my interest in being in the kitchen wanes slightly, but Ratatouille always brings back that passion. Time to go make some gourmet lunch!  

Remy, the main character and a rat, is pinned against the wall with various knives that were thrown at him. The tag line, He's dying to become a chef is written above him. He's holding a piece of cheese in his hands.

Amanda – Jurassic Park  

As a mother of two children under the age of five, I consider myself somewhat of a dinosaur expert. So it’s no surprise when I think of summer blockbuster, this is what first comes to mind. From the amazing soundtrack and graphics to the star-studded cast and unforgettable one-liners (Life finds a way), this movie has it all.  

A Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton's shadow is positioned right over the words: Jurassic Park. Below reads, An Adventure 65 Million Years in The Making.

Sarah – Bob’s Burgers 

I’m really, really bad at movies. I’m that relative or neighbor who nods vacantly at you as you go on about your favorite comic-based franchise, romance, or, worst of all, Oscar winner. Yes, I say, I’ll follow up on that recommendation. I’m not exactly lying, but the odds are slim. While it may be about my attention span, I also don’t look to movies for catharsis. I like to wedge in where I’m already comfortable. Thus, my answer is a 12-season TV-show- turned-movie, which means it’s the same characters, scenery, and vibe, just longer. I may have talked you out of thinking I’m a credible source (if you ever thought that), but the Bob’s Burgers Movie is a fun, flavorful extension of this endearing, silly TV show. If you haven’t seen Bob’s Burger’s, get on Hulu right now and start with Season 1 Episode 2. After you get through all 12 seasons, you may reward yourself with this beachside murder mystery musical that stars not only the lovable and strange Belcher family, but the voice talents of Zach Galifianakis, Jordan Peele, Paul Rudd, Sarah Silverman, Nicole Byer—and dozens more funny people—and national treasure, Kevin Kline. Available now, also on Hulu. 

Characters from the movie all stand in a circle around the title, The Bob's Burgers Movie, and a large circular burger. The main character, Bob, stands at the top of the poster.

 

Tremayne – SIGNS  

Summer is my favorite time of year! No school, no homework, and no worries. The critical decision as a kid was deciding what to watch, and the biggest concern was who had the snacks. I loved spending my summers watching thriller movies with my cousins. Of course, we would watch them together during the day because we were too scared to manage the big jump scares alone. My favorite summer thriller was SIGNS with Mel Gibson. I think anything is scarier when tall aliens can jump from the roof and away in a split second. 

Earth is shown as a view from above its atmosphere. On it are massive mysterious symbols. The tagline, It's not like they didn't warn us, is read right above the earth against the sky.

2022 Accountability Report: Avid Core’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

At Avid Core, we acknowledge that we have much work to do across all parts of our business in the pursuit of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). As we look to the future and the uncertainties across the political, legal, and social landscapes, we’re committed to the lifelong process of reflecting, learning, and taking action.

We will continue to integrate new (to us) lenses of understanding the world and the needs of the people and communities we serve, alongside actionable shifts in how we operate and grow our firm. 

To be held accountable to this important and ongoing work, we publish an annual update here on our blog. Here are some ways we’ve upheld our promises from last year, expanded our services, and areas that still need to be addressed:

Implementing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Our Work and Our Workplace

We have made a conscious effort to integrate DEI in our work both externally and internally.

Over the past year, we’ve recalibrating our growth strategy to fit our values and commitment to inclusive communications, which included bidding on proposals that prioritize outreach and communications support for specific DEI initiatives at the federal and local levels. We partnered with K.L. Scott and Associates to develop and evaluate the first DEI communications plans for local government agencies in Frederick County, Maryland and Boise, Idaho. We are also currently working with partners at Cogstone Resource Management and Kearns & West to engage with Tribal collaborators with ancestral ties to the land currently known as the County of Los Angeles to guide the development of a formal land acknowledgment and toolkit, land access policy, and correction of the historical record to be used by the County. Our approach to all these projects centers the voices of historically marginalized populations.

Closer to home, we worked with PlanRVA to update their Title VI plan, taking it beyond compliance and ensuring it aligned with larger commitments to DEI. Based on series of interviews for community members, we developed the agency’s first Inclusive Purchasing Program, Inclusive Recruitment Program, and Equitable Public Meeting Playbook. All products were tailored specifically to the demographic make-up of the Richmond Region and their unique needs. 

In our client work, we ensure materials are translated into multiple languages, are 508 compliant, and information is accessible to those where the internet and technology are not available or commonplace. On our blog, we’ve also launched a new accessibility in communications post series. Quarterly, our in-house experts share helpful tips and stories that highlight the importance of integrating accessibility best practices.  Over the next year, we’ll continue to seek out opportunities to put these commitments into practice and welcome additional ideas from our clients and partners for ways we can expand this effort.

In our workplace, we continue to include all full-time staff members in management and operations discussions, providing full transparency into our decision-making processes. This includes discussions about salaries, healthcare decisions, and the organization’s financial health, among other critical components that impact management decisions. 

We encourage team members at every level to discuss complex topics and actively listen to each other’s perspectives on regular basis, which has created a safe place for people to learn and grow. We plan to host more listening sessions on topics our staffers are passionate about to see if there are ways we can provide support as a company.

We’ve developed and provided training on inclusive language and provided tools for checking bias and accessibility, as well as culturally competent style guides. While we have required staff to take an off-the-shelf training on unconscious bias, we have not provided new unconscious bias training for leadership and staff and are committed to prioritizing this training in the next year.

Evaluating Our Hiring, Pay, and Purchasing Practices

Over the past year, we’ve had openings for two full-time positions and three internship postings. We took a closer look at our job descriptions and rewrote them to be clear and more representative of our company culture. We continue to include a salary range for all new positions and have expanded the reach of our postings to a variety of recruitment sites to reach a more diverse talent pool. We also offer accommodations in the hiring process if requested.

We raised our minimum wage for all employees, contractors, and interns to $18 per hour (up from $15 per hour) and remain committed to evaluating what salaries and benefits are competitive to attract and retain talent.

We are committed to continuing to improve our hiring processes, eliminating bias to the greatest extent possible. We are also exploring ways we can improve transparency throughout the process for candidates because we want to respect the time, energy, and effort that goes into applying for a job. We plan to hire a certified DEI consultant to develop a recruitment and hiring strategy and plan with a focus on diversity and inclusion by the end of 2022.

We’re consciously making purchasing decisions to support small, minority-owned businesses and will continue this commitment for the years to come. This includes researching new vendors for printing to replace the large chain we relied on, requesting DEI policy information from potential IT vendors, and renting meeting spaces from local black-owned businesses.

Supporting Our Team

While there are improvements to be made in work-life balance across all levels of our staff, we are evaluating flexible and non-traditional work arrangements that are results-based to encourage more balance and emphasize our commitment to our employees as people first.  

We’re currently exploring ways to support each full-time staff’s unique reproductive, family, and healthcare needs, such as covering certain expenses and/or additional time off. We continue to pledge to support each other and prioritize the well-being and mental health of our employees and continue to welcome suggestions for teambuilding ideas that also relieve stress. 

Supporting Our Community

We promised to provide a charitable fund for employees to draw from to support the causes and organizations they care about deeply. Over the past year we’ve contributed to the following causes but need to improve the frequency of our contributions in the next year:

In addition to monetary funds, we also provided pro-bono services to TRUE Center, a new nonprofit offering trauma-based intervention and prevention services for children and families regardless of the ability to pay. 

As communicators, we understand the importance of information sharing. We are actively participating in conferences, webinars, and other forums to continue to learn about our community’s needs and share DEI best practices we’ve gathered throughout our own journey.

At Avid Core, we help clients build public involvement programs that allow their stakeholders the opportunity to provide feedback and weigh in on projects and programs that impact them and their communities. While we have made some progress, we recognize that there is still more to be done. We welcome feedback from our partners on how we can improve our commitments to racial and social justice.

If you or your organization is interested in providing feedback on our efforts, please contact Virginia Quiambao Arroyo or Amanda Roberts.  

Around the Table with Karl Crudup

Welcome to Around the Table, a regular series where we talk to people in our network and share the incredible work they are doing in their industry. Pull up a chair and join us for conversation and connection.

Name: Karl Crudup

Company: Sacramento Kings (Director of Event Sales and Production)

Where to Find You: LinkedIn

What drew you to the world of events and entertainment?

Gosh! It all started in college in a communications program at Old Dominion University (ODU). During my time at ODU, it was helpful for me to be a part of student activities; student council, WODU radio station, chair for homecoming, all those things combined really helped me figure out that I want to live, be, and work in the space of events and experiences. Even as a child, I was more interested in how they were produced, the behind the scenes, and people’s reactions to moments. That’s what drew me to now, my career and all the steps I’ve taken… My college experience really set me up well to be interested and get basic knowledge.

What do you think is the biggest challenge the events industry is facing today?

Time is a challenge in terms of meeting the world where it is now. We’ve been able to survive and thrive in some areas during this time. It has been a challenge to figure out what’s on the opposite end of COVID and returning to in-person events and experiences. How does that shape how we are connecting to our fans, members, and partners? What are we doing to set us up for success, as far as engagement on the other side of COVID and coming into this next season? If you’re in events, supply chain issues are also a concern. Things like paper, cardboard, and helium, all those things affect us too and can be challenging for us. We don’t have big planning windows, so we’re always trying to pivot and anticipate future needs as much as possible.

What’s the best advice you’ve received in your career?

The best advice I’ve received is, “If I’m not continuing to learn and grow, and be challenged in a role, it’s time to move to something different.” That’s been my guiding light for trying to figure out how do I move on and especially when do I move onto something different. In my career I haven’t had a traditional path. But every experience along my path has really guided me and I’ve taken the experiences from every one of my roles and applied it to get where I am today. Knowing when to take a leap and move on to different challenges has worked out well for me.

You want to stay challenged in a role. I want to know, “Am I providing guidance and support for my team in a way that allows them to grow?” I look at [that advice] in a lot of different ways. I am doing it for myself, but I am continuing to be someone my team can lean on to give them resources to grow their careers too.

What is some advice you would give to younger people who want to go into this career field?

Be patient and willing to learn all facets of the industry. Most of the time the only way to do that is to gain experience. I often think that some people like to skip over crucial experiences. My path in events and entertainment, especially in sports, has been a building block of experience. I’ve had some work experience that wasn’t so great—a job or industry that I didn’t see myself in. But what I took from those experiences set me up for getting where I am today. It’s simple things like, “Hey I don’t enjoy this role, but I want to master managing people and relationships,” and that can apply to anything. So earlier in my career, I focused on those types of experiences because those would help me grow and challenge me in a way. I didn’t see the big picture at that time, but I knew what I wanted to get out of those experiences.

What motivated you to become an advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community?

Working in sports especially, I haven’t always felt seen or included…I didn’t see a lot of people that looked like me and that’s intimidating in any industry. I was excited to be there, but I couldn’t see myself emulated in the leadership that was around me, so it was difficult for me to navigate. My work with the Kings Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) council, being an advocate, and working in the LGBTQAI+ employee resource group has meant the world to me.

It’s a top-down effort and it allowed me to thrive in ways I haven’t been able to in the past.  For me and others in the organization, that means a lot. Whenever I can I advocate for DEI in the workplace environment because I know what it means for me, and I know how much visibility matters. I appreciate the NBA league and our team’s initiatives, that’s what inspired me. It’s a priority for me and now for all these work sets I’m a part of. It’s a direct reflection of Sacramento and the community we serve. That’s what drives me for our journey working toward a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive society.

My work here with the team and DEI council has led me to be more active in my own community. I was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Sacramento LGBT center, a non-profit that supports the health and wellness of the most marginalized, advocates for equality and justice, and works to build a culturally rich LGBTQ+ community.

When you are not working, what do you like to do?

I love to travel. I’m a beach bum so if there’s a beach involved, I’m all over it. I’m a foodie. I love health and wellness. Now that I’m in California, I’ve embraced the outdoors and hiking. I consider myself a novice hiker, but I really enjoy the outdoors being able to disconnect and embrace nature. That’s what I gravitate to when I get some downtime. And my dog! I have a 15-year-old miniature pinscher who’s my world.

If we were literally “around the table” right now, what food would you have brought to share?

I may have brought smoothies. Also, açai bowls! On campus we have Jamba Juice, and they make some really good bowls. So, I would’ve brought that.