July 2015


www.hamptonroadsmessenger.com


Local Full-Service Information Technology Company Bridges Divide on the Telecom Front


The Hampton Roads Messenger 3


A Little Dedication Goes a Long Way


High School Graduate Eddie Johnson-Clayton looks towards the future


Patrick Kelly, founder and president of CMIT Solutions of Virginia Beach Metro re- ceives a check from the Hampton Roads Messenger for winning a pitch contest to help with startup costs for his business in 2012.


SUBMITTED BY ROSIE GILLAM


Solutions of Virginia Beach Metro, a


leading


VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – CMIT information


technology


solutions and services company for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), announces the acquisition of Link Voice & Data, a 24-year Portsmouth-based


telecommuni-


cations equipment and services provider, to offer greater support to the SMB community in an era of rapid technological advancements. The move was initiated in response to increasing demand by Link Voice & Data’s phone systems and services customers for the integration of modern information technology


offerings, said Patrick


Kelly, founder and president of CMIT Solutions of Virginia Beach Metro. Before starting his own IT company in 2012, Kelly served for more than 23 years in the United States Air Force, where, as a cyber-communications officer, he led superior teams in the management of communication and information technology systems and weapon systems to ensure reliability and security of extremely sensitive data.


technological small


In an age of fast-paced advancement,


many and medium-sized technology that business


owners “don’t know what they don’t know” about managing and monitoring


systems.


Moreover, many SMBs don’t have the resources to set-up the technological infrastructure


would enable FROM PAGE 1


hands-on experiences across music, film, fashion, and sports. SBA’s initiative


and education millennial


generation improve their


entrepreneurial skills and pave the way to encourage the next wave of entrepreneurs and innovators. BizMyWay.com


will serve as


multi-media, socially enabled, digital content platform that will allow users to follow the day-to-day journey of Mike Muse and the initiative.


“I am honored to serve as SBA’s My Brother’s Keeper Millennial


greater productivity. Business owners need support choosing solutions that are safe, secure, compliant, efficient, and cost-effective.


intelligence


Divides between machines and have


been closing for


years, and there’s hardly a modern tele- communications device that isn’t or couldn’t be integrated with the flow of information that’s so vital to everyday operations in many businesses. But with rapid advancements in the realm of possibilities come increased risks for data


loss, security breaches,


hacker attacks and other threats and liabilities. CMIT Solutions works with small- and medium-sized businesses to mitigate and prevent these threats with the continuous, monitoring and management of software, equipment, and systems.


“As a local company with


the support of a national network behind us, we work with companies throughout


the expanded region to


provide strategic advice, technology expertise, and the kind of insight and partnership you can only get from a trusted advisor,” Kelly said. “We help them run better by understanding and acting upon their individual business and


acquisition allows us to meet all their telephone


technology needs


as well, rounding


out CMIT Solutions’ broad-scope IT services and management model,” he explained. “Essentially, if it beeps and blinks in your office, we now can take care of it.”


Entrepreneur Champion


will focus on outreach to help America’s


Entrepreneur said Muse.


honor gives


“This incredible me


Champion,” an


opportunity to connect with black and brown boys and young men around the country on entrepre- neurship through the lens of lifestyle. Through this exposure, they will see themselves


in careers realize were possible. needs, and this


BY JASMINE BLACKWELL


Eddie Johnson-Clayton is a 6-foot-6, 2015 Deep Creek High School Honor Graduate who is nothing short of extraordinary.


No, his height is not the only


thing that is phenomenal about this honor graduate.


There is a slight distinction


between Eddie and the typical recent high school graduate.


Johnson-Clayton’s accolades


include Conference 17 Basketball First Team All-Conference, 2015 Golfer of the Year, 2014 Most Improved Musician,


Recognition Award and just


the Senior Achievement he


finished participating in the VHSCA 2015 All-Star Game, but according to him, education has and always will be his greatest accomplishment.


“Graduating high school


with honors was the most special [accomplishment] and I want to graduate college the same way. My education has always been really big to me and I take that seriously,” John- son-Clayton said with a sense of pride in his voice.


Eddie will attend Fork Union


Military Academy this fall on a basketball scholarship.


His intended major is Business Administration. Johnson-Clayton would like


to use a future business degree to continue tradition by taking over the family


owned restaurant, Eddie’s


Chesapeake Bay Crab House and More, Inc.


“I am very excited to go to Fork


they didn’t Letting them


know, through practicality, there’s a path through entrepreneurship and that there is no failure of the imagination.”


Last month, Contreras-Sweet and Muse brought millennials


together


in New York City during National Small Business Week for a town hall conversation focused around entrepre- neurship.


Advertise.


Call the Hampton Roads Messenger at 757-575-1863


Union Military Academy, and then transfer to a four year university,” said Eddie, who would like to prepare his mind and body before jumping into a much more intense level of basketball. “I want to build up my body to continue to play basketball at a higher level.”


As a 17-year-old with very


lengthy arms, weighing roughly 200 pounds, and height to match, Johnson-


Clayton is growing into the perfect athletic


basketball. enough time


There is certainly more than for Johnson-Clayton


to grow into the mature, basketball phenom that he hopes to become.


With not much time to spare, as a two-sport athlete,


Eddie equally


distributed the little time that he had left as a member of the Distributive Education Clubs of America, Future Business Leaders of America, and the Orchestra. He also serves as the youth worship leader and usher at Olive Grove Baptist Church.


Time management is something


that kept Johnson-Clayton on track and allowed him to reach all of the goals that he set for himself. He credits his mother for serving as a perfect role model, who always reminded him to be active, rather than reactive.


Clayton [is my biggest


“My mother, Sharon Johnson- inspiration]


because she is so strong willed and raised me to be strong willed. She is great with time management.


She


runs a business and still makes time for me,” Johnson-Clayton said with admiration.


While he has certainly acquired a number of memorable moments on and off the court and in the classroom, there was one moment in particular that spoke to just how resilient and dedicated Johnson-Clayton truly is.


High School’s golf team his Senior Year.


Eddie was cut from Grassfield Rather


than giving up, he


decided to push through and try again at Deep Creek High School the same year. He went on to become the 2015 Conference 17 Golfer of the Year at Deep Creek High School.


“Winning the Golf Conference


Player of the Year was my most memorable moment,” said Johnson- Clayton.


It is this resilience and positive


attitude that shows just how bright Eddie Johnson-Clayton’s future will be, as he continues on a promising academic and athletic journey.


Get a jump on your competition...


build to play high-level


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16