Our Team...

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Our STAFF:

Talent and dedication is the only way to describe the various staff that serve as instructors, case managers, directors, advisors, receptionist, office management, technicians, grant writers, and janitorial people that show up to serve in many ways in the mission to close the digital divide through training, ownership, repair, testing, and internet access.   With a headquarters since 2000 based in Lansing, Michigan, along with a satellite office in Detroit, Michigan and soon to be a satellite office Texas, California and Georgia, the CTDG staff, officers and board is composed of dedicated individuals and volunteers with and without computer technology skills, but one common mission:   Ensuring Computer Training, Computer Ownership, and Internet Access For ALL.   Charting the day to day course is our current Acting Executive Director is Terrion Maxwell and Instructor Coordinator Sharon Courtland, along with CTDG Officers and Board Members. All team members become Digital Navigators and are offered Community Tech Specialist training as an option, along with Telehealth training in order to upgrade their skills if they wish from being a Digital Navigator in order to serve  our clients and small nonprofits in our service areas around Michigan and in Texas.

Some outstanding staff: Selena R.,  Julia T., Paula M., Shanna H., Paula A., Terrion M., Julie M., Patricia M., Barbara C., Darryl J., Reshad A., Eldon L., Debra R., Joy, Jeffrey C., Issaih M., John M., Ron M., Salina C, Barry W., TJ M., Frank P., Ronald M., Zavier W.,  Jessica w., and Sharon C. regularly contribute to the daily happenings and support provided in-house, in-field, virtually online, and to the community.

Our BOARD & OFFICERS:

CTDG’s Board Members and Officers reflects a variety of industry experiences and entrepreneurial minded residents in terms of types of fundraising, non profit management, marketing/media relations, grant writing, program development/instruction, ethnicity, and income levels.

CURRENT & PAST CLOSING THE DIGITAL GAP (CTDG) BOARD MEMBERS & OFFICERS:

CTDG Ex Officios 2014/2015:   John Castillo (past Civil Rights Director State of Michigan and former LAHBA President)–served as the former CTDG Vice Board Chair 2007 to 2014 & former CTDG Acting Board Chair 2015; Eric Schoen (past ACD.net VP)–served as the former CTDG Board Chair 2007 to 2015     NOTE:  List is incomplete and will be updated by Summer 2020 end.

~~~~~~CURRENT BOARD 2020~~~~~~

ANGELA PRUITT, Board Member & 2015/2022 CTDG Board Chair — She is a forward-thinking entrepreneur and a lover of all things technology, along with being a mother of 2 children who she readily acknowledges has taught her all about social media.  She has approximately 15 years of governmental experience (combined from Los Angeles County and Ingham County along with the State of Michigan) through the Public Service Commission-Regulatory Affairs legal division, Maxey Training School-Juvenile Detention Ctr., Construction Safety/Metro-Rail Subways, Friend of the Court (FOC), and Public Health Nursing; she is a former UAW chief steward, UAW health & safety representative statewide and UAW LUDL trainer at Black Lake and International UAW, having served as a bargaining team member for state of Michigan/UAW contracts; former Lansing Black Chamber of Commerce Board President and Board President Elect; former Chair of B.E. W.I.S.E. Networking Group; former Ingham Board of Commissioner’s appointed Friend of the Court Advisory Committee member; former fundraising and volunteer experience through Red Cross, Heart Association and other non profits with specialty in planned giving and matching gifts coordination along with Golf Tournaments for Earvin “Magic” Johnson and Heart Balls.  She has been a member of the American Society of Safety Engineers for approximately 14 years and went to school for Environmental Technologies being certified in HazWoper, Asbestos and Lead Abatement and served as an OSHA Institute authorized instructor from US Department of Labor for approximately 8 years.  Her love for helping people and helping businesses be successful was her motivation to co-own businesses and volunteer for the many non profits she has been associated with over the years.  Her work at CTDG has been very instrumental in bringing about key partnerships at non profit in 2015 and 2016 with several locations of Sylvan Learning Centers, Habitat for Humanity, StayMobile, local city parks/rec.’s community centers entering into understandings and/or joint ventures, along with soon to be partnerships with two Michigan located community colleges to do youth training for gifted students and college credit level training instruction for some of the computer courses offered through the non profit, just naming a few of the new collaborations in the  year’s time since her moving from board secretary to board chair at CTDG.  She has passionately also served as a liaison for disabled participates, having experienced her own disability challenges herself, strongly advocating at CTDG for reasonable accommodations to ensure everyone can participate, where they are, with the least amount of barriers or obstacles.  She truly believes the quote “If you have knowledge, let others light their candle at it” and the biblical verse “To Whom Much Is Given, Of Whom Much Is Required” and has restructured with the dedicated assistance of the 2014/2015/2016 board members vital service and program offerings to ensure every part of the mission of CTDG is in focus and covered in ensuring training, access to internet and computer ownership stays available to everyone.

DEBRA RAGLAND, Board Member & 2015/202022 CTDG Vice-Chair — She brings over 20 years experience at Lansing Community College with marketing and public relations expertise, along with being an entrepreneur and mother.  She currently serves as the CTDG financial chairperson who has also written more than 12 children’s books and has written and is currently editing her first general fiction/family novel.  Debra is the executive director, brand strategist, marketing consultant and owner of NeoVintage™ Communication and Resumes On Target™.   She is very supportive in helping continuation towards CTDG move in becoming a proprietary institution to allow for recognition by additional entities by ensuring credential will come from training offered to clients and is assisting with CTDG going to the next level of being able to offer college credits for training received and is embarking on recruitment of new board members and advisory committee members for 2018/2019 open positions. Debra is a graduate of University of Michigan.

Appointed for 2016/2022 as Secretary-SHARON COURTLAND –  Sharon handles the logistical responsibilities for each location in Lansing, MI, Detroit, MI, Texas and Georgia delivering world class blended instruction online and in-seat to ensure our participants get the best up-to-date training possible.  Sharon holds multiple degrees in various areas, such as Business Administration, Web Development, and applied Science Microcomputer Management, along with certification in Nonprofit Management and Leadership.  She has worked as an instructor at Career Quest and Lansing Community College teaching technology and IT computer skills, along with teaching courses at CTDG, LCC, Career Quest, and serving as past Assistant Executive Director and current Instructor Coordinator, always willing to look for and assist with grants.  Affectionately nicknamed the “Gadget Diva” for always striving to keep up with the latest electronic devices and technology.

DONNETTE MAGOOLA, Board Member & 2015/2023 Acting CTDG Treasurer –– She is retired from corporate america and recently endeavoring in entrepreneurial ventures, however she always finds time to represents the Surfing Senior Programs of CTDG and organizing grant packets and language.  She comes to the CTDG non profit with over 10 years of non profit and fundraising experience/grant writing; former licensed child care/youth care provider; former tutor in various core curriculum and home school programs, along with a former executive director of a non profit.  She served as an office manager for CTDG for approximately 10 years and former Board Secretary of CTDG, as well.  An advocate for many students to assist with referral programs and human services issues.  Ms. Magoola attended Rutgers and American University, along with computer training at CTDG to update skills.

SHENITA VANPELT,  Board Member & 2015/2023 Asst. CTDG Treasurer — entrepreneur and mother, works in the school district at a charter school and currently oversees the matching gift programs at CTDG.  She is an avid supporter of programs for youth at CTDG and always looking for ways to improve upon youth technology engagement and partnerships within the community that promote youth programs.  She keeps tract of community resources by doing outreach to various non profit or public servant type of oriented organizations to pass along or keep track of for referrals to staff, board and participants. Shenita is instrumental in corporate sponsorship insight.

TRACIE BLEVINS, Board Member & 2015/2023 Asst. CTDG Secretary — Michigan State University (MSU) graduate in Criminal Justice and currently finished her Psychology degree in 2016, single mother and sincere interests in helping non profits, whether faith based or not.  Tracie brings a wealth of knowledge in working with prison population for Prison Re-Entry programs and workforce development, along with advocacy and case management services.   Very organized and willing to share time management and organization skills and make community connections, she is a very energetic and creative member of the board.  Tracie has utilized various community resources first hand in gaining the assistance needed to graduate from MSU with two degrees 1 year apart in two areas that she is passionate about.

NOTE:  The 2015/2019 Board has voted to take Closing The Digital Gap to 3 other states by Summer end of 2020 and 7 additional states by December end of 2021 in an upcoming collaboration with two major joint venture/partnerships to be announced in the Summer of 2020

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Closing The Digital Gap has offered Online and Blended learning opportunities since 2015 to get a current list of online courses or on demand webinars please email or call:

Email:  info@closingthedigitalgap.org

Phone:  (517) 485-7581  or  (313) 367-1850